Exploring = Learning = Thriving: Making it Possible
The Blind Children’s Learning Center is the only school of its kind in Southern California. Since its inception nearly fifty years ago, the Blind Children’s Learning Center has been committed to nurturing the whole child. We provide a comprehensive educational program – addressing all the needs of blind and visually impaired children, through birth through completion of high school.
Skills for Success details specific activities for preparing children with visual impairments for independence in daily life and success on the job. Stressing the integration of work skills and behaviors into everyday activities at home, at school, and in the community, this comprehensive program engages important capabilities developed through meaningful learning experiences at different ages. Educators in this Center are experts in their subject areas focus on developing abilities leading to career and life satisfaction for preschoolers, elementary school students, and middle school students. In addition, specialists offer insights on the needs of children from a family, rural, urban, or multicultural perspective, as well as on other needs of children with multiple disabilities. This program for visually impaired students from infant-toddler to the middle school and beyond is included to encourage students to face their future by enhancing their capacities. Providing a wide range of information and resources, Skills from experienced Special Education teachers, Occupational Therapists, Counsellors, Technicians and Nurse and para-educators are engaged for our children’s Success.
Our Early Childhood Center, located in North Tustin, is a wonderful place for children to grow, learn and explore their world from six-months to five years. The highly credentialed and experienced staff create a top-notch educational environment. On the beautiful four acre campus, children play, grow and learn in a reverse mainstream setting. From finger-painting and music to story-time and recess, children are surrounded by an environment that is designed to enhance their independence. “One of our students, Dorothy, runs from her classroom at recess straight to her favorite toys on the playground,” observes Jenny Sharp. “It is difficult to tell the visually impaired and sighted children apart because they are so independent.”
One of the unique aspects of the Blind Children’s Learning Center is reverse mainstreaming. Sighted children attend the school along with visually impaired students. It is an enriching experience for both. “The sighted children are so sweet and considerate, they don’t see any difference – it is a natural bonding process,” notes Bernadette Gaddis, a teacher in the Toddler Classroom. Parents are delighted at the empathy and consideration that develops naturally between the children, and continues throughout their lifetime.
Many children are too young or too medically fragile to attend the Early Childhood Center. The Infant Family Focus Department provides services in-home for these children and their families. “Many young children respond extremely well in the security of their home environment,” says Alejandra Valencia, Director of Outreach Services. “Our multi-lingual staff provides sensory-motor enrichment, communication skills development, and most importantly parent education and support.” The value of parent involvement in their child’s development in the critical early days cannot be overstated.
Blind Children’s Learning Center is an amazing place for blind, visually impaired and deaf/blind children and their families. We continue to provide services and support after the students graduate from our Pre-Kindergarten program and move in to their local public schools. The Youth Outreach Department provides Orientation and Mobility Training, Vision Instruction, and Braille Instruction through the public schools.
Youth services are available in our after school programs, which include Mentoring, Tutoring, Daily Living Skills, and Peer Buddies. Each of these programs is designed to meet the unique needs of the students and is a vehicle through which the child continues to grow and develop.