Wayfinder Family Services (formerly Junior Blind)

I volunteered with junior blind of America to help blind and visually impaired children and adults to become independent and confident people for society. Camp Bloomfield is a perfect way to let that happen

Junior Blind has been a tremendous experience for children who are visually impaired. They provide opportunities for children to be treated just like anyone else their age. They challenge the children for the better and it brings out potential some people may have never know their child was capable of.

This non-profit is genuine and makes a difference for people who are blind or visually impaired.

Junior Blind has given me some of the most rewarding experiences of my life as a volunteer/camp staff. It's really incredible to watch the kids grow and become more independent with the help of Junior Blind's programs, Camp Bloomfield especially. They've truly created a space that's nothing short of encouraging, thrilling and inclusive!

A great place with a great mission! Junior Blind serves people with needs that can't be met anywhere else.

I have volunteered with Junior Blind for over six years and continue to be inspired by the organization and their members. There are so many amazing programs and events, but if you've never been to the annual Junior Blind Olympics, do yourself a favor and experience it for yourself! I promise you will be inspired by the athletes' enthusiasm and passion.

There are always a ton of incredible causes and services taking place on Junior Blind's campus. You can tell the staff cares deeply, and they are extremely dedicated and genuine... it's always a joy to spend time at Junior Blind!

The Junior Blind of America is an awesome organization, they provide and invaluable service for people with visual impairments. My family has benefited from early intervention vision therapy services, community activities, and we have greatly enjoyed Camp Bloomfield. The staff is kind, welcoming and supportive.

My son has been going here for the last 4 years and it has had such an amazing impact on his life .. He has friends he only sees once or twice a year but they pick up exactly where they left off ...

The Junior Blind of America has a life long impact in my life. JBA has taught me priceless lessons that I can use in the adult world. JBA has made me a more confident and independent individual, something I can not thank them enough for.

I had the pleasure of touring the Junior Blind School and Camp Bloomfield. No one was in the school at the time, but it impressed me because their facility was well taken care of and had so many classrooms to teach the students beyond what I thought would be possible for independent living.
I was able to tour Camp Bloomfield during a camp session. It was so great to see how well the counselers interacted with the campers. It means so much that a lot of the campers come back year after year and some even come back to be a counseler. Some of the activities at Camp Bloomfield include, horse back riding, rock wall climbing, archery, and zip lining. I walked out of my tour so happy to see these kids getting to do some really great things and having such a good time. The counselers and directors of this program left such a wonderful impact on me I am honored to have had the opportunity to visit for the afternoon.

Junior Blind is one of the greatest non-profits for children who are visually impaired and/or multiply disabled. Junior Blond offers many different programs to help the visually disabled gain more independence and I have seen what they have done for my brother now and what they have also done for my parents many years back. I fully believe that it because of this great nonprofit, that my parents and brother have as much independence as me or my others siblings.

This summer I completed my internship at Camp Bloomfield and I honestly couldn't have picked a better place to be! From the counselors to the campers to the activities we ran, there was always nonstop fun, inclusion, and most importantly, teaching children and teens how to be independent in their day-to-day activities. If I could recommend a camp for anyone to work for, it would definitely be Camp Bloomfield.

The Junior Blind does such an amazing job for so many. I'm proud to sponsor them any chance I get. They make a big difference in people's life.

Junior Blind has given my daughter years of independent experiences! That's her personal goal for life, to be an independent person. Junior Blind offers exceptional opportunities for blind individuals of all ages to experience the same things their sighted peers do with some assistance. They understand the person as a whole and seek to enrich their lives. Junior Blind is amazing!

From Vincent perez I stayed at the campus this summer. I learned how to use a cane, a stove, and prepare for an interview for a job. I appreciate the help huys.

My family has been involved with the Junior Blind of America for more than 50 years, beginning with my father, Sheldon Pollack and his close association with Norm Kaplan. Now a senior citizen myself, I was involved as a teenager volunteer, my older brother was a live-in counselor at the Los Angeles campus, my children were Camp Bloomfield campers and counselors, and this week my grandchild participated and reported that her experience as a Buddy Camper was "awesome," and that she wants to do this every year, and ultimately be a counselor at the Junior Blind of America herself!
I so appreciate the Junior Blind of America and all the great work they do in the community, and their caring and compassionate staff.

