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Parent Groups

Parent Groups are provided to parents of children who are impacted by vision loss and are enrolled in the Children and Youth Services Department. The Parent Group covers information on visual diagnosis and possible effects on access to the environment, IEP information, early childhood development, technology, advocacy, and resources for parenting a child who is impacted by vision loss.  We welcome new families and are happy for you to invite other relatives as well.  However, please keep in mind that childcare is not offered during parent workshops.  

In the month of November, the Parent Group welcomed Lekotek leaders Kristen Davis and Valerie Loud.  Lekotek of Georgia is a nonprofit organization that provides support to children with special needs and their families by providing accessible play, adapted toys, technology, information and resources.  During the workshop, parents learned more about Lekotek services and how valuable educational play is for their children's developmental progress.

The next Parent Group on December 10 (11am to 12pm) will feature Asha Hagood from Georgia Libraries for Accessible Statewide Services (GLASS).  This will be a great opportunity for parents to network with other families while learning more about accessible library services offered to children and families. Please RSVP for the December 10 Parent Group by emailing me at jwilson@cviga.org before December 9. 

The first Parent Group of the new year will include information on the Katie Beckett program and is planned for January 14.  For more details or to RSVP, please contact me at jwilson@cviga.org. 

Jazmine W. McMullen MSW
Children & Youth Services Support Coordinator

STARS
STARS Student's Project Commitment
 

We received the following absence note from the father of a STARS student last month and wanted to share it with our readers.  Thank you to Mr. Buckley for allowing us to use his email in this month’s newsletter and congratulations to Cole Buckley for being recognized for his work as an advocate and ambassador at his school!

Message:
 
“I’m reaching out to let you know that Cole won’t be at STARS today because of a commitment he made to his 1st grade teacher.
 
Back in 2015, the 1st graders in Cole’s school were assigned a project called “What can one little person do?”  At the end of the project, a few 1st graders were selected to present their proposals to the Decatur city commission.  Cole decided to advocate for more braille signage at city intersections and he was selected to present his proposal to the mayor and commission.
 
After that, Cole continued his advocacy for visually impaired students by serving as a guest speaker at younger classes.  During these speaking engagements, Cole explains what life is like for visually impaired students, and he teaches strategies to help sighted students to sensitively and effectively interact with their visually impaired peers.  Cole’s first grade teacher is working on a similar project with her current class and they have a book reading event this evening relating to it.  She has asked Cole and a couple of her other former students to come speak at the book reading about their experiences with their “one little person” projects and to give advice to the younger kids.
 
All of this to say that, even though he won’t be at STARS today, Cole will still be advocating for public awareness of, and sensitivity toward, the visually impaired community.”
 
Harold Buckley, Jr
Father of STARS Student, Cole Buckley

 
Georgia Lions Camp, Inc.

Registration Open
Come Join Us for a Summer Filled with New Adventures, Programs, and Activities
 
5626 Laura Walker Road
Waycross, Georgia
Phone 912-283-4320
Fax 912-283-5130
Toll Free (GA only) 888-297-1475
Email: director@www.glcb.org
Campers can register by going to the camp’s website, www.glcb.org and click on registration, which will allow them to fill out their application by using campdoc.com.
 
Session #1:  Pre-Teens ages 6 to12
June 14 through June 19, 2020

Session #2:  Senior Adults ages 35 and up
June 21 through June 26, 2020

Session #3:  Young Adults ages 18 to 34
July 5 through July 10, 2020

Session #4:  Teenagers ages 13 to 17
July 12 through July 19, 2020