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Annual Report
IN THIS REPORT
• Victor: An independent and secure little boy
A printable version of this annual report is available 2005/2006 Annual Report.pdf
THE YEAR IN REVIEW
2005 | 2006
Blind Childrens Center
Nearly 68 years ago, Delta Gammas from Southern California founded the Nursery School for the Visually Impaired. There have been many changes in the world of visual impairment and education, yet one thing remains the same, children who receive early intervention set the course for their future.
Continued efforts to change the face of special education have resulted in an increased rate of referrals for our specialized yet inclusive program. In all cases, the parents are an integral part of the child’s training. Brothers, sisters and other sighted students are included in classes and activities. This is consistent with best practices, early childhood recommended standards and principles.
The benefits are numerous, including sensitization of the community and sighted peers, as well as providing our children with greater opportunities to engage with age-appropriate peers that provide models for language and socialization skills.
A major objective of the preschool and kindergarten curriculum is maximization of literacy skills for all children. In fact, professionals that interface with multiple public school settings, describe the Blind Childrens Center’s inclusive environment as outstanding in comparison to services offered by the public schools.
We are eternally grateful to our dedicated and enthusiastic volunteers, supporters, and staff. The commitment of our Board of Directors continues to inspire and guide us. The presentation of facts and figures below illustrate the diversity of Blind Childrens Center’s activities and services.
We welcome your visit.
programs & services
• 113 students and their families received direct services from Blind Childrens Center professional staff:
31 children were enrolled in the Preschool Program. All children in the preschool attend five days a week.
Six children were enrolled in the Kindergarten Program. They also attend five days a week.
21 families were served in the Infant Program attending one or two mornings a week. The family worker, teacher, and specialists made 59 visits to the families at: home, hospitals, doctor visits, IFSPs, hearings and mediations, and other professional appointments.
58 families, in addition to those enrolled, were served by the family services professionals.
• The first Blind Childrens Center Kindergarten Program was initiated and completed.
• 13 children graduated and professional assistance was provided for placement. For the first time, Orientation & Mobility services were provided for a kindergarten graduate on her new campus to orient her and increase her level of comfort with the transition.
• The Sensory Room introduced opportunities to help children become more organized and be alert for the learning process.
• Family Circles, sponsored by The Atlas Family Foundation, were initiated, bringing Infant Program families together for socialization and interaction. Picnics, trips to the beach, the Arboretum, and panel discussions with graduates were just a few of these unique experiences.
• A two-year program, Fortaleciendo Nuestras Raices (Strengthening Our Roots), funded by The California Endowment, completed the first year of planning. The Center partnered with two community agencies to train Latino parents in the world of disabilities. The program will be implemented next year.
• A music teacher joined our staff, adding a new dimension of learning for the children to enhance communication and interaction through music.
• Five parents joined the Blind Childrens Center staff: three as teaching assistant floaters and two as facilitators for the Raices program.
• Seven Parent Co-op volunteers provided essential assistance with all seven classrooms.
• Concentrated literacy training impacted activities for the preschool and kindergarten children.
• Thorough classroom assessment and evaluation was initiated to evaluate educational and child-focused practices.
• The Jr. Mentors once again offered their support to Center parents, staff, and children. Recent graduate, Alejandra, 8 years old, joined with Karen, 13, and Carlos, 14, and three young women, ranging in age from 19 to 23, from the STEPP Program at Junior Blind of America, and answered questions openly and candidly and were a great inspiration to all.
• Field trips and special activities included: LAPD Centurions’ picnic; L.A. Marathon; Adventure City theme park; family and staff barbecues provided by Jim Amormino and Angie Roman; a trip on the Metro to Olvera Street and China Town; the Arboretum; Los Angeles Zoo; KidSpace; Mother’s Beach, and annual holiday parties.
• Parent Groups, led by our Social Worker, included regular meetings (two days each week) where they discussed a wide array of daily issues. The Self-Enhancement Group, Parent Co-op Training and Supervision, and Braille classes continued.
• Parents initiated a major fund raiser promoting black and white wristbands (signifying out of the darkness, into the light). They added a new outreach component attending six fairs, three conferences, and radio and television interviews.
• Graduate and undergraduate students from local colleges and universities visited for observation and training.
