The Beyond Blindness Next Steps Camp was an amazing experience. This camp was created as a way for a group of students to foster their independent living skills in a structured and safe way environment. Students aged from 9 to 22 participated. This camp mostly focused on having students of various abilities and visual impairments take their first steps towards independence. We focused on a few key areas, mainly folding clothing, cooking skills, and learning how to use the public bus system, among other skills. It was really amazing to see each student developing those skills and try new things. As an example, students gained confidence by riding the bus and inquiring about the bus information from the driver. Another key moment was when another student persevered at the farmers market when trying to make a purchase during a loud and chaotic environment. There were many more incredible things that occurred throughout the week, and I am really proud of everyone for taking those steps toward independence.
This camp helped students prepare for their everyday lives by allowing them to try different opportunities and experience things for the first time. As an example, we taught the students how to mail a package at the post office. Not only was this allowing them to learn this new skill, but it allowed members of the community to see visually impaired people out and about. Another experience was when we went to the Ecology center in San Juan Capistrano. There our students tried wonderful fruits and vegetables, some of which are not available in stores. We also engaged our sensory skills in creating seed balls from compost and clay. Which was a wonderful way to practice sensory awareness skills.
While I was working at this camp, I found my perspectives on independence change and how it should be measured. The quality of one's independence should not be measured by a given standard, rather it should be measured based on the student's particular needs and skills that they themselves can develop. Our job is to cultivate and to motivate those students to reach this potential however we can. I am really proud that I got to witness that, and I hope that more will come of it.
That brings me to the question, how do we grow from here? I would love to see a second week of camp, or perhaps more time so that we can add more skills and opportunities for students and maybe even parents or caregivers to learn these skills as well. I hope that this can be the case for next year and the years to come.
All and all, this was a wonderful experience and I was excited to return every day to see what new adventures and skills our students would experience. To those students that participated this year, I hope you are practicing the skills that you learned and I hope you will continue to keep walking your path to independence.
Brandon is a graduate of Cal State, Fullerton and is currently on the Board of the American Association of Blind Teachers as a student representative, and serving an internship at Beyond Blindness.