Story Source: Path To Literacy ~ Go to Original Article
A critical component of early literacy is having something meaningful and interesting to talk, read or write about. All children build vocabulary through experiences – be they real life experiences, stories and pictures in books, or videos/television. For children who are blind or visually impaired, having access to meaningful experiences can present a challenge. Pictures in books or even standard field trips may not provide the types of hands-on, experiential access necessary for young children with visual impairments to build meaningful and lasting vocabulary and concepts.
In Connecticut, the Preschool Unit of the Department of Rehabilitation Services – Bureau of Education and Services for the Blind (BESB) has long run a program of family field trips for our preschool clients. These trips range from a simple day at the beach to an “instrument petting zoo” with the Hartford Symphony Orchestra, complete with a backstage tour……….