The Year: circa 1964 The People: Norm Kaplan, founder of Foundation for the Junior Blind, which is now Wayfinder; a client of the organization; and famed actress June Lockhart, who was an early member of the Honorary Board of Directors The Moment: A celebration of White Cane Day.
#WayfinderInternship @Cleanlogic Wayfinder is so grateful to companies like Cleanlogic! They partner with our Transition Services program to provide meaningful internships to teens and young adults who are blind or visually impaired. Debbie (center) interned at Cleanlogic this summer. “Despite the barriers I’ve encountered as a visually impaired individual, I have acquired the skills and…
Shane Aguilera got an early start on his achievements. At age 2, he began playing the piano. He started competing in the Wayfinder Paralympics (previously named the Junior Blind Olympics) when he was just 6 years old. He added guitar-playing to his talents, as well as composing his own music. And he released a solo…
Wayfinder received a grant from the Anthem Blue Cross Foundation to empower its members to participate in the National Fitness Challenge, an initiative founded by the United States Association of Blind Athletes (USABA). Check out these Wayfinder Moments from the past few months of the #AnthemFitnessChallenge! Read the rest of our New Heights newsletter.
Congratulations to Jon, a recent graduate of Wayfinder’s Hatlen Center in San Pablo, Calif. The Hatlen Center is an immersive residential program for adults with vision loss, who gain skills to live independently. After seven months in the program, Jon was ready to take his final exam. He chose to travel by himself to meet…
Wayfinder partners with Cal State Los Angeles to train the next generation of teachers of the visually impaired in the ExCel Academy. Student teachers gain valuable, hands-on experience with a broad array of children who have varying levels of sight and additional disabilities. In fall semester 2018, Cal State L.A. faculty and Wayfinder staff supervised…
The Year: Unknown The People: Actor Steve McQueen The Moment: Steve McQueen visits children and families during a holiday gathering at Foundation for the Junior Blind. Mr. McQueen was known for his support of children’s charities.
*update* Although the Malibu site was destroyed, Camp Bloomfield lives on! Please check our program page for details. Wayfinder Family Services is sorry to report that our Camp Bloomfield site in Malibu, California, was destroyed by the Woolsey Fire. The American flag—at half-staff in mourning for the lives lost in the tragic shooting in Thousand…
Thanks to all of our Blind Babies Foundation families, staff, volunteers and sponsors who made this year’s Beeper Egg Hunts in the Bay Area and Central Valley a wonderful experience for our young Wayfinders! BAY AREA SPONSORS Golden Egg Zeiss Malted Egg Kaiser Permanente Caramel Egg Clare and Jack Friedman Union Bank Candied Egg Deborah…