VIDBE-Q
Volume 62 Issue 1
cooperative programs. The UA interns have been welcomed for many years in a variety of classrooms on
campus ranging from preschool to high school. The regional cooperatives extend the same invitation to
interns to work as itinerant teachers with mentors in all regions, including north central, southwest, eastern
highlands, and south eastern locations. Occasional placements occur in the parent outreach early intervention
program for those students who are interested in learning about working with families and their infants and
toddlers in home settings. The ASDB on campus low vision program has been very receptive to having interns
participate in the 100-hour low vision specialization program for four years. In turn, the UA students have
volunteered to participate in ASDB's yearly braille challenge, intern in Camp Abilities, and participate in
weekend activities like the Optimist Club yearly bike rally. The Foundation for Blind Children (FBC) in Phoenix
has also been a partner with U of A to prepare teachers to work with children who are blind and low vision.
They have recommended students for the state funded program so that they can hire highly qualified teachers
for their agency. FBC has generously donated space for our Phoenix based classes. Most recently, students
participated in the Cane Quest challenge where VI students compete to showcase their orientation and
mobility skills. This was an outstanding experience for the UA students who were taking an introduction to
orientation and mobility for teacher's class. The UA has been fortunate to work closely with these agencies
whose mission it is to educate students who are blind or low vision.
The UA faculty and students have been involved in national and local projects to support VI students.
From 2001-2003, Western Michigan State University invited the U of A vision specialization program to
participate and host yearly sports education camps for Arizona VI students, ages 9 – 22. The camps were
housed at ASDB and then UA with community, statewide, and national support. UA students worked with
faculty to plan the camp, including events, transportation, and to secure invited guests. Paralympians from
around the US mentored the students and 1-2 students with potential to go on for more athletic training were
identified.
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