Beyond Blindness

January is National Braille Literacy Month! Braille literacy is more than just learning to read—it’s a vital tool that fosters independence, builds confidence, and opens doors to countless opportunities for children who are blind or visually impaired. For children, developing Braille literacy is an essential part of their growth, helping them: 1. Explore the world through reading. 2. Build strong academic foundations. 3. Express themselves creatively. At Beyond Blindness, we celebrate the importance of Braille Literacy Month because braille literacy empowers children to achieve their goals by creating a foundation of independence and learning. (Video Description: A video of Jacob, a Teacher of the Visually impaired, wearing a white jacket, sitting at his desk in front of an iPad and a blue Perkins Brailler.) #NationalBrailleLiteracyMonth #BrailleEmpowers #BeyondBlindness #InclusionMatters #BrailleForAll

This week at Beyond Blindness was filled with indoor fun and meaningful moments. During playtime, our kiddos experienced joy and inclusion as they explored different textures together, read books, built towers, and even touched rainbows. These activities beautifully showcased inclusion in action through playful interaction. In our Learning Link program, bubbles brought smiles and excitement as the children engaged in creative and interactive play. These moments remind us of the joy that comes from connection, learning, and growing together. Visit us next week to see what new adventures our kiddos will embark on! #BeyondBlindness #InclusionMatters #PlayAndLearn #KindnessInAction (Image description: Image 1: Two kids, one guiding the other to feel a piece of paper. Image 2: A child stands under a multicolored banner with raised arms. Image 3: Four children are engrossed in their books, sharing them in pairs. Image 4: Two children build a tower with colorful shapes. Image 5: Two children read "How the Grinch Stole Christmas," one smiling, the other shocked. Image 6: A child holds an adult's finger while watching bubbles float by.)

This week at Beyond Blindness was a fantastic blend of year-end and New Year adventures! Our preschool class welcomed the new year by participating in imaginative play and taking on the roles of pilots while enjoying delightful adventures on the playground. In the infant and toddler class, tiny hands explored the sensory garden, where they learned valuable lessons in exploration and discovery. Back in the classroom, their wide smiles reflected just how much they enjoyed their learning and playtime. At Learning Link, parents and kiddos got crafty together, making fun clocks to combine learning and fun! What a wonderful way to kick off the new year! Stay tuned in 2025 for more heartwarming and exciting adventures, where every week brings new stories of joy, learning, and creativity from our wonderful kiddos! #BeyondBlindness #NewYearFun #LearningThroughPlay (Image Description: Image 1: Four children are playing on a playground structure shaped like an airplane. The child on the left is wearing a black hoodie, black jeans, and cowboy boots, and is smiling at the camera. The child in the top center is dressed in a gray sweater and gray pants, looking down and slightly turned towards the center. The child in the bottom center is wearing purple pants and a red and white patterned sweater and is smiling. On the right, the child is wearing green pants and a navy long-sleeved shirt, while looking away from the camera. Image 2: A child is standing on a path, wearing green pants and a grey shirt. They have on a blue jacket with neon green pattern accents. The child is holding up an orange in one hand while looking up. Image 3: A child is laying on a quilted blanket, wearing a black onesie with a pineapple wearing sunglasses printed on the center, the child is smiling while holding his hands by his chest. Image 4: An adult and child are holding a paper plate craft of a clock. The adult, dressed in a blue sweater, has their arm around the child, who is wearing a pastel-colored sweater with the words “Hello Kitty” printed on the center and an image of a cartoon character underneath.)

Today, World Braille Day, we honor Louis Braille's incredible legacy! His invention has transformed the lives of millions of individuals who are blind or visually impaired, empowering them to read, write, and thrive independently. At Beyond Blindness, we are dedicated to promoting a world of inclusion and accessibility. We do this through our services, by creating inclusive learning environments, and by ensuring our staff is well-trained to support the unique needs of the children we serve. With tools like Braille, we can help instill independence and confidence in both the children and their families. Let us celebrate the invention of this powerful tool of independence and continue striving for a more accessible future for everyone! (Image Description: An image of a Beyond Blindness teacher, wearing black and typing on a blue braille typewriter.) #WorldBrailleDay #BeyondBlindness #InclusionMatters #BrailleEmpowers #AccessibilityForAll

Wishing you a safe and joyful holiday season from all of us at Beyond Blindness. May your days be peaceful and warm. Happy Holidays! (Image description: An image of Beyond Blindness staff, dressed in festive attire, smiling warmly at the camera during this year’s holiday party with the words “Happy Holidays” displayed beneath the photo.) #beyondblindness #happyholidays

This week at Beyond Blindness started off with a heartwarming visit from Freddie, a certified therapy dog, and his delightful owner/handler, Chrissie. Their presence brought immense joy and countless smiles to everyone they met. Meanwhile, over at Learning Link, our children and their families had a fantastic time making s’mores and enjoying a special appearance from Mr. Gingerbread Man. As the week progressed, our talented kiddos filled the air with music and festive cheer. They practiced diligently and delivered an enchanting performance at our Annual Holiday Winter Performance. A heartfelt thank you to everyone who contributed to making this week so special! (Image Description: Image 1: Three children and an adult are smiling at the camera. The child on the left is wearing a green, long sleeve shirt and a red Santa hat. The child in the middle is in a pink shirt with drawings of Daisy Duck and Minnie Mouse, and the child on the right is wearing a green cardigan with a red bow on her hair, while holding an adult's hand who is in a red jacket. Image 2: A child in a black sweater and green pants and an adult are petting a yellow guide dog. Image 3: A child in a white shirt is guided by an adult in a pink sweatshirt to pet a guide dog. Image 4: A child in a green sweater and dark pants stands between an inflatable snowman and gingerbread man. Image 5: A child in a white dress and white hat smiles at the camera. Image 6: A group photo of adults and children smiling at the camera while posing with an inflatable gingerbread man.) #BeyondBlindness #TherapyDogLove #HolidayPerformance #LearningLink #CommunityJoy

