Fall 2011 Newsletter

To read more, click on the following links:

• Light at the End of the Tunnel
• Alumni Association Kick-Off
• Enchanted Hills
• FORE Children with Visual Impairments
• Lots of Dots

To donate now click here!

The Light at the End of the Tunnel. . .

Is still glowing!  While the economy continues to drain the energy and resources of nonprofits throughout California and the nation, the mission and vision of Blind Babies Foundation remains bright.

The Board and staff of Blind Babies Foundation have worked tirelessly over the past few years to adjust to an economic climate that has dimmed the outlook of most nonprofit organizations.  Budget cuts at the State and Federal level, a flat economy and increased demand for services have created a perfect economic storm that affects all of us.

Blind Babies Foundation has taken steps over the past year to ensure that we accomplish our mission: “When an infant or preschooler is identified as blind or visually impaired, Blind Babies Foundation provides family centered services to promote the child’s optimal development and access to the world.”  Blind Babies Foundation remains committed to providing services at no cost to the family.

The Blind Babies Foundation Finance Committee took action early in the fiscal year, working with staff to implement a fiscal reorganization plan.  The plan focused on reducing expenditures without impacting service delivery and minimizing staff reductions.  At the same time the Finance Committee streamlined financial reporting to the Board and assisted finance staff with implementing systems to improve forecasting and controls on cash flow.  The combined efforts resulted in reducing expenditures by nearly a quarter of a million dollars over the fiscal year.

Executive Director Julie Bernas-Pierce reports that, “While the process was arduous at times, the end result has positioned Blind Babies Foundation to weather the financial storm of the past several years and emerge a fiscally stronger organization.”

While the Finance Committee and executive staff worked tirelessly to improve Blind Babies Foundation’s financial outlook, the executive team led efforts to develop a strategic plan to ensure that the agency’s services remain responsive to client needs.

Staff secured the pro bono services of David Roberts, Executive Director of The Difference, to lead the group in developing a strategic plan for service delivery. The ad hoc Program Committee included Board Member Sharon Sacks, PhD, and Dr. Deborah Chen, as well as key staff members.

Roberts, whose experience working with such companies as Cisco and IBM, was instrumental in guiding the group through the process.  The group successfully revised the program goals to align with individual Vision Impairment Specialist objectives:

1. Provide highly qualified Vision Impairment Specialists to facilitate the family’s understanding of the unique developmental and educational needs of the child who is blind or visually impaired.
2. Promote family and team collaboration through multiple means of communication.
3. Coach and support the development of the family’s self advocacy skills.

According to Program Director Rebecca Allswang, “The Vision Impairment Specialists feel that the program goals capture the essence of the work they do with families.”

Another key initiative brought forward from the ad hoc committee is a revision to the Parent Survey.  The new survey is less complicated, allowing for ease of use, and will be administered when services begin, at 18 months and at graduation.  This will allow program staff to implement changes and be more responsive to families as well as providing essential feedback on the impact of services to program staff.

Formerly, the survey was given to families when their child graduated from Blind Babies Foundation.  While practical, the practice of measuring satisfaction at graduation was only useful in evaluating past services and provided little opportunity for impactful changes for current families.

According to Executive Director Julie Bernas-Pierce, “The new survey process will allow us to be more responsive to family needs and ensure that we are providing the highest level of service possible.”

Blind Babies Foundation remains committed to providing the highest quality of service to families with children who are blind or visually impaired.  While no one can accurately predict the future, we can prepare for the future.  To quote Will Rogers, “Even if you’re on the right track, you’ll get run over if you just sit there.”  Blind Babies Foundation is on the right track but we’re not afraid to change tracks to keep moving forward.

To donate now click here!

back to top

 

Blind Babies Foundation Alumni Association Kick-Off

The day was perfect!  Bright blue skies and a light breeze greeted the inaugural Alumni Association members as they registered for the day’s festivities.  While there were no marching bands or tailgate parties in the parking lot, there was no doubt that this was a homecoming for everyone who attended.

The program included such notable speakers as Phil Hatlen, Ph.D., former BBF Executive Director and California School for the Blind Superintendent and Sharon Sacks, Ph.D, BBF Board Member and Director of Curriculum, Assessment and Staff Development for California School for the Blind.  But the stars of the day were the alumni and alumni parents.  Jim Gammon, Jeff Thom and Jacob Lesner-Buxton shared stories of their journey from birth through college and beyond.  While key-note speaker Stephanie Spaid shared how technology has introduced her son to a whole new world, elevating him from the kid with special needs to the cool kid with an iPod.

While Jacob Lesner-Buxton stole the show with his stories about being a part of the “Club Scene,” Sharon Sacks gave him a run for his money describing her exploits as a clandestine driver. Join the BBF Alumni Association today and watch highlights on the Alumni Association Portal.

