New Summer Program Offered to Students Who are Blind or Visually Impaired in Springfield, Missouri

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. - Feb. 28, 2014 - PRLog -- Middle school studentsin Springfield, Missouri who are blind or visually impaired are invited to apply for a free, new summer program that offers Orientation & Mobility, Activities of Daily Living, plus Recreation and Leisure / Fitness options, including swimming lessons and exercise.

The SouthWest Expanded Education Program (SWEEP) for students who are blind or visually impaired will be conducted this summer for ten students entering the 7th grade to entering the 10th grade.

SWEEP will be offered June 9 through June 27, Monday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.in the Greenwood Lab School at Missouri State University (MSU).

SWEEP Director Julie Anderson-Ituarte, a blindness skills specialist at MSU, said, “SWEEP will offer three weeks of education and instruction in three areas to meet Expanded Core Curriculum (ECC) needs for students who are blind or visually impaired.”

Each SWEEP student will receive at least two hours of Orientation and Mobility services per week from a Certified O&M Specialist. Daily Living Activities will enable students to practice organizing and labeling personal belongings by learning different methods to accomplish this. In addition, each student will be expected to prepare, cook and clean up their own lunch meal and snacks.

The Recreation and Leisure / Fitness segment will help students learn how to swim using a proper stroke and be safe around water, and how to use exercise equipment such as a treadmill, stationary bike, elliptical and rowing machine.

SWEEP applications must be received by March 31, 2014. Eligibility requirements are shown on the website www.lhbindustries.com.Click “Our Programs” and then “See the Future” to learn more about SWEEP.

For more SWEEP information, contact Julie Anderson-Ituarte at jituarte@missouristate.edu or 417-836-5490 or contact Aundrayah Shermer at ashermer@missouristate.edu or (417) 836-8872 (tel:%28417%29%20836-8872).

SWEEP is the newest program from Lighthouse for the Blind-Saint Louis, a not-for-profit manufacturing and packaging organization with a dedicated social service mission that helps children and adults who are visually impaired maintain dignity and independence by offering employment, education and support services.

Also known as LHB Industries, the Lighthouse and its employees manufacture, assemble, warehouse and sell high-quality products to government and business customers nationwide. These include emergency preparedness kits, emergency supplies, survival kits, first aid kits, medical kits, catheters, aerosol and liquid paints, aerosol and liquid cleaning products, eco-friendly products and many others.

All sales revenues directly support Lighthouse programs including Professional Career Development; Special Technology and Adaptive Resources for Students (STARS); Summer Jobs for Students; Continuing Education; Arts & Entertainment Accessibility; Low Vision Aid; and others available for individuals who are legally blind and visually impaired in Missouri and Southwestern Illinois.

Please contact Brittney Smithers, Marketing Manager, at 800.542.3697 or 314.423.4333 for information about Lighthouse for the Blind-Saint Louis. Website http://www.lhbindustries.com.  Media contact: Jeff Dunlap 314.409.5203.

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