We are thrilled to announce that Beyond Blindness has been named a 2024 Top Workplace by the Orange County Register, for the second year in a row! This prestigious honor is awarded to companies with exceptional workplace cultures determined by the people who make it all happen: our incredible staff! This recognition highlights that Beyond Blindness is a great place to work in Orange County, thanks to the passion, dedication, and collaborative spirit our team brings every day. Here’s to continuing our impactful work together! (Image Description: An image of a child, wearing a beige sweater, being helped to walk by a Beyond Blindness staff member, wearing a black jacket, accompanied by the text stating "For the second year in a row, we are an OC Register Top Workplace!".) #TopWorkplace2024 #BeyondBlindness #MakingADifference

This week at Beyond Blindness was quite a week! Our preschool classroom buzzed with excitement as the children played with sensory items and worked in groups, joyfully discovering new things. It’s amazing to see their creativity and teamwork in action! Over at Learning Link, parents and kiddos had a fantastic time engaging in festive fun by creating their very own snowmen. The joy and laughter shared during this activity were infectious, making it a memorable experience for everyone involved. Let’s not forget the infant-toddler classroom, where the highlight of the week was their holiday crafts. From adorable ornaments to delightful gingerbread man paintings, our little ones showcased their artistic talents and spread holiday cheer throughout the room. Stay tuned for more updates and join us in celebrating the wonderful moments at Beyond Blindness! Image Description: (Image 1) A little girl, wearing a red zipped-up jacket with cat prints, gray pants, and a cherry hair bow atop her head, sits in a chair laughing gleefully as her teacher shows her a bright coin. (Image 2) A little boy, wearing a grey shirt with race car patterns, navy blue long sleeves, and a grey hat, concentrates as he applies green glitter to a gingerbread man drawing. (Image 3) An adult and a child are coloring a snowman blue. The adult is dressed in light blue jeans and a yellow long-sleeve shirt, while the little girl is wearing a black sweater with blue jeans and hair clips. (Image 4) Four children are gathered around a circular table, deeply engrossed in a building project. The table is scattered with colorful blocks and pieces of various shapes and sizes. (Image 5) A little girl, wearing a green sweater, carefully places a white pom pom inside a clear ornamental sphere. #BeyondBlindness #HolidayFun #Childrenatplay #LearningTogether #AdaptiveLearning #InclusionMatters

This Week at Beyond Blindness! Our kiddos got into the holiday spirit with festive arts and crafts that brought joy and creativity to every corner. In Learning Link, families came together to make adorable Christmas tree crafts, creating memories to last a lifetime. The holiday fun didn’t stop there—our little ones bundled up and enjoyed some outdoor adventures with their friends, embracing the winter season with smiles and laughter. Meanwhile, in our Social Emotional Program, we celebrated Community Heroes, teaching the kiddos about those who keep our communities safe and strong, while also giving them the chance to dress up as their favorite heroes. Stay tuned for more seasonal fun and heartwarming activities next week! (Image Description: Image 1 An image of a child, wearing a purple shirt and pink glasses, being guided to feel a reindeer craft. Image 2: An image of a child, wearing a multicolored striped sweater, sitting in a purple beanbag, and smiling at the camera. Image 3: An image of three children, (Left) wearing a white long-sleeve shirt with flower details, dark blue jeans, and smiling at the camera, (Middle) wearing a green sweatshirt and green pants, while reaching for something, (Right) wearing a brown sweatshirt and blue jeans, reaching for the child in the middle. Image 4: An image of a child, wearing a blue shirt with a yellow long sleeve, working on a Christmas tree craft with an adult, wearing a grey sweatshirt, helping him. Image 5: An image of an adult, wearing a pink sweatshirt, holding a child, wearing a chef costume, while smiling.) #BeyondBlindness #HolidayCheer #CommunityHeroes #LearningTogether #AdaptiveLearning #InclusionMatters

Happy International Volunteer Day! Today, we want to celebrate and thank all our amazing volunteers for their selfless dedication and hard work. Your contributions are invaluable in helping us fulfill our mission every day. We'd like to spotlight one of our incredible volunteers, Maci! Maci has been a dedicated classroom volunteer for over a year, bringing kindness, and enthusiasm, and providing invaluable support to our teachers and students. Her efforts have made a difference in creating an inclusive and enriching learning environment. From our team at Beyond Blindness, thank you Maci and all of our incredible volunteers! Interested in making an impact? Join our volunteer team! Click the link below to learn more: https://loom.ly/osErl0I (Image Description: Image 1: An image of a child, wearing a blue shirt, working on a craft, being added by Maci, wearing a pink sweatshirt. Image 2: An image of Maci, wearing a brown cardigan, helping a child, wearing a pink jacket, drink water. Image 3: An image of a Maci, wearing a black shirt and squatting down, with a child, wearing a pink shirt and sitting in a blue car, looking at a lime tree. Image 4: An image of Maci, wearing a black shirt, smiling at the camera in front of the Beyond Blindness mural.) #InternationalVolunteerDay #BeyondBlindness #VolunteerSpotlight #Gratitude #MakeADifference