VIDBE-Q 2026 Volume 71 Issue 3
Planning a residential program takes year-round dedication. One of the most
significant changes FBC made was dedicating a year-round position in 2023 to
focus on planning and coordinating the summer programs. As the programs have
grown, an additional position of Youth & Transition Specialist was added to
support 50% of the summer planning alongside the Transition Programs Manager.
Although the programs conclude in mid-July, planning for the following summer
begins again every August.
From August through October, the team evaluates the previous summer by
identifying what to begin, stop, and continue. During this time, staff also does
inventory of supplies, organizes materials, repacks equipment, and does outreach
to schools, families, VR counselors, and community partners. FBC also seeks to
support teachers of students with visual impairments (TSVIs) and orientation and
mobility (O&M) specialists throughout the state by providing resources that help
make the transition process smoother for students and school teams.
Starting early with the planning of the programs allows the team to be
intentional rather than reactive and helps ensure that staffing, curriculum, housing,
transportation, and community partnerships are in place before students arrive. In
2025, the programs introduced a new schedule that proved to be a success. The
program focused on three weekdays for seven hours of instruction per day, with
two days built in for community outings/field trips to get real world experiences,
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