1302 Dunmire Street                                                                                         Contact: Lindsay Pieler

 Pensacola Fl. 32504                                                                                          Phone: 850 477-2663

www.ibwest.org                                                                                                     lindsay@ibwest.org

July 24, 2007                                                                                                      For immediate release               

Blind Students Graduate Summer Program

Independence for the Blind of West Florida (IB West) ended its annual Summer Transition program with a ceremony for its 10 graduates Wednesday July 18 at the New World Landing.  Board member Clarence Bell provided entertainment by playing the piano.  Guest speakers included Division of Blind Services, District One Administrator Denise Vaughan, and Nick Dotson from Kurzweil Education Systems. 

Students who participated said they enjoyed Summer Transition because they made friends who also have vision problems, learned the importance of teamwork and time management, and because of all the activities planned for them.  The following students graduated the Summer Transition Program this year:  Alexander Arteaga, Panama City; Cassie Avery, Freeport; Rae Sheira Dial, Pensacola; Lauren Evans, Pensacola; Thomas Leonard, Pace; Stephon Lott, Crestview; Jessica Maggard, Bonifay; Justin Nichols, Fort Walton Beach; Emmett Sutler, Jay; and Alex Wallace, Milton.

Mary Colston, who is the program director, explained that Summer Transition is important for these teens because they are often not given an opportunity with companies because of their vision impairments.  Participating in Summer Transition Program teaches them skills to help them get a job.  The internship also builds their confidence and makes them realize they can be successful even though they are visually-impaired.

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            Beginning June 4, each day the students participated in different activities, including learning self-defense techniques at Seikou Martial Arts Academy.  Doug Davis of the Seikou Martial Arts Academy donated 4 lessons for each student over a 2 week span to learn these techniques and become more independent.  Other activities included dance lessons and fitness classes. Speakers from the University of West Florida, Pensacola Junior College, and Compass Bank came to the Independence for the Blind office and discussed important topics with the students that would help prepare them for entering college or finding a job.  On “Government Day” the students traveled to City Hall and met with city and county officials.

The Summer Transition Program is offered every year by Independence for the Blind of West Florida and prepares high school students that are blind or visually impaired for college and or entering the workforce through computer and adaptive software training, socialization, recreational skills, and vocational training such as resume preparation and interviewing skills.  The last two weeks students actually complete an internship with a local company.

Independence for the Blind of West Florida remains the only nonprofit solely devoted to educating the blind and visually impaired in West Florida.  Along with the Summer Transition Program, IB West offers programs for visually impaired individuals of all ages at no charge to help them achieve maximum independence. 

For more information on IB West and how you can help, contact Lindsay Pieler at 477-2663, or visit their website at www.ibwest.org.

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