Shane Aguilera got an early start on his achievements. At age 2, he began playing the piano. He started competing in the Wayfinder Paralympics (previously named the Junior Blind Olympics) when he was just 6 years old. He added guitar-playing to his talents, as well as composing his own music. And he released a solo…
“That’s not for me,” Virginia remembers thinking when she heard a radio ad encouraging people to become foster parents. “Then I felt guilty.” She asked God to give her a sign if he wanted her to be a foster parent. “The next day, I saw a great big sign saying ‘become a foster parent’ as…
Wayfinder’s Camp Bloomfield transforms the lives of children and teens with vision loss. Camp builds friendship, confidence and independence. That’s what Camp Bloomfield did for Evelyn last year. Evelyn lost her sight when she was a year-and-a-half old due to cancer in both eyes. Maggie, Evelyn’s mother, admits to being protective of Evelyn that after…
The Year: 1958 The People: Founder, Norm Kaplan, camp staff and campers gather for fun. The Moment: Children play beep baseball during the first camp held at Camp Bloomfield. Read the rest of our New Heights newsletter.
Wayfinder received a grant from the Anthem Blue Cross Foundation to empower its members to participate in the National Fitness Challenge, an initiative founded by the United States Association of Blind Athletes (USABA). Check out these Wayfinder Moments from the past few months of the #AnthemFitnessChallenge! Read the rest of our New Heights newsletter.
Did you know…? …the number of foster families in L.A. County dropped from 6,000 in 2008 to 4,000 in 2018. …roughly 21,000 children in L.A. County are in foster care. …up to 80% of foster children have chronic medical conditions or physical, developmental, learning or mental health disabilities. A new grant from W. M. Keck…
Wayfinder partners with Cal State Los Angeles to train the next generation of teachers of the visually impaired in the ExCel Academy. Student teachers gain valuable, hands-on experience with a broad array of children who have varying levels of sight and additional disabilities. In fall semester 2018, Cal State L.A. faculty and Wayfinder staff supervised…
The Year: Unknown The People: Actor Steve McQueen The Moment: Steve McQueen visits children and families during a holiday gathering at Foundation for the Junior Blind. Mr. McQueen was known for his support of children’s charities.