To find out more about the Alumni Association, click here.

To donate now click here!

back to top

 

Enchanted Hills

S’mores, Bug Juice, horseback riding and swimming: Enchanted Hills Camp offers the real summer camp experience for children with visual impairments. For the third year running, BBF has collaborated with Lighthouse for the Blind to provide this wonderful summer camp experience for families with children who are visually impaired. Sixteen families with children from two years old to seven

enjoyed an exciting array of multisensory activities including swimming, horseback riding, nature walks, singing campfire songs and roasting marshmallows, paddle boating, and climbing into a real tree house.

Located on a 311 acre spread across Mt. Veeder, just west of Napa, Enchanted Hills offers the real authentic camp experience that might normally be out of reach for children with vision loss and other disabilities. The camp is one of only two fully accessible summer camps in the western United States, and provides a safe and supportive environment for campers to meet other people with disabilities, make friends, share experiences, gain self-confidence and develop skills for increased independence. Each family is provided with their own camp counselor to assist them in accessing the camp facilities and activities, and to facilitate activities with the children.

Between all the amazing activities that were experienced at camp, there was time for families to relax at the ‘Sensory Spot’ where they could sit outside and play with various instruments, explore textures and play with water all while relaxing with other families and in order to gather up enough energy to move on to the next fun-filled camp activity—pony rides anyone? How about going on a hayride? Other highlights of the camp weekend included a talent show by the children, their family members, camp counselors, and BBF Vision Impairment Specialists. Rumor has it there may be a future BBF run on America’s Got Talent.

To commemorate this summer camp experience, all the children created a tactile memory album from bits of nature found on walks around camp, or art projects created during summer camp to remember this great experience throughout the year! Special thanks to Lighthouse for the Blind in San Francisco for their support of this amazing opportunity for our families.

To donate now click here!

back to top

FORE Children with Visual Impairments!

Golfers swing into action at the Fifth Annual Liberty Mutual “Swing for Kids” Golf Invitational held at TPC Stonebrae.  While the San Francisco Police Officers Association was on hand for the day’s festivities, they were not there for crowd control.  Rather they were there to take home 7^th place and have a great time doing so.

By all accounts this year’s “Swing for Kids” was a swinging success. More than 120 golfers came out to enjoy the greens for a good cause this past August.  It was a beautiful day on the links at the award-winning TPC Stonebrae course, which started out with top flight goodie bags provided by Liberty Mutual.

The goal for this year’s tournament was to raise $50,000 — and thanks to all of our sponsors and golfers the 2011 “Swing for Kids” grossed nearly $77,000! The BBF Golf Tournament raises much needed funds to support the AccessVIS program providing critical early intervention and education services to children who are blind or visually impaired and their families at no cost to the family.

Special thanks to alumni family Shana Keating and Joseph Curran for sharing their touching story about their daughter, Genevieve, and the impact that Blind babies Foundation services had on their lives. The evening program also included highly competitive live and silent auctions.

The tournament would not have been possible without the tireless efforts of the Blind Babies Foundation Golf Tournament Committee led by Chair Tarak Mody.  Special thanks to committee members, and all of the staff and volunteers who helped to make this tournament so successful.

For a full list of sponsors, click here.

To see all of the photos, click here.

To donate now click here!

back to top

Lots of Dots in the Summer

There was certainly lots of fun and excitement in Tulare County this summer, as Blind Babies Foundation introduced a new early literacy program for children with visual impairments and their families. Thanks to a generous grant from First 5 Tulare County, a total of 29 children participated in the eight-week program that went from June to

August. Activities centered on sensory exploration using every day objects related to a weekly theme, such as fruits and vegetables. There was also a guide dogs meet and greet, and participants got to trip the light fantastic on the Lightspace Dance Floor at McDermont Field House.

The central goal of the summer program was to provide parents and family members with a model for success by sharing ideas and examples of how to incorporate the learning of sensory exploration and pre-Braille activities into their every day routines using both natural and technological resources. Through exposure to natural environments, materials and activities that promote hands-on learning, young children with visual impairments will begin to develop essential skills necessary for school readiness. They will also have the added benefit of a parent, family member, or caregiver who has increased familiarity with:

1. Braille and pre-Braille skills
2. The importance of sensory exploration
3. Increased knowledge of tactile communication methods

A survey given to the parents before and after the program concluded that the program was highly successful with 100% of respondents reporting increased confidence in their ability to provide multisensory learning opportunities and pre-Braille education for their children. One mom commented, “I’ve learned so very much! So many activities that I can take and now do at home with my son. I am so appreciative of this program”

Lots of Dots in the Summer is based on a series of interactive early learning materials provided by American Printing House for the Blind.

To donate now click here!

back to top