THE POWER OF INTEGRATION 5300 Angeles Vista Boulevard Los Angeles, CA Joan Marason Director of Wellness & Enrichment Programs Donald A. Ouimet Vice President of Programs

Helping children and adults who are blind, visually impaired and/or multi-disabled achieve independence. Junior Blind of America Mission Statement

Expanded Core Curriculum for Blind and VI Children & Youth  compensatory or functional academic skills, including communication modes  orientation and mobility  social interaction skills  independent living skills  recreation and leisure skills  career education  use of assistive technology  sensory efficiency skills  self-determination

Social Skills  Blind & Visually Impaired Children can have a hard time developing social skills.  They lack access to facial expressions and body language; visual cues that help shape the social interaction of their sighted peers.  Systematic instruction can help visually impaired children develop social skills.  Children need to practice skills to become proficient.  Integrating visually impaired children with their sighted peers offers both groups access to new skills.

Ice Breaker

 Open & active setting  Enhance cognitive abilities  Socialization  Opportunities to experience peer support and team work WHY INTEGRATION ENRICHMENT?

 Being seen as a child first and foremost.  Becoming more independent and self-reliant  Increasing self-esteem through helping others  Making new friends  Learning to accept and become comfortable with individual differences. BENEFITS OF INTEGRATION

CHALLENGES  Over protective families  Funding  Staffing  Modification of Activities  Transportation

ESTABLISHING A PROGRAM  Find a usable space  Establish a staff  Establish a program design  Recruit program participants

Q & A

THANK YOU