program 2 - OUTREACH TO SCHOOLS FOR STUDENTS WITH LEARNING

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VISION IMPAIRED FOUNDATION is a trust organized and operated exclusively for charitable and educational purposes. Specifically, this organization will (a) educate the public on subjects useful to individuals and beneficial to the community, (b) provide relief to the poor, distressed, and underprivileged, (c) provide an easier and more effective method of getting information and  books to vision impaired people in an environment that supports self-reliance and builds self-esteem, creates an awareness (among those more fortunate) of people with disadvantages, while offering empowering solutions so that everyone reaps the benefits. We have developed three (3) programs in furtherance of our purposes. 

Our 2nd program is entitled: Outreach to Schools for Students with Learning Disabilities.. The VIPS are not the only ones who benefit from using the software. The built-in screen reader also benefits students with other learning disabilities. Many students cannot read well but comprehend best by listening. These auditory learners or vision- impaired students can listen to many types of files including the very common Adobe PDF. In addition to these files, they can also check out digital books available at all school and public libraries. Reading can be done on their terms, eliminating the fear of appearing incompetent among their peers. Students can take the  VIP-Assist USB drive software home to help them in doing their homework without relying on family members to help in their studies.  

All of these benefits are the same as with working with the vision impaired; it increases self-esteem and builds self-reliance, and removes stigmas often attached to the learning impaired. When they feel equal with their fellow students, they can achieve anything they set their minds to. How can you deny this happiness and elation to a student? Seeing their faces when they have accomplished something on their own is something you can never take away. This is not a solution in overcoming those fears; it is just a means of letting the student proceed comfortably at his or her own pace with astounding results. 

Another benefit accrues by assisting the learning disabled as well as the vision-impaired student in the school environment, and this is the minimization of the burden on teaching staff to provide a 'reader' for each needy student. It frees up teachers and classroom assistants to help other students, and reduces the need for so many assistants which saves the schools salary funds.

 
We plan eventually to expand our operations to groups in the UK which have expressed an interest. If appropriate and in line with our purposes, and as funds permit, we may make grants, loans or distributions to organizations there.   

No corporate donations will be used outside of the US. These groups include Lions' Clubs, public and private libraries and schools, and the organizations previously mentioned. All potential groups will be carefully vetted as to their capacities to use the funds properly and in line with our Foundation's clear vision.   

This program will be implemented nationwide, in blind groups which often include the vision impaired, schools, veterans and hospital rehabilitation groups, prisons, and other locations where VIPS are present. It will be administered by the trustees and officers of our organization and will be conducted from our principal place of business. Our organization spends 20% percent of its time and efforts on this program. 

This program, as well as our organization, are marketed through existing connections, our website, brochures and word of mouth. By offering our programs, we further and expand our purposes of educating the public on subjects useful to individuals and beneficial to the community, providing relief to the poor, distressed, and underprivileged, and providing an effective method of getting information and books to the learning disabled and audio learners, and vision impaired people, in a school environment, which then supports self-reliance and builds self-esteem in these students. 

Examples of Program 2: 

• A sighted student with a learning disability needs to take a test. In the past, the school has  ad to provide a reader to read him each question. Now, he can listen to the questions from  the built in screen reader and take the test. The school can save valuable resources in personnel while enabling the student to help himself. 

• A sighted student wants to take the written driving test to obtain a drivers' license from her local DMV. She can insert the VIP-Assist USB driven software in the USB port and hear the questions and contents from the screen, take the exam and pass this exam. Now she can take her actual driving test, obtain a license and easily apply for jobs making her feel self-reliant and self-empowered.