VCB is owned and operated by VISIONS/Services for the Blind and Visually Impaired, a nonprofit social service and vision rehabilitation agency serving blind youth, adults, elders and blind children with their parents. Located on 35 acres in Rockland County, New York, VCB was incorporated in 1926. VCB has grown to be one of the largest and most comprehensive residential rehabilitation and training facilities of its kind in the United States. Each year, VCB serves nearly 600 people of all ages who are blind or visually impaired and their families.
Blind, multiply disabled children are fully sponsored by the state office of the blind if the child is registered with the state. Sponsorship is for the family program at VCB. Parent/s are required to attend. Siblings are invited to attend. Blind Developmently Disabled adults living at home with a guardian are also eligible for a waiver of up to $11 a day for a 5 day session.
Session Lengths
Food/Nutritional Notes:
Less Than 1 Week
1 Week Session
Participants eat tasty, nutritious meals which are available in the VCB dining hall three times a day. VCB staff assist with serving during each meal. Individual kosher meals, as well as a substitute food table and salad bar are available. A canteen concession stand operated by blind young adults sells snack foods and soft drinks throughout the day. Special dietary foods are the responsibility of the participant to bring. Assistants with these foods will be available.
Session Information
Special Needs Adults living at home with their family summer session. Session 1 - July 22 - 26. Blind children and their families - Sessions 3,and 4. Session 3 - First Steps - Babies and Toddlers who are blind - Preschool - Kindergarten, babies to age 5/6/ Special Needs Blind children up to the age of 21. Session 4 - Residential Vision Rehabilitation and Prevocational Programs for Children who are Blind/Visually Impaired Grades 1-9, ages 6 - 14 (Tweens).
Session 3: Socialization with peers while engaging in music, movement, sensory development. Children will have opportunities to increase skills in the areas of physical development, socialization and communication techniques.
Session 4: Prevocational skills development, leadership training, confidence building, social activities, recreation, adaptive techniques of daily living, career exploration and technology. Training in adaptive techniques of daily living, personal grooming and hygiene, communications, including Braille, orientation and mobility, adapted computers, group activities (e.g. swimming, crafts, sports, music, etc.).
All activities are planned based on the needs of the children and each child will be able to participate in activities at his/her own ability level. Support and resources for parents/legal guardians are provided. All services offered in languages other than English.
More About Camp
VCB is adapted to meet the needs of people who are blind and people who are independent wheelchair users. VCB%E2%80%99s specially designed facility allows freedom of movement and independence. All walkways at VCB are paved, guide rails border every path and ramps lead to dormitories.
Activities & Features
Academic
Language Studies Computers Photography Radio Video/TV
Braille classes computers with large print and voice output support groups discussions mobility lessons cooking classes personal and home management training speakers bureau on topics of interest for people with vision loss pre-vocational and work experience training private five acre lake with paddle boating a ramped heated swimming pool gym self guided nature trail adapted library tandem bikes bowling shuffle board bocce arts and crafts darts horse shoes.
