OSB Family: - Overbrook School for the Blind

“Coming to Summer Workshop
was such a relief–just
to meet other parents and
adults who ‘get it.’ It has
been emotional, supportive,
informative, encouraging,
and building. And it’s been
nice to have my daughter so
well taken care of so I could
focus on learning and
building relationships. I
learned a lot about what to
do now, how to prepare for
the future, and the kinds of
questions I need to continue
to ask. And I have new
friends I can identify with.
I don’t feel so alone.”
International Program
The International Program
continues to serve Chinese
educators and through the
educators their students who are
blind or visually impaired in
China. This past year we started to
use distance learning as a way to
share information with all of those
who work in the field of education
for the visually impaired in China.
Through the work of ON-NET
(Overbrook-Nippon Network on
Educational Technology) we also
continue to have a strong and
positive impact in Southeast Asia.
We had an expanded RAC
(Regional Advisory Committee)
meeting to discuss and look for
ways to address local and
regional needs.
Both components of the
International Program provide
funding and training to local
partners, enabling them to work
toward total independence, while
addressing their particular needs
and circumstances.
On Campus
Early Childhood,
Elementary, and
Middle School
Family relationships of all kinds
might be most apparent in EIP’s
Early Childhood (EC), where the
students, three to five years of age,
are having their first full time, on
campus school experience. For the
primary family unit, there is the
huge change of having to trust
Overbrook to care for and educate
their child. For Overbrook there is
the challenge to make the entire
family feel honored and respected
and to bring them into the Overbrook
family.
Working with all the joy and
intensity of a family, the Early
Childhood education staff starts
welcoming, comforting, teaching,
and entertaining their new and
returning students from the first
day. Then, throughout the school
year, there are gatherings with staff,
students, and the students’ families.
Games and learning experiences
abound and refreshments
are served.
Page 4 Overbrook School for the Blind Annual Report 2009-2010