I am a pre-optometry student who is interested in helping those that are visually impaired/blind. I heard about Junior Blind through a coworker and she recommended that I volunteer for the organization. She raved about her experience at Camp Bloomfield and from that I decided to do some research about the organization that helps set it up. Unfortunately I am not able to volunteer at Camp Bloomfield but knowing that Junior Blind is there to help children and adults gain confidence and gain lifelong friends shows that I am volunteering for a company that gives back. I am currently volunteering at the office in Los Angeles and everyone here is so welcoming. The work that I have been doing here just shows me that Junior Blind goes out of their way to make sure events runs smoothly for participants and that everyone has a blast while at it! Thank you Junior Blind for allowing me to be a part of an incredible organization!

I worked for Camp Bloomfield many years ago. It was one of the greatest summers of my life! The campers were awesome, and so were my fellow counselors. I was a counselor the first week, then returned as a horseback counselor. Norman was wonderful, and so were the Freemans! I learned as much from the campers as they did from me! It is a fantastic camp! I was there in 1980, I believe. I would love to spend another summer there!

I worked this summer as a camp counselor at Camp Bloomfield. I was a big part of the children's day, and got to be witness to them become more autonomous. I loved assisting the kids in the cabin and really inject my help with them becoming more self-reliant in their simple daily activities. This camp offers opportunities for growth like you wouldn't believe. Even, I, an adult counselor took away lessons and wisdom from the fellow staff members, families, and children.

In the past three summers I have learned so much from working at Camp Bloomfield. I have worked as a camp counselor and have seen campers start the week scaried and unsure of themselves blossom into independent and self reliant individuals by the end. I would not want to change my time with Camp Bloomfield for the world.

Working over the summer at the camp programme they have was an incredible experience seeing the children and adults enjoy the sessions and activities that were organised for them. Learning about each individual for the time they stayed with us was fantastic and having a programme where they could come and enjoy their experience in a place surrounded by people who have experienced similar things they have, is a brilliant thing to have been a part of. If it wasn't for JBA they wouldn't have had this chance and I wouldn't have had the incredible summer that I had meeting some really caring, genuine people. I am very happy to have wen apart of working for them and believe they do a fantastic job!

Junior Blind brings people together from every corner of the world and gives them a chance to share such an amazing experience. I worked as a camp counselor at Camp Bloomfield and it was a privilege meeting all of the campers. Camp is place where people can be completely themselves and be exactly who they want to be. As staff, I got to see the campers grow and develop while having fun. The people I met definitely made an impact in my life, and I can only hope I did the same in return. From a personal standpoint , Junior Blind has led me to some of my closest friends. I feel so lucky to be part of such a unique organization!

Junior Blind has the most caring, dedicated, and professional staff I've ever seen. They always put students first.

Been part of JBA for so many years, I feel like family with everyone who works there, especially my ASEP family, thank you for all you do!

I was a Camper from 1977 to 1980 I still keep in touch with friends I made during those years In 1981 I came back as a Counselor and still keep in touch with some of my Campers.
I have been able to tell other people about FJB so their children or family member could also get some needed help.
I was always a great Adventure to hang out at Camp or to do the Fri. night and Sat. activities.
Norm and I had many great conversations! I still miss him.

My girlfriend and I went to Camp Bloomfield this summer it great. We had so much fun and the staff was supper nice being sure we were ok. There was a talent show. Wow wow i recorded some of the talent show. On YouTube my my YouTube name is dave4thebeatles check it out thanks!

You're blind is an outstanding organization and it is really amazing they always help out and when I'm around them I always feel safe there is not one vision trip that I have not gone on and not had a fun time its always a way for me to be free and feel normal im open to them and i love everyone there all super nice i always look foward to doing activities with them :)

Junior Blind is a stand-out organization as a result of its exceptional leadership and high-quality programs. It is making a difference!

Junior blind has helped me in finding out more about the world and has allowed me to become a more independent individual and overall more confident about myself and my skills

My daughter was born prematurely and developed retinopathy of prematurity and lost total vision in her right eye and has a little bit of peripheral vision on her left eye. She was blessed with a good mind and she progressed through high school (St. Augustine School for the Deaf and The Blind) and then college. After graduation she wanted to get a job at home, but we live in a small town and there were none to be had. So she started talking about going to another city to look. She didn't have the living skills to be on her own, which is when we discovered the Hatlen Center for the Blind in San Pablo, Calif. She was accepted and spent a year living there learning all the living skills she would need to live independently. I visited many times and was always impressed with the level of teaching and training she was receiving while there. After a year 2 things happened. She moved into her own apartment in the area of the school and they offered her a job teaching Braille and technology at the school!. I just got back from visiting her again and I am always impressed by the people who work there and now she is one of them! I love Hatlen Center and Junior Blind who now are the organization who run the center. She has been out there 4 years now and I have to say that they gave her the independence and confidence she needs to be a success in life. Thank you Junior Blind.

