Louisiana Center for the Blind hosting BELL initiative this week

In 2013, the Louisiana Center for the Blind began collaborating with the National Federation for the Blind BELL (Blind Braille Enrichment for Literacy and Learning) initiative. A decade later, it’s now ready to roll out another summer camp that will provide students, families and even the instructors with countless benefits.

“This is my 10th year as the state coordinator for this initiative and I have so many takeaways,” said Krystal Guillory, Director of the BELL Academy. “Our students learn that they are not the only blind student in the district, state, country or world. It’s easy to think there’s no one like you that is learning Braille and using a cane when you don’t know any other peers like you.”

The NFB BELL Academy is a nationwide summer program that prepares blind and low-vision children to grow into confident and independent blind people who live the lives they want.

With students naturally coming from Louisiana, there will also be many who come from other states to participate in this ivaluable opportunity. Previously, they have come from Alabama, Arkansas, Texas, Mississippi and Hawaii.

“They learn that it is respectable to be blind,” Guillory stressed. “That Braille does not have to be boring. You don’t have to just sit around and read worksheets.”

Guillory added the students also learn they can do things that people in their lives may not have given them the opportunity to try. They learn they can read Braille, use technology, travel with a cane, prepare food, explore maps, cook on a stove, cut with a knife, make safe street crossings and more without sight or help from sighted people to do so.

Set for this week, the theme for this year’s camp is transportation.

Students are scheduled to have a hands-on tour at the Ruston airport, engage in STEM activities with cyber. org, join Elizabeth Vidos, also known as “Lady Chops,” for entertainment, enjoy reading and craft time a Rolling Hills Bookstore, tackle rock climbing and swimming at Louisiana Tech’s Lambright Center, learn everyday self-help skills, and of course, participate in many fun recreational activities that all kids enjoy regardless of their visual acuity.

Guillory said Ruston is an ideal location for this type of experience.

“Louisiana Center for the Blind is a fabulous spot to host our academy because we have built-in expertise. The beauty of the program is that the students are learning from blind mentors. It’s not a sighted person — like me — saying this is how you can do this and be successful. They are learning from the best, people just like them living blindness daily and using alternative techniques to do everything.”

Guillory also noted that families learn their children are going to be just fine and that they now have a family of support through both NFB and LCB.

“So many families have noted a complete attitude change in their children after attending BELL,” she said. “ The children want to use their canes and do stuff more independently.”

Although there is an application process for students to be accepted into the program, Guillory pointed out that they work very hard to do all they can to make it work for all who apply.

Students ages 4-12, low vision and/or blind, can apply and there is no stipulation that they know Braille already. In fact, many come because their respective school systems aren’t teaching students Braille.

“Ruston should realize the international gem that we have,” Guillory said. “ LCB truly is changing lives all over the world. We are blessed to have LCB host our program as we have the building capacity for classes to take place and housing that can be utilized so that we can run a residential program since we have students that live all over our state and daily travel would not be feasible.

“Being able to host the Bell Academy here is just incredible,” she continued “ This camp gives me that adrenaline shot each summer to keep teaching daily and fighting all the battles for and with my students.”