The goal of the New Jersey Foundation for the Blind is to assist people who have become visually impaired to regain their self-esteem and self-reliance. To that end, we offer a variety of core and elective rehabilitation courses that promote independence. Before students can be registered for classes, a complete functional performance assessment is conducted in the areas of Orientation and Mobility, Activities of Daily Living, Communication, Organization and Assistive Technology skills. After reviewing the results, staff discuss options with the student. Student input is crucial in designing the program. Students may wish to participate in all recommended courses or focus on specific areas of concern. In addition, students may attend classes two days a week, one day a week, or we can design a program to meet individual needs. Below is a list of some of our ten-week courses.

Core Courses

Chef’s Hat

This class covers basic home-making adaptive skills from pouring liquids to using a stove. Proper nutrition and techniques for eating neatly are also areas of focus. Labeling groceries, organizing cupboards, adapting appliances, cleaning techniques and sewing are also taught, which can provide people who are visually impaired a renewed sense of self-worth and self reliance.

Chef’s Hat II

This is a course that is specially designed for individuals who have a great deal of experience in the area of home- making skills, but need to refine and improve the more complicated skills of stove-top cooking, baking, using small appliances, etc.

Beyond Hunt and Peck

This is a course designed to either review or teach the basics of keyboarding. In this computer class, students learn how to touch-type the alphabet and other keys of the standard QWERTY keyboard. This course is a pre-requisite for all other computer courses.

Cyber Connections I and II

These courses are designed to teach the use of computers as an organizational tool and as a means of providing access to information. Students learn the proper name of each part of the computer as well as their location and function. They learn how to navigate and use the Windows Operating System, as well as programs such as Microsoft Word, Outlook Express, and Internet Explorer. These programs are used for writing and formatting documents; keeping track of personal and other information; sending and receiving email; and using the Internet. Depending on students' needs, these skills are taught using screen magnification programs or screen readers that provide speech output. Depending on class size and students' interests, the instructor may introduce scanning software that is designed to provide auditory access to printed material.

Get up and Go

This class focuses on the development of Orientation and Mobility (O&M) skills. O&M training targets overall safety while traveling indoors, outdoors, and in residential or business areas. Once a functional performance assessment is conducted, a mutual decision based on input from both the student and instructor determines what tools the student will use to travel safely and independently. Examples of travel tools are optical aids that are prescribed by doctors, and a long, white travel cane. O&M instruction emphasizes use of visual, auditory, tactile, kinesthetic, and olfactory input in conjunction with cane skills to promote safe movement in familiar and unfamiliar environments. Initially, students work on learning to safely travel inside the building using spatial orientation methods. If the student has an interest and/or need, outdoor travel in residential and business areas is introduced.

Hot Dots

This is a series of lessons designed to introduce the literary braille code, which is a tactile method of communication used for reading and writing. Initially, this course focuses on uncontracted braille, consisting of the braille alphabet, punctuation and numbers. Contracted braille, which is a short-hand version of braille that uses symbols or abbreviations to represent whole words, may also be taught if the student shows interest and has the tactile sensitivity to learn this skill. The Hot Dots curriculum provides students with a means to of achieving independence. Students are able to use braille to label items and to organize written material, such as addresses and phone numbers. Jumbo braille may be used with students who have difficulty feeling the smaller standard braille cell.

Peer Support and Individual Counseling

These classes are essential to the adjustment to vision loss. In the peer support group, our experienced counselors guide students through a series of thought-provoking questions and activities, so the student may learn to cope with vision loss and learn to access information in their communities. Individual counseling is available to students who prefer or who are in need of intensive support.

Simple Solutions

This is specifically designed to encourage the independence of students who are blind or visually impaired in their daily routines of life. Some areas covered are: adaptive skills for dialing a telephone; identification and organization of money; organizational strategies for clothes, cabinets and written documents; labeling of items such as stoves, microwaves, and washers; and the use of small electronic equipment such as tape players and small voice organizers.

The Eyes Have It I and II

‘The Eyes Have It 1’ is a consumer-oriented course that familiarizes students with available services and professionals; optical and non-optical aids; the anatomy and conditions of the human eye; and effective strategies for using remaining vision. ‘The Eyes Have It 2’ provides students with more hands-on experiences with low vision devices, such as magnifiers, filters, monocular lenses, closed circuit televisions, and writing guides.

Optional Courses

Aerobics class

This class begins with movements from a seated position, and progresses to a thorough workout, including warm-up, cardio work, resistance training, balance exercises, and stretching for flexibility. As students learn the routines, they progress to standing and movement activities. The instructor has experience working with students of all ages who have a variety of abilities, and paces the course accordingly.

The Artist's Studio

This class is designed to identify, recover, and enhance the inherent sense of creativity in each of us. The instructor encourages independence in a dignified and supportive manner. Specifically, participants will work in a group environment, fostering a safe haven for personal creativity through hands-on experiences in art. Directives will expand the participant's expressive vocabulary, increase awareness of our natural interdependence, and facilitate meaningful dialogue, all of which validate transformation in the individual experience.

Bingo Blast

This is a course that is specially designed for persons who want to play Bingo in their community. This course teaches the tactile and/or visual skills necessary to compete in this fast-paced game. Special rules pertaining to persons who are visually impaired are taught along with various strategies that enable students to become efficient and competitive players.

Horticulture

This is a course that encourages the use of fine motor skills and promotes the use of the olfactory and tactile senses. Students enjoy planting flowers and herbs, and designing their own potted creations. In addition, they will learn how to care for plants and how to use herbs to improve the flavor of food.

Music Studio

The goals of this course are to develop listening skills and to promote rhythm for ease of movement through space. This covers music appreciation, understanding how instruments work, and basic keyboard and percussion techniques. The specific topics covered and music courses taught are dependent upon students' interests and experiences with musical instruments.

Pottery Studio

This is a course designed to teach the basics of hand building with clay. When vision loss occurs, students must learn to use their hands to identify objects and develop finger and hand coordination. This pleasurable course aids in learning these basic skills.

Sewing Studio

This course is designed to show both hand and machine sewing. The instructor works with the novice who wants to learn the basics of sewing a button or a straight hem, and with the experienced person who wants to learn the adaptive techniques for sewing with a visual impairment.

Weaving Studio

Our weaving studio has four floor looms and five table “inkle” looms. Students learn the coordination skills needed to weave such items as placemats, belts and scarves. The course encourages use of fine motor skills, motor planning and memory skills.

Yoga

Yoga is an ancient tradition that promotes balance and good posture, both of which can be adversely affected by vision loss. Yoga strengthens the central nervous system and keeps the spine flexible, aligned and strong. In this class students will learn toning and strengthening exercises, as well as relaxation skills that are designed to quiet the mind. The regular practice of yoga has been known to create an overall sense of well-being from the inside out.

Courses offered depending on staff availability and student interest.