Kentucky Council of the Blind

  
On April 7 the Kentucky Department of Education announced that 2009 summer enrichment and high school work programs were cancelled at the Kentucky School for the Blind due to lack of funding.

On April 14 parents, Alumni, organizations of the blind, and teachers from across the state began calling and writing the Governor, the Department of Education, the state Board of Education, legislators and others, expressing dismay at the cancellation of the programs and asking that they be restored.

On April 20 a town hall meeting was held at the American Printing House for the Blind. Speakers representing every aspect of the blind community passionately cited why summer programs at KSB were vital to the future success of Kentucky's blind children.

On April 28 the Governor's office announced that a compromise had been reached, and that summer programs at the Kentucky School for the Blind would take place in 2009.

Why are summer programs so important for blind children and for Kentucky? Here are some of the reasons cited by advocates:

Summer enrichment programs have been offered at KSB for approximately 20 years. Each summer 90 to 110 children and teens benefit from the programs in a variety of ways.

a. Most children who attend during the summer are not full-time students at KSB during the school year. These elementary, middle and high school students spend summer enrichment time working on blindness-related skills such as braille and mobility, and in academic work in problem areas such as math. They learn valuable lessons in how to interact socially with others, how to handle life skills such as laundry or making beds, how to use the vision they have to the best of their ability, and how to have reasonable expectations and goals for themselves as blind persons.

b. The KSB students who are fortunate enough to be able to obtain a spot in summer enrichment not only continue to work on goals such as those listed above, but they have the opportunity to serve as peer role models for the other children in the program. A child who can read and write, who can dress independently, who can get around on his own, and who knows that he is a worthwhile person despite his vision loss is often a real inspiration to a child who has never met another blind person and who has never been permitted to move about independently and handle tasks on his own. Self-esteem is an important part of a child's development, and many many children have found a whole new world at KSB during the summer.

c. We all know how difficult it is for teens to find work. Most of them find jobs at MacDonalds or other businesses. Most teen jobs require sight.

Blind and visually impaired teenagers do not, most of the time, have summer work options. The Kentucky School for the Blind summer work program has provided work opportunities for up to 20 blind teenagers for many years. In 2008, the program gained national acclaim when KSB summer teens operated a Subway store at Six Flags Kentucky Kingdom in Louisville. The students learned to get to work on time, dress appropriately, interact with the public and handle a variety of job-related tasks. For many of them it was their first real paycheck, and they had to learn how to handle their own money. Before going to work each day they participated in career-related classes and explored other career opportunities.

d. Summer enrichment programs at KSB play a huge role in the preparation and certification of future teachers of the visually impaired. Dr. William Penrod, director of the University of Louisville vision teacher preparation program, is extremely concerned that Kentucky will suffer long-range effects of cancellation of the KSB summer enrichment programs because his students will be unable to complete their student teaching requirements for this highly-specialized certification. The U. of L. vision program participants student teach in the summer program, and without the program these opportunities simply disappear. It is Dr. Penrod's fear that these qualified future teachers will go out-of-state to obtain their certifications and possibly future employment. This will only diminish the availability of trained teachers for Kentucky's blind children at a time when there is already a shortage of teachers in this field.

Ways to Restore Summer Programs

Read our press release.

Listen to the Town Hall Meeting at the American Printing House in Louisville.

Find out who supported KSB summer school at the town hall meeting.

For more information about KSB and other issues, call us at (502)895-4598, or email KCB with your questions and concerns.

Copyright 2009 by the Kentucky Council of the Blind
Email the Kentucky Council of the Blind
148 Vernon Avenue, Louisville, KY 40206
Phone: (502) 895-4598

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