PROGRAMS AND SERVICES - SCHOOL AGE
"They never let her give up."
-Socorro Snow, parent of former preschool student, Stanci Snow
Welcome to the Cooperative Preschool for the Visually Impaired
It's true. We don't let our kids give up.
 And, while we've always known that, it means that much more when we hear it from a parent. In fact, we hear a lot of things from parents, and thought we'd share with you some of their thoughts on the preschool program provided by the Foundation for Blind Children (FBC), in cooperation with the Arizona State School for the Deaf and Blind.
But, before we do, we would like to share with you some of the reasons that make our preschool unique.
Reasons our preschool is unique
- We meet children's vision needs where they are: More than 90% of children who are considered legally blind have usable vision and are taught how to use any they have.
- Compensatory skills are infused into the whole day (those needed to compensate for lack of or low vision, ex. hearing, tactual).
- "Up close and personal" and "hands on" are the approaches needed to learn concepts that children with typical vision learn incidentally. We have very low student teacher ratios which is extremely important for children with additional needs.
- Since vision is usually the integrating sense for young children in learning concepts, the presentation, environment and materials may need to be modified daily.
- Sensory integrati
 on is a critical need for many students. Developing skill in this area grounds the student for learning.
- All staff ~ teachers, para-educators, physical therapists, occupational therapists, speech and language therapists, pet therapist, and others ~ have training and background in working with children with vision issues and other areas of need and are given ongoing training as well. They work together to provide needed adaptations and specialized equipment.
- Orientation and Mobility, which teaches children to understand where they are in space and how to move about safely in their environment, is an important part of preschool and is integrated into the child's day.
- Social skills are more difficult to learn for children with low or no vision and are modeled, taught and expected by the staff (using all the child's senses).
- Literacy for the visually impaired or blind child is integrated into each day using all the senses and presenting tactile pre-braille activities and/or adapted print activities in a systematic, holistic way.
- Being family centered is at the heart of all we do with children at FBC. For preschool, that means support through the transition to the program and leaving, daily communication, meetings, workshops and advocacy. Counseling is available as needed.
Thoughts from our parents
"The teachers, assistants, volunteers, and therapists always treated us with respect," said Kathy Crain, mother of five-year-old Zack Crain who graduated in May 2003. "They treated him as a real little boy with unlimited potential, not a boy with a vision impairment and cerebral palsy."
Mrs. Crain, impressed by the staff's interactions with her child, said, "He wasn't labeled anything. They never viewed him as a child that couldn't do things like other 'normal' kids. I think the teachers don't see their jobs as 'just jobs.' They see the kids for who they are. So, maybe Zack developed some of his attitude through the nurturing attitudes of the staff."
Zack's mom believes the program has given him quite a bit. "I think the preschool gave Zack his world," she said. "He was taught to explore his environment. When Zack first started at the FBC, his world was a fo ur foot by four foot quilt. Now, it's unlimited. He's exploring our kitchen cupboards, rolling and crawling all over the place! Socially, he's a happy little boy who loves to be around other kids. I think that's what the FBC gave Zack - his world."
Sherrine Hayward's son, Dayton, completed the preschool program in May 2002. "Dayton's teachers love every child in their classroom and really believe in them," she said. "They see potential in every child and treat them as if they can succeed... so they do."
Mrs. Hayward said that the staff helped her to believe in Dayton's full potential. "The FBC made my son strong," she explained. "The teachers there showed him that he can accomplish anything. Never did anyone say that he could not do it. Goals were expected, situations were modified and Dayton succeeded beyond my own expectations. Dayton has never become more alive than when he was with you. He truly came alive. How awesome!"
Rebecca Moore has a visual impairment, cerebral palsy and uses augmentative communication devices for her speech challenges. The five-year-old graduated in May 2003. Her mom, Kari Moore, pointed out how the staff made sure that Rebecca had all of the needed equipment to allow her develop academically as well as mentally and physically.
