Thursday, December 8, 2011

Budget Blinds' Holiday Mission for Blind Children's Learning Center - $20K in 20 Days

Matching Gift Opportunity

In honor of Budget Blinds' 20th Anniversary in the month of December the company is matching your donation to Blind Children's Learning Center, up to $20,000. 




This means your $100 donation will become $200 to help provide visual screenings for our children.

A $300 donation will become $600 to help provide physical therapy for our children.

A $500 donation will become $1000 and help provide 10 in-home visits by an Infant Development Specialists.  Wow!!!





"I was truly impressed and excited to see the great work being done at the Center.  We're on a mission to raise $20,000 in 20 days so that we can match it." - Todd Jackson, Budget Blinds Chief Operations Officer.

Click on the "ChipIn" button below to make your secure online donation now. Thank you for caring about our children. 

Tuesday, December 6, 2011

Dreams Do Come True

In May 2012 Blind Children’s Learning Center intern and alumni, Jenny Vincent will celebrate a life milestone – she’ll graduate from California State University Fullerton with a Bachelor of Science degree in Child and Adolescent Studies with an emphasis in Early Childhood.  She’s on her way to fulfilling her dream to lead a group home for infants and preschoolers with special education needs. 
Diane, Jenny’s mother has already seen one of her dreams for her daughter fulfilled - Independence. 
At six weeks old a doctor confirmed Diane’s suspicions that Jenny had vision issues.  Jenny was diagnosed with bilateral coloboma, a condition that occurs in about 1 in 10,000 births.  Bilateral coloboma  is caused when a baby’s eyes do not develop properly during pregnancy.  Immediately, Jenny joined the Center’s Infant Family Focus program and an Infant Development Specialist began weekly in-home sessions for Jenny and her mother. 
Adorable 4-year-old Jenny on the
Blind Children's Learning Center campus.
Visually impaired, Jenny transitioned into the Early Childhood Center when she was six months old.  As Jenny learned to walk, Orientation and Mobility Specialists taught her the skills to safely travel in her environment.  Like in any preschool, she learned socialization skills and at the Center her love for reading Braille was born.    
“I have wonderful childhood memories of my preschool days at Blind Children’s Learning Center.  Especially my mom joining us on new and exciting field trips.  I remember going to a zoo and petting an elephant.  Going ice skating and meeting Mickey Mouse for the first time.  My family could not afford to provide these types of experiences for me.  I’m grateful to the Center for these fantastic opportunities,” said Jenny.
When Jenny  successfully transferred to her local public school kindergarten at the age of six she didn’t break her ties with the Center.  She joined the Mentoring and Peer Buddies programs.  In 2007 she began volunteering at the Center and this fall she became an intern in the pre-kindergarten classroom five hours a week.   

 “I love interning at Blind Children’s Learning Center.  One of the greatest experiences has been seeing myself in many of the children and watching them successfully accomplish developmental milestones,” said Jenny.
Jenny is proof that early intervention and specialized education for blind or visually impaired children will empower them to become successful independent young adults.