School Programs
Extended School Year Program 2010
Expanded Core Curriculum
INDEPENDENT LIVING SKILLS
July 26-July 30
9:00am-1:00pm
(Ages: 5 to 20)
Vista Center for the Blind and Visually Impaired is pleased to announce a week long summer program aimed at providing students who are blind and visually impaired with instruction in age-appropriate independent living skills. The class will be conducted by credentialed TVI’s and ACVREP certified teachers experienced in blind rehabilitation.
The Vista Center Extended School Year Program’s Independent Living Skills session will serve academic students from throughout the San Francisco Bay Area who may benefit from a short period of intensive, but fun, instruction in practical activities of daily living. This class is designed to help meet the requirements of the student’s Expanded Core Curriculum.
Referrals to attend the Extended School Year Program must come from the local school district (usually through the VI teacher with LEA (Local Educational Agency) support). Interested parents should confer with their local school representative to discuss their child’s referral to our program.
Because this class is short, and learning must happen rapidly the class is designed for students who are able to adjust and participate quickly in a new setting, and then maintain some skills to integrate into their daily routine.
How This Program Can Help
- Provides an intensive instructional boost (you might want to focus upon the home/school connection with opportunities for children to take home success? Scripts? Practice recipes? Maybe even a step by step information home school communication notebook or graduation ceremony with students preparing something tor their family or teacher?
- Focuses on disability-specific skills that are pre-requisite to success in the general education classroom and to achieving personal independence.
- Provides individualized, age-specific instruction to meet the specific goals and objectives of the student.
- Provides a learning environment with other students who are blind or visually impaired, resulting in providing the student with information, camaraderie, self-confidence, and skills that contribute to a young person’s sense of independence and well-being.
- Focus on obtaining the knowledge about the need for, and value of, using special adaptations related to vision loss, thereby increasing their motivation to apply new skills when they are at school or home.
How To Apply
Vista Center is accepting applications beginning March 1 through May 31. Deadline is May 31, 2010. Spring IEP’s are an especially good time to think about and discuss an upcoming Vista Center Extended Year Program.Referrals must be initiated by the local school district, as direct referrals from parents will not be considered. However, TVI teachers and parents are encouraged to work together when considering a referral to Vista’s Independent Living Skills summer session. A representative from the local district (usually the student's teacher of the visually impaired) should get the process started by completing the Initial Intake Form. This form will be available online (www.vistacenteri.org) beginning in mid-March 2010. This form should be faxed to (650) 858-0214 or emailed to shudson@vistacenter.org. Referring teachers will be contacted by telephone or email to discuss independent living skills’ needs for their student. This discussion helps determine if there is an appropriate match between the student and the summer program. Please have the student's folder at hand. At this time, it is helpful if the VI teacher has already spoken with the parent and school administration to assure that they support participation in the program; however this is not essential. Once it is determined that the student and program are an appropriate match, an official intake will be completed (additional student and school information will be collected). Except in extenuating, prearranged circumstances, the application should be completed no later than two weeks before the program begins. Students cannot attend the program if their application has not been received. Parents will be asked to complete some intake information and liability forms. A telephone conference will be scheduled for a later date between a Vista Center teacher and the parent.
AGREEMENT
Program staff will prepare a formal Agreement between Vista Center and the local school district, outlining the responsibilities of each party. The Agreement will be emailed to the VI teacher or the district office. The Agreement must be signed by the district administrator authorized to approve attendance and transportation costs, then returned to Sharon Hudson. The signed Agreement must be received before a student can attend the Vista Center Extended Year Program.
Extended School Year Referral Form (MS Word)
Youth Group