Foundation For Blind Children

FOUNDATION FOR BLIND CHILDREN'S MISSION IS TO PROVIDE EDUCATION, TOOLS AND SERVICES THAT ENABLE ALL PERSONS WITH VISION LOSS TO ACHIEVE GREATER INDEPENDENCE. OUR VISION IS A WORLD WHERE VISION LOSS IS A DIAGNOSIS, NOT A DISABILITY. FOUNDATION FOR BLIND CHILDREN VALUES EXCEPTIONAL SERVICE, ADVOCACY, GREAT WORK ENVIRONMENT, COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS AND FINANCIAL RESPONSIBILITY.

FOUNDATION FOR BLIND CHILDREN'S CAMPUS-BASED PROGRAM SERVES GRADES PRE-K THROUGH 4TH GRADE. STUDENTS LEARN SKILLS ALIGNED TO THE EXPANDED CORE CURRICULUM, WHICH ARE THE SKILLS THAT A CHILD WITH A VISUAL IMPAIRMENT NEEDS TO ACCESS THE SAME CURRICULUM AS THEIR SIGHTED PEERS. STUDENTS ARE TAUGHT IN ABILITY-BASED CLASSROOMS AND INCLUDE RELATED SERVICES SUCH AS PHYSICAL THERAPY, OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY, AND SPEECH THERAPY.

FOUNDATION FOR BLIND CHILDREN'S LOW VISION CLINIC MAXIMIZES THE REMAINING VISION OF A VISUALLY IMPAIRED PERSON. A HIGHLY TRAINED, HIGHLY SPECIALIZED OPTOMETRIST IS AVAILABLE AT OUR CLINIC TO CONDUCT THOROUGH EXAMINATIONS OF OUR PATIENTS, RANGING IN VARIOUS AGE, AND RECOMMENDS MAGNIFICATION DEVICES NECESSARY TO ACCESS INFORMATION AND LIVE INDEPENDENT LIVES. FOUNDATION FOR BLIND CHILDREN'S MEDIA CENTER MANUFACTURES AND DISTRIBUTES BRAILLE, LARGE-PRINT AND E-TEXT VERSIONS OF TEXTBOOKS AND CLASSROOM WORKSHEETS THROUGHOUT ARIZONA. SERVING OVER 1,000 REGISTERED USERS, FBC'S MEDIA CENTER IS THE LARGEST ALTERNATIVE FORMAT PROVIDER IN THE STATE OF ARIZONA.

ITINERANT VISION TEACHERS TRAVEL THROUGHOUT MARICOPA COUNTY TEACHING STUDENTS IN THEIR HOMES, PUBLIC, DISTRICTS, CHARTER AND PRIVATE SCHOOLS. OUR GOALS ARE TO TEACH CHILDREN WHO ARE VISUALLY IMPAIRED THE COMPENSATORY SKILLS THAT FACILITATE THE SAME ACCESS TO INFORMATION AS THEIR SIGHTED PEERS, HELP THEM TO PROGRESS IN THEIR EDUCATIONAL CURRICULUM AND PROMOTE SOCIAL INTERACTION. ITINERANT AND EARLY INTERVENTION PROGRAMS OFFER RESOURCES FOR FAMILIES SUCH AS SUPPORT, INFORMATION, AND GUIDANCE TO FAMILIES WHO HAVE A PERSON WITH A VISUAL IMPAIRMENT. THEY ALSO OFFER CRISIS AND ADJUSTMENT COUNSELING, WEEKLY SUPPORT GROUPS, ADAPTIVE RECREATION (SHARP), AND REGULARLY SCHEDULED FAMILY EVENTS. LAST YEAR WE SERVED 107 FAMILIES AND 59 STUDENTS IN SHARP.

ADULT SERVICES PROVIDE THE REHABILITATION AND TRAINING NECESSARY FOR YOUNG ADULTS TO TRANSITION EFFECTIVELY INTO COLLEGE OR WORK AND FOR ADULTS TO LEARN NEW SKILLS NECESSARY FOR EMPLOYMENT. FBC'S GOAL IS TO GET BLIND ADULTS TO WORK.