Junior Blind changed my son's life. He had a very limited range and was not bold about launching off in the city until he spent several months at Junior Blind. After working with his mobility coach he got so he could fearlessly take three busses across Los Angeles to visit his brother on Sunset Blvd. I was a sobbing heap when he graduated and I am a 70 year-old man. He now regularly crosses San Diego on trolley's, busses and walking with the confidence and skills this wonderful organization taught him. He regularly stays in touch with his Junior Blind friends on Facebook and is a very skilled iPhone user. He was given life skills he could never have gained anywhere else.

My mother and father started volunteering for the Junior Blind when Norman Kaplan opened his first school. Over the many years we saw how many young people were changed into independent, outgoing, and confident young adults.

It is my joy to volunteer with a few of the programs, but I think I love the Infant and Early Childhood the best because I get to meet the amazing mothers who champion their babies. These women are my heroes, and each one tells me her baby will have a much better future because of the work they do with the staff who travel to their homes, and the resources they have been introduced to through the Junior Blind. At the beginning of summer, all these families meet up at Camp Bloomfield, where together they can enjoy the outdoors, talk with other families, share stories, and where all members -- other children included -- can take time to just enjoy each other.

From the original 8 blind children 60 years ago, to the thousands who have been helped through all these years -- forgot to mention the annual Junior Blind Olympics and Goal Ball -- this organization certainly deserves to be recognized at the top nonprofit.

For the last 5 years, I have had the extraordinary privilege of serving as an Executive Coach and leadership trainer for many of the senior staff at Junior Blind. Under the exceptional leadership of CEO, Miki Jordan, I have observed firsthand the staff and Board's extraordinary commitment to excellence and the incredible services they provide to children and adults. This agency is a stellar example of the best of the nonprofit community.

I have worked for several summers with the Junior Blind at Camp Bloomfield. This is such an amazing organization providing summer camp experiences at low or no cost for visually impaired campers as well as their families. They offer all of the traditional camp experiences that you would expect at any overnight camp but activities have been modified for those who are visually impaired... so the activities can be enjoyed by all. A diverse and dedicated staff is recruited from throughout the US and World for a unique summer experience. (yes they hire international staff) Camp Bloomfield has become a family event for us as well... my son enjoys volunteering there for several weeks out of the summer as a CIT and my daughter loves to just go and be a part of the camp experience.

I am so happy with Junior Blind, I am a specialist work with the IECP team and the progress I see on a daily basis with the children we serve is just amazing. I'm humbled everyday with the families we work with, the happiness of the children everyday. But most especially JBA and the team I work with. JBA provided us with the tools and training on a monthly basis to improve and help the community and the people with vision impairments. Thank you JBA for all you do!! I'm proud to be apart of a wonderful organization!

Cristy Soromayor-Stowe

How can I share my experience with JBA with everyone? I am not sure, you see, my son is blind, from birth. As he started growing up, in a dominated sighted world, school, as he was the only blind student in any school that he would attend..the questions would arise, the bad moments at school would happen. You see, my son did not know that he was blind, it sounds silly but it's true, his world in darkness is all he knew so he did not understand when others point it out that he was different, that he could not play ball with them because he was blind, I could very well tell you hundreds of stories of how my son came home from school feeling sad, crying, frustrated and sometimes also angry.

Instead I will tell you what happened just before him attending JBA's Camp Bloomfield and what happened after. Just before going to California to JBA, my son Jason was already too angry, all the time, he was not getting along with teachers, kicking people, he was acting out his frustration. He was just in 3rd grade. The Very first summer I took my son to Camp Bloomfield, that summer changed his life for ever!
He found friends that he hold still to this day, he found out that there was a way to adapt any activity/sport and not only participate, but to excel! He came back home with something I had not seen in a very long time, confidence, smiles, happy attitude.He even told me several times that thanks to Camp Bloomfield, he had the strength to take on the world ahead of him, he gain the confidence he was loosing once before.
In other words, what did my son got from JBA? Life! Quality of life! How do you put price on that? How will I ever be able to repay JBA for ALL that they have done for my son? Never, I just cannot, but tell you how amazingly wonderful they all are, they are not just a name, nor a building, nor a program, the staff is family to me, they are life! They are happiness, it's like they grab a bunch of it and put it in the palms of their hands and when your kids go there, they blow on that happiness towards your child, and just like that..their life and take on life change for the better.

