by Cindy Williams
NDVS/SB Coordinator of Student Programs
Summer is right around the corner and the nice weather teases us with excitement for the long, hot summer days enjoying the sunshine. Before we get too excited about the summer fun to come, I want to share some of the wonderful experiences our students have had during our short-term programs occurring on and off-site. These programs have brought growth and educational experiences incorporating the Expanded Core Curriculum. Our students have connected with others living with vision loss, have grown personally, learned skills along the way, gone out of their comfort zone and have had some fun!
During our elementary program in January, the students learned from and shared with peers who live with vision loss by expressing emotions and discussing feelings using the book, Grumpy Monkey published by National Braille Press (NBP). Sharing personal experiences and discussing their vision and accommodations they use is a wonderful way for our students to accept who they are and what they need to succeed in living with vision loss. Each student received a twin vision copy of the book to take home with them. They also ventured to an indoor arena, the ICON and worked on their O&M skills while they tried, learned, and went beyond most of their comfort zones to take their try at ice skating. Our upcoming May program, STEAM Access for All, includes trips to the Kem Shrine Circus and to UND’s ND Space Grant Consortium where students will tour the spacesuit lab and the atmospherium. Students will also get to explore STEM kits which we have created here at NDVS/SB. These kits will then be available for check-out through our library so take advantage of our accessible STEM activities over the summer.
One program session a year, we have our middle and high school programs combined and enjoy hosting our annual goalball tournament in February with SD School for the Blind and Visually Impaired. Due to a scheduling conflict with SD, unfortunately that didn’t happen this year; however, the students still had an unforgettable experience. Everyone got all dressed up in formal wear for a prom night experience event, A Night to Shine. The students also enjoyed a dinner out at Fuji, taking in all the sensory experiences of a hibachi grill. They even took a shot at getting beverages squirted into their mouth and using chop sticks! At the event, they interacted with various therapy dogs, experienced what it’s like to ride in a limo, were a part of a red-carpet experience, and danced the night away. They all had so much fun, we plan to make it an annual event! During our STP, they were part of two presentations regarding post-secondary education. They heard about and received tips on what it’s like to attend college with low vision and blindness and hear from people living the experience of going to college with vision loss and applying for jobs. Our 10th – 12th graders also obtain independent living skills training and vocational experiences in the community while attending our programs. Some experiences include creating a meal plan and going grocery shopping for the necessary items. They work together to prepare their meals in one of our apartments which they share with roommates, and this is an experience in itself! They also gave back to the community by volunteering at the Good Samaritan Nursing Home and gained work experience there as well. Students had an adventure practicing and using Uber to get to their destination out in the community. We strive to prepare our students to be Choice Ready, and give them practice preparing job applications, cover letters and participating in mock interviews through ND Job Service.
This semester, our students enjoyed a couple of off-site short-term programs as well. Some of our middle school and high
school aged students ventured to Aberdeen, SD, for our annual goalball tournament with SD School for the Blind and Visually Impaired. Besides enjoying the game of goalball and interacting with their peers and friends, the students enjoyed hanging out together in the school’s teen center playing Power Showdown (an inclusive tabletop game similar to air hockey and table tennis) and air hockey. They were entertained at the Odde Ice Arena and watched a hockey game between the Aberdeen Wings vs the Bismarck Bobcats. Saturday morning was filled with goalball! SD wore new team jerseys, and we all received t-shirts from the school and their sponsors which we sported during the tournament. The students played two practice rounds followed by a game where SD beat ND 12-8.
Another adventure for our high school students was an extra program in April focused on Orientation and Mobility in the Twin Cities which we called Keep Calm and Travel On! This program was made possible through a donation from a local church and the students had the opportunity to learn about using Google maps, buses, light rails, and Uber. Students were also provided with a dollar amount each day (some cash and some credit) to learn about budgeting their money and use various was to pay for dining out. The students enjoyed various dining experiences, including trying new foods such as shrimp. Moving around the cities included visiting Vision Loss Resources, the Low Vision Store, the Science Museum of Minnesota, the Mall of America, touring Target Field and taking in a Twins game, and ending their adventures at Minnehaha Falls for a walk before hitting the road to drive back home. The past semester was full of Expanded Core Curriculum experiences!
The excitement will continue as we look forward to our upcoming summer programs. The following is information on our upcoming summer programs.
Our Middle School Summer Program is taking place June 3-6, 2024, in the beautiful Lake Metigoshe area! This program is for students entering 7th - 10th grades and incorporates lessons in the Expanded Core Curriculum and social outings. Our outings will include taking in a Minot Hot Tots baseball game, activities through Annie’s House, and a rock-climbing excursion which students have found to be exhilarating in the past. Please register by May 17th.
We look forward to your teen joining us at NDVS/SB for our High School Summer Teen Program! This program is intended for students in grades 10 – 12 and will focus on outdoor leisure and incorporate lessons regarding college and employment readiness – including higher education access and employment experience and skills. It will take place June 10 – 13th. Please contact Shanna Hanson or Cindy Williams to register and for further information at shanhan@nd.gov; ckwillia@nd.gov or phone 701-795-2708. The registration deadline is June 3rd.
Our Elementary Summer Program (grades 1-5/6th) takes place August 4 – 7th on-site at NDVS/SB in Grand Forks and will follow the ND State Library summer reading program, Adventure Begins at Your Library. Join us for some fun, learning and story adventures! Keep a look-out for further information to come.
Please contact me through email ckwillia@nd.gov or phone 701-795-2704 to register for any of our upcoming summer programs or with any questions regarding our short-term programs. We have also included our short-term program calendar for the upcoming 2024-25 school year in our newsletter.
Thank you for sending your child/student to learn and discover new experiences and independence while attending our programs! Our short-term programs, whether on-site or off-site, offer opportunities for learning and growth. These experiences allow our students to take in many new learning opportunities with instruction on how to access the many experiences, including social events. This adds to the joys of living a full life with vision loss. We wish all our students and families a joyful summer and look forward to working with them during our Short-Term Programs!