What is the NOPBC?

The National Organization of Parents of Blind Children is a national membership organization of parents and friends of blind children reaching out to give vital information, encouragement and support. A division of the National Federation of the Blind (NFB), the NOPBC has the unique advantage of being a part of the largest, most active membership organization of the blind in the country. This relationship allows NOPBC members to draw upon the collective knowledge, wisdom and resources of the real experts on blindness—blind people.

 

What is Saturday school?

Saturday School began in January of 2002. The group grew out of a need for blind children to interact with other blind children. The group has evolved into a wonderful collection of families. The group meets the second Saturday of the month at the Department for the Blind in downtown Des Moines. The key component of the meetings are that the blind children are able to work with blind role models. For two hours every month the children interact with blind adults who live with the blindness every day. They work on a variety of topics or issues. One month it may be cane travel, Braille skills, how to tie shoes, how to cook or whatever the need or concern may be. Some months the children have baked cookies, jumped rope or explored the Department in sleep shades. The children love the opportunity to work and talk with the blind adults and see and learn from the “pros”.

At the same time the children are working with the blind role models, the siblings and parents are working on a variety of topics or issues as well. The siblings are working with volunteers on topics that relate to what their brothers and sister live with everyday. They may work on learning the Braille alphabet, walking in sleep shades or playing games in sleep shades.

The parents are meeting and learning also. The topics vary every month. Special speakers may be brought in to discuss issues that pertain to things that their children may be going through, Braille skills are worked on and cane traveling is practiced using sleep shades. Some months the parents just talk and spend time together.  

The goal of Saturday School and the Iowa Parents of Blind Children is for blind children to learn from and interact with blind role models and to spend time with other blind children. The parents want their children to be independent, happy and full of hope for the future. These life experiences are giving them the opportunities to spread their wings and explore new adventures.