Write a review? No. I am telling you just a little bit of the people that have gave my back my child, that did what just my love of mother could not make happen for my son, they gave my son wings and want to do great things in life. Until this day, my son does not miss a summer with JBA, and he is 17 yrs old this month. To say that I love JBA is an understatement.

From,

A mom, who her heart was
given back to her without pain of seeing her child suffer.

I was able to visit Junior Blind's campus and Camp Bloomfield several times this summer. As a former Director of Operations of an organization for students with special needs on the east coast, I know how important it is to provide children with the opportunities to succeed and thrive at an early age-especially those with disabilities. Through my several visits to Junior Blind, I never ceased to be impressed by the impact they have on their students and campers. It was evident in the never-ending smiles I saw on not just the faces of the children, but the staff as well. One staff member told me how she teared up watchign a camper drive away at the end of camp this summer. If that doesn't show their dedication, I don't know what does! Thank you to the staff of Junior Blind for showing me what incredible work you do for these children-I will definitely be back to visit.

Junior blind is an amazing non-profit that gives kids the oppertinity to be who they are from a real young age. As a legally blind person myself I feel as a kid I never had the oppertinity to do any of these great things that junior blind is offering to these kids. I had chances as a kid to do some things, but they were very limited and not very popular. All in all junior blind is awesome and so are the people running it!

This was my first year working as a camp counselor at Camp Bloomfield and I was amazed. It really is a place where all the kids belong and thrive. Everyone of the kids were so excited at the beginning of the session and didn't want to leave at the end, the skills they learn there and the bonds they make are genuinely heartwarming to experience. Many parents expressed to me how grateful they are that their kids get to have a place where they feel comfortable and where they aren't different at all. I really do believe that this camp and organization is life changing in so many ways for so many different people.

My mother attended as a young teen, I attended camp Bloomfield and weekends when it was every weekend activities, my son attends visions now. Junior blind changed my life taught me that I could be and do anything. They truly are amazing I grew up poor and was able to experience so much thanks to them.

My son has been a participant in several of the programs at Junior Blind for 8 or 9 years and I/we have so many good memories and praises for all of them! The first time he went to Camp Bloomfield, I know--I really KNOW--he was a whole inch taller when I picked him up at the end of the week because he was so happy and had grown so much confidence in himself.
He enjoys friendships he has made through JBA over the years, has learned so many practical skills for independence and has been so inspired that he acquired an ongoing desire to be of service to children with disabilities and is now pointed in that direction through STEP, Hatlen and Davidson Program for Independence.
Thank you, thank you, thank you JBA for the FUN. LOVE and OPPORTUNITIES you have opened up for my son and the many, many other people you serve and benefit!
BRAVO & BRAVA to all of you who contribute to this valuable organization!
With heartfelt appreciation,
Sarah Wyckoff

My son is a client but we also donate to the fantastic Junior Blind! Our son has learned to do things beyond what me could ever have imagined with the patient, loving care of all staff. We feel that JB is our family and we are always welcomed. Our son has learned to eat by himself with a spoon. He used to only eat pureed foods and now he can eat chopped food. He is 16 years old. The other day he carried his tray from the table to the counter when he finished eating. It takes hours and hours of training and patience for the children to learn to be independent. I am forever grateful! Our entire family and friends even forego Christmas presents and give donations in the name of our son because we are so grateful! We know that all donations go where they are needed most to help the children at Junior Blind achieve the most independence possible!

We LOVE Junior Blind of America! We have been involved with them since my son was 5 years old started to loose his sight. All the events that they put together and the summer program have been amazing and my son loves all the friends he has made here. Everyone who works here is great and understanding and I make sure that everyone knows this.

