Foundation For Blind Children

Programs: Foundation for blind children is the largest preschool for the blind in the country and our kindergarten through fourth grades elementary school is growing rapidly, doubling in the last 3 years. Our specialized vision instruction creates a world of learning through means other than vision. Relying on tactile learning, descriptive narrative, audio and very intensive one on one teaching allows our teachers to get up close and personal to each student.

itinerant vision teachers travel throughout maricopa county teaching students in their home school districts, charter and private schools. Our goals are to teach children to read using braille, large print and technology; to give children, without vision, the same access to information as their sighted peers; to teach students to travel safely through their school or across town; and to master the same social skills sighted children learn through observation. The youth & family service department offers resources for families such as support, information, and guidance to families who have a person with a visual impairment. They also offer crisis and adjustment counseling, weekly support groups, adaptive recreation (sharp), monthly family events and independent living skills training (teen to work). Last year we served 97 families, 93 children in sharp and 9 students in teen to work.

adult services provide the necessary rehabilitation and training necessary for young adults to transition effectively into college or work and for adults to learn new skills necessary for employment. Fbc's goal is to get blind adults to work.

foundation for blind children's low vision clinic maximizes the remaining vision of a visually impaired person. Our highly trained, highly specialized optometrist conducts thorough examinations of our patients, ranging in age from 3 to 102, and recommends magnification devices necessary to access information and live independent lives. The fbc low vision clinic is the only full time low vision clinic in phoenix. Foundation for blind children's media center manufactures and distributes braille, large-print and e-text versions of text books and classroom worksheets throughout arizona. Serving over 1,000 registered users, fbc's media center is the largest alternative format provider in the state of arizona.