• Pediatric Residents from Childrens Hospital, Jules Stein, USC, and Cedars Sinai made monthly observations. 48 doctors were introduced to the Center.
• 30 professional conferences and workshops were attended by education and family services staff. Some included: CTEVH (California Transcribers and Educators of the Visually Impaired); International Conference on Autism in Infancy; Childhood Visual Impairments; Sensory Integration and Helping Children Become Alert for Learning; Braille Symposium; Southern California Network Family Weekend; Zero to Three Conference; Early Start—Providing supportive care to high risk, premature, disorganized infants; IDA Conference on Infant Mental Health; and The Provision of Braille in the IEP.
• Blind Childrens Center staff are often requested for presentations. Education and Family Services staff delivered 32 outreach presentations for professionals and the general community. Some included: The Southern California Network Meeting (four per year); Camp Bloomfield Family Weekend (three days); Fiesta Educativa: anger management and behavior modification (two days); Infant Massage Training (five sessions); Braille Institute and Long Beach Parent Support Group: What are you looking at?; Living with a Diagnosis; South Central, San Gabriel Pomona, and East LA Regional Centers Early Start Units; Westside Family Resource & Empowerment Center; Special Quest Year Seven (one week of training and two weeks of teaching); Epilepsy; and Advocacy.
• Outreach was provided for eight information fairs, festivals and community organizations.
• Executive Director Midge Horton and Development staff made 68 presentations to community clubs, organizations, and businesses.
2005/2006 fiscal information
development & administration
• The Development Team and volunteers continue to explore and support new ways to meet our expanding program budget.
• Fund raising was up slightly over last year at 0.8%.
• Agency expenses were just under target at 99%.
• Light the Way Circle currently has 106 individual members, realizing $246,800.
• Grant funding increased 17% and accounted for 41% of our fund raising.
• Heritage League gifts totaled $2,103,370. (This is not counted in fund raising total.)
• Special events support accounted for 31% of our fund raising.
• Special events were $39,404 under goal, due primarily to the downturn in The Tom Sullivan Blind Childrens Center Celebrity Golf Classic. Tournament net revenues brought in $47,000.
• The Roddy Hiatt Golf Tournament increased net revenues to $50,000, a 16% increase over last year.
• Special events included the Roddy Hiatt Golf Tournament; Longest Day of Golf; Les Marraines Halloween Luncheon; The Rat Pack Opening Night at Redondo Beach Performing Arts Center; LA Marathon; The Tom Sullivan Blind Childrens Center Celebrity Golf Classic; and LAPD Centurions football games.
• Team Blind Children/LA Marathon raised $35,500. More than 200 Disney and other volunteers cheered the athletes from the Center’s race day site.
• Board member Larry Meyer, continued his exceptional effort by running the Mount Kilimanjaro Marathon. His personal efforts raised nearly $7,000 for the children.
• Montebello Lions presented a donation and brought 11 members and guests to dinner.
• North Hollywood Lions, supporters of the Center since 1950, presented a donation at graduation.
• Graphics were provided in-house for special events, direct mail pieces, brochures, newsletters, and website.
• The newsletter was sent to nearly 7,000 friends, twice during the year.
• An article for the Delta Gamma Anchora was published in the Summer 2006 issue. David K. Johnston, professional photographer, assisted Katherine Griffiths, Delta Gamma, in the composition.
• Research project "Improving Trabeculectomy Outcome in Children Using Human Amniotic Membrane" was sponsored. Mary Eibschitz, M.D., W.K. Kellogg Eye Center, conducted the research. The project selected for 2006/2007 is Optic Nerve Blood Flow and Retinal Nerve Fiber Layer Thickness in Patients with Unilateral Amblyopia. Noa Ela-Dalmon, M.D., Jules Stein Eye Institute, will conduct the study.
• 45 volunteers from Pepperdine University worked at the facility for "Step Forward Day."
• Kris Fisher shared her incredible talent painting murals and detail of Charlotte’s Web throughout the hallways.
• Seimens Building Technologies, Inc. Fire Safety Division and LPTS Solutions, Inc. completed installation of the new Fire System.
• 7,929 publications distributed throughout the world.
Thank you for being a vital part of our success.
A printable version of this annual report is available 2005/2006 Annual Report.pdf
Previous annual report: 2004/2005