I love helping out at all JBA events and activities. For the most part they're well organized and I enjoy seeing participants have fun - it makes me feel like I've done my job

My son began working with Junior Blind Infant family program at age 6 mos, and continued on to become a student on campus from the age of 3-5. The in home program we received intially, was life changing. They were a constant support during this very difficult time, when we were just begining to understand our sons visual impairments and multiple disabilities. In addition they provided us with valuable resources within the community, as well as great techniques to help him function in his environment. We feel very strongly that this early intervention was a key component in the development of his functional vision. While he is legally blind, now at age 9, he is very capable of manuevering safely through his environment, thanks to the skills he was taught.
As he continued on to become a student, he was provided with daily support, as well and lifelong skills. The campus is, to this day, one of his favorite places to go. As a family we feel safe here, and enjoy the many events they put on for our children to enjoy. I feel very blessed to have the support of this amazing organization, these past 9 years.
In addition, my oldest daughter has been a volunteer on campus and at Camp Bloomfield for the past 6 years, and is now a CIT, patiently waiting for the day when she can become a counselor. She has learned so much from the staff and enjoys the opportunity to help children who are blind or visually impaired enjoy the same activities at camp that typical kids enjoy at camp. All in a safe environment, where they do not have to worry about being judged or made fun of. They can just be themselves and have fun!!

All in all, Junior Blind of America is one of the most AMAZING Non profit organizations on the planet!!

As a donor to Junior Blind of America I can not say enough about their programs. I always feel that any donation made is always going right where is should - in helping to improve the quality of life for all that participate in their programs. They have the most dedicated staff and you can see it the moment you step on their beautiful campus.

I love volunteering at Junior Blind of America because you can see that they make a difference in the life's of those you help. Everyone that works there is caring and goes above and beyond to help. I love volunteering there so much that I have had many friends come and help out also. You always leave there feeling good about what you have done and you want to come back for more.

This organization cares for not only the visually impaired person but multi-disabled as well - something I was not initially aware of. I have been volunteering at Junior Blind for seven years and each year I am amazed at how they continue to evolve their programs for those they serve. It is an exceptional organization to be involved with. Debbie is a wonderful person to work with and always puts in 110%. If there is any organization out there that will put donations to the best use it is Junior Blind. There are organizations that say they change peoples life's - Junior Blind actually does.

The Junior Blind organization is very special to me , because I witness on a regular basis the love and caring needed in this world ,to help all people progress, and feel comfortable, irregardless of any differences you may have. I have seen many children over the last five years start out shy and withdrawn , and over time, become confident , outgoing and then moving forward with there lives in a positive way. Junior blind offers a volunteer a personal, positive experience.The staff has always been friendly, helpful and professional. I plan on volunteering and bringing my friends to help for many years to come,

The junior Blind of America has been such a great experience for me. As a client, I have received critical training for independence. Since I have been in the program I have learned to cook, travel independently and how to read Braille. My computer skills have improved greatly as well. The staff here is very motivational and has challenged me to do things that I thought would be impossible. I didn't realize everything I was capable of but Junior Blind has helped me to reach new heights in what I can do. For example, i was really nervous about preparing my first dish. I really never cooked before Junior blind so I was sure I was going to be horrible at it. The Independent living instructors insured me that I would be fine. My first dish was an inchilada casserole. Once I got started, using the appropriate tools, I felt so comfortable in the kitchen. I had no problems cutting up my chicken, seasoning it and cooking it in the skillet. For me, using the stove top had always been a big issue, but the instructors encouraged me to tackle that fear. Now I really do enjoy cooking and I found out that I am a really good baker. Blind people can cook but this was never a statement I thought would apply to me. These are the kind of lessons Junior blind teaches. It gives blind people the opportunity to meet new goals and practice doing tasks they thought they never do. I’m really glad I found this program because it has taught me to have believe in my own strengths and face all challenges.

I have been both a donor and a volunteer for the Junior Blind of America. I started out as a volunteer helping at various events such as the Junior Blind Olympics, the Halloween Carnival and their annual Christmas event. I was overwhelmed by how fantastic this organization is and the people who work there and care for the kids and young adults. I was so overwhelmed that I eventually became a donor as well, and have encouraged friends and colleagues to get involved, and donate to the Junior Blind of America.

This charity is second to none when it comes to the services it provides to the blind community. I have seen the results personally - not by looking at a spreadsheet or financial statement (which i have also done). As a Donor, I can also tell you that the organization keeps us informed of important issues/events and has a leader in Debbie that truly cares about her kids and the people that fund the organization.

The Junior Blind has helped my two year old little girl excel in all she does they so awesome with her she loves her personal teacher the most Venetia Ponce has been part of my daughter's life for two years now and has helped her become more and more independent. I LOVE THE JUNIOR BLIND AND ALL THAT THEY DO FOR US

I have been working with the great staff of Junior Blind for over three years as a leadership trainer and executive coach. Their services to this precious population are exceptional as are their leaders and management team.