"They encouraged positive independence while so many other professionals in her life promoted dependence," she said. "Her teachers recognized that while she struggled physically to do different activities, mentally, she was capable of so much more. They adapted her program to meet the needs of multi-faceted life, thus giving her a strong sense of personal pride and increased self-reliance to help prepare her to enter the bigger world."
Erma Laine is the mother of Christopher, a May 2003 preschool graduate. She said that Christopher was not only visually impaired, but that he often experienced great eye pain and discomfort. His condition made it impossible for him to tolerate light.
"One experience that occurred that really touched me and reassured me that he was in the best place was during his first year," she recalled. "I received a phone call from his teacher who informed me that Christopher was crying and seemed uncomfortable. Of course, I raced in... When I arrived, I found that they had provided a darkened room for him. But they had not just placed him in the room. He was being held and cradled by one of the staff members as he cried. I knew from that moment that everyone at the FBC had Christopher's best interest at heart; that they not only provided an educational experience for him, but that they really cared about him."
For Marc and Lisa Ashton, the preschool program gave their son Max, a 2001 graduate, tools he will use for the rest of his life. "The program helped Max gain confidence," Mrs. Ashton said. "It gave him the tools to learn braille and ways to cope with his vision loss. Not only did he learn the basics of braille but he learned to be a friend to all, and that is important to us."
 Mrs. Ashton said the low student/teacher ratio allowed for more interaction and attention for the kids. "It gave Max a chance to continuously learn and grow all day long. He never felt slighted and we knew as parents he would be well taken care of."
Now a second-year student at the preschool, Yasmine Sarraf is nearly four years old. Her father, Christian, talked about her first day of school.
"The first day of school has a whole different meaning to a parent," he said. "It means you are letting go of something that has been carefully concealed in a very private place in your heart. When your child walks to her classroom for the very first time and you wave goodbye, the pride slowly fades away, and it finally starts to sink in that it is not just goodbye for today, it is goodbye to yesterday. It is well understood that she is beginning a wondrous journey, an adventure that will fill her heart, nurture her spirit, and build her character. It's just that we are still back h ere, watching from the past."
Although overwhelmed with concerns when Yasmine first came to school, Mr. Sarraf said he eventually recovered from his anxiety.
"When I felt the warmth that filled the classrooms and when I saw the attention and caring she received every day," he said, "worry was replaced with hope, apprehension was replaced with reassurance, and a new vision of the future was created. I realized that the FBC opens a new world not only to the students but also to the parents - a world of possibilities, of change and of small victories."
These, then, are a few of the comments from parents of some of our preschool students. We started off with a quote from Socorro Snow who said of her daughter's teachers, "They never let her give up."
Today, nine-year-old Stanci Snow is thriving.
"Stanci is playing the piano; she is performing in plays; and she has even been in a production at the Herberger," Mrs. Snow said. "She is currently taking choir and voice lessons. She loves to swim, play basketball, and boogie board at the beach. She even organized a girl's song and dance troupe at her playground. When she grows up she wants to be a teacher, songwriter/performer, and basketball player. And, she wants to have 24 children."
Mrs. Snow also pointed out that as much as Stanci was a princess to her teachers, every student in Stanci's class was treated just like Stanci.
"Having positive beginnings, love, and a happy environment the preschool gave her, has helped Stanci to become a positive little girl. Her lack of vision has not slowed her down. The FBC taught Stanci that she is what she is. She has never used her lack of vision as an excuse to not try things. The FBC teachers would not allow that to happen. They never let her give up."
It's true. We never let our kids give up.
© 2002. The Foundation for Blind Children. Phoenix Arizona 85020
(602)331-1470 or 1-800-FBC-4870 (1-800-322-4870)
Fax: (602)678-5803 or (602)678-5819
For additional information, please contact Deb Herrmann
at 602-331-1470 or dherrmann@seeitourway.org.
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