We believe in educational success, economic opportunity, health and well-being and safety and security.
Educational Success
The Early Intervention Program in Southern California and Blind Babies Foundation in Northern and Central California provide in-home early intervention services for children with vision loss and multiple disabilities, from birth to age 6. Young children maximize any vision they have and reduce developmental delays. The programs empower parents with knowledge and advocacy skills.
Number: 771 children
Outcome: 90% of children in Early Intervention and Blind Babies met their individual developmental goals.
Our Special Education School offers children and youth ages 5 to 21 who are visually impaired or have multiple disabilities a safe, positive environment for growth. Students learn in the least restrictive environment in our state-certified, non-public school.
Number: 45 children
Outcome: 78% of students in our Special Education School met their individual goals in white-cane skills, independent living, braille and communication, and social and vocational skills.
Economic Opportunity
The Davidson Program for Independence in Los Angeles and Hatlen Center in San Pablo are comprehensive residential programs for adults ages 18 and older who are blind or visually impaired. Participants learn braille, assistive technology, orientation and mobility, and independent-living skills so they can find employment and enjoy productive, fulfilling lives.
Number: 78 adults
Outcome: 88% of graduates of Davidson and Hatlen increased their independence by achieving their goals in orientation and mobility, assistive technology and independent living skills.
Transition Services enable teenagers and young adults who are blind or visually impaired to explore careers and successfully transition to independent living, college or the workforce. Across California, young people learn assistive technology, independent-living skills, and orientation and mobility skills.
Number: 372 teens and young adults
Outcome: 100% of teens and young adults who participated for at least six months in Transition Services were in higher levels of training, employed or enrolled in higher education within six months of completing the program.
Assistive Technology Training provides instruction to adults with vision loss on the latest assistive technology devices and software for success in today’s job market. The program features our state-of-the-art technology lab and worksite assessments in Los Angeles, plus in-home training in Northern California.
Number: 36 adults
Employment Services teaches adults who are blind or visually impaired the skills they need to get a job. Clients emerge as competitive candidates in the workforce. Also, Wayfinder assists employers in adapting workplaces.
Number: 53 adults
Health and Well-being
Wayfinder’s medical center provides 24-hour services to children with complex medical and mental health needs. Our staff includes eight full-time and four part-time nurses and a psychiatrist. We contract with a nurse practitioner, endocrinologist and behavioral psychologist. The medical center primarily serves children in our residential programs and the Special Education School. High-quality care helps exceptionally vulnerable children stabilize their medical and mental health conditions.
Outcome: Wayfinder’s nursing staff administered an average of 273 doses of medication per day, or 99,645 per year.
Mental Health Services provides therapy to young people who have been impacted by the foster care system, including children with medical or behavioral needs, multiple disabilities or chronic illness. Also, we assist individuals and families who need help coping with the effects of sudden or gradual vision loss.
Number: 202 people
Camp Bloomfield provides children and youth who are blind, visually impaired, multi-disabled or in foster care and their families with memorable experiences that develop self-esteem and build independence. After the Woolsey Fire in November 2018 destroyed Camp Bloomfield, Wayfinder welcomed campers to the Point Fermin Outdoor Education Center in summer 2019 for a memorable camp experience.
Number: 830 children and adults
Outcome: 91% of campers with vision loss learned at least one new independent-living skill, such as making their bed.
Wayfinder offers sports and recreation that are adapted for child and teen athletes with disabilities. From goalball, a Paralympic team sport,
to Visions: Adventures in Learning, we provide empowering recreational experiences.
Number: 723 children and youth
Safety and Security
In 2019, Wayfinder met rigorous requirements to convert its Youth Residential Treatment Program into a Short-term Residential Therapeutic Program on our campus for foster youth with the highest medical and mental health needs. Youth receive intensive mental health and nursing services so they can overcome their challenges.
Number: 55 youth
Outcome: 90% of foster children in our STRTP gained knowledge and skills to manage their complex medical needs so they could transition to other levels of care in the community.
The Temporary Shelter Care Program, also known as The Cottage, is a 10-day shelter program on our campus for children, ages 0 through 17, who have been removed from their homes due to abuse, neglect or abandonment. They receive temporary refuge in a warm, therapeutic setting until they can be placed with family members or foster families. Wayfinder is one of only four agencies in Los Angeles County to provide this service and the only one that accepts infants and toddlers.
Number: 1,552 children
Outcome: 100% of children were emotionally safe and stable while in The Cottage.
Wayfinder’s Foster Care and Adoption program matches children and youth who have been displaced from their homes due to abuse or neglect with families that can provide safe, caring homes. Our adoption services find loving, lifelong families for children in the child welfare system. Wayfinder is drawing on its decades of experience assisting children with disabilities to ensure that hard-to-place children with health and mental health conditions find homes.
Number: 461 children
Outcome: 75% of youth who were eligible to graduate from high school earned a diploma or equivalent.
Wayfinder operates five Group Homes in single-family residences, each housing up to six children or six young adults with multiple disabilities. Residents receive round-the-clock care. All group homes are conveniently located near the Wayfinder campus so that residents can attend the Special Education School, use Wayfinder’s recreational facilities or receive care from our 24-hour medical center in an emergency.
Number: 30 children and young adults
Outcome: 79% of residents of our group homes achieved two or more of their four individual goals for the year.
January 7, 2020