SFA’s Braille and Cane Club will host its seventh annual Christmas party from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Thursday in the BPSC Regents Suite B.

“We refer to the event as the Braille and Cane Club Christmas Party,” Laura Kiefer, club president, said.

According to Michael Munro, program director, members invite visually impaired or blind public school students as well as their teachers and parents from the surrounding area to attend.

“We host the party to bring the children together and expose them to other students who also have visual impairments or who are blind,” Abby Blackwell, club vice president, said.

According to Kiefer, there are more than 40 club members, and at least half are expected to participate in the event.

“Our biggest activity will be the Christmas present shopping trip,” Kiefer said. “The students will be working on traveling in unfamiliar environments, plus critical thinking, decision making, and communication. Afterward, we’ll be wrapping their purchases, making various Christmas ornaments, playing games and having lunch.”

According to Blackwell, club members will donate food for the students’ lunch.

“The children will make their own sandwiches, making choices to what they want to eat, working on their independence skills and having them solicit assistance if they need help,” Blackwell said.

According to Munro, the club works with the Department of Health and Human Services Blind Children’s program.

“We’ve asked that the children’s families provide spending money for the Christmas gift shopping trip, but our club, as well as the local Health and Human Services Blind Children’s Division, will be presenting the kids with lots of gifts to take home, as well,” Kiefer said.

According to Kiefer, the purpose of the Christmas party is for the children to have fun.

“Our Christmas party serves as a fun experience for local kiddos with visual impairments, where they can have fun with friends who share similar experiences,” Kiefer said. 

Source: http://www.thepinelog.com/news/article_6cc0282a-b6aa-11e6-aca4-5722710cff7d.html