*NE Family Conference:*
*Volunteer Information*
*May 3^rd , 2008*
* *
This annual conference is for families throughout New England and New York
State who have a young child (birth to 7 years) with a visual impairment or
blindness. While the parents are attending conference sessions, we provide
childcare for the children. The childcare program enables many families who
would otherwise be unable to attend to have an opportunity to meet other
families who have a child with a vision loss and to attend sessions on a
variety of topics. This will be our 25th annual conference.
*Each volunteer is assigned to an individual child or number of children for
the day, so it is very important for volunteers to understand the commitment
they make when they sign up. *It is very difficult for a family to arrive at
Perkins after a long drive to find that the counselor assigned to their
child is not there.**
* *
Most of the children at the conference are under 10 years old. Many of the
children have visual impairments and/or multiple disabilities; volunteers
are also needed to watch the sighted brothers and sisters of these children.
If a volunteer is most comfortable with a particular age or type of child,
please let us know and we can try to match them accordingly.
We usually have about 120 children at the conference. They are divided into
about 6 age groups: birth-17 mos., 18 mos.-2 1/2 yrs., 3-4 yrs., 4-5 yrs.,
6-7 yrs., and 8 yrs. and up. A Head Counselor in each group has activities
planned and is available to help counselors as needed with the individual
children to whom they have been assigned.
Volunteers must be at Perkins School for the Blind in Watertown from 7:30
a.m.-3:15 pm. on Saturday, May 3^rd , 2008. Counselors sign in and register
at 7:30. We have an orientation for counselors from 7:45-8:30. Children
arrive between 8:30 and 9:15 a.m.
Lunch is provided for everyone (usually a sandwich, fruit, chips, and
soda/juice). Parents pick up their children for an hour at lunchtime, giving
the counselors a break. Counselors should wear comfortable, but neat and
clean, clothes. Volunteers may be running around with children on the
playground, finger painting, rocking babies, etc.
Volunteers *_MUST_* fill out two forms completely (CORI form and volunteer
application). Return the two forms and Xerox of a picture ID (passport,
driver's license or school ID) to Ellen Mazel by April 5^th , 2008.
_If you have questions, contact:_
Ellen Mazel _mazels@verizon.net_ 781-275-7875
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