LAS VEGAS, Nev. (FOX5) – The new Pre-K program at the Nevada Blind Children’s Foundation is specially designed for students with visual impairments.
“The big difference with our classrooms is that everything is adapted in large print as much as possible. We have a lot of Braille accessibility,” said Maribel Garcia, Executive Director of the Nevada Blind Children’s Foundation.
The Pre-K class just started on Monday, and it’s the first of its kind in the entire state.
Using individualized instruction, students are learning the basic skills and confidence to prepare them for kindergarten and beyond.
“All of our kids are learning their colors, how to write their name or Braille their name. Many of the kids that are going to use Braille, they will start with those pre-Braille skills, which is tracking, learning the 6-dot method.”
One of the main skills they start teaching from a young age is reading and writing Braille, but Garcia says the Braille typing machines require a lot of strength and dexterity skills.
“It’s a lot of strength, motor strength that they need, so they will learn all of those motor skills in the Pre-K classroom, either playing with Play-Do, stringing blocks into a shoestring,” she said.
The Nevada Blind Children’s Foundation worked with the Nevada Ready program and the Department of Education to start the Pre-K class after requests from parents involved in the foundation.
“She has changed a lot. She was before afraid to be close with people,” said one parent. “Now, she feels like she wants to be more close with people, especially with kids, so I’m happy.”
Three students are enrolled the current spring Pre-K class so far, with seven spots still available for students with visual impairments—or not. They welcome students of all abilities as part of their inclusion program.
You can find more information to enroll here.
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