Future Reflections Special Issue: Technology
Adventures In NFB Childcare
by Carla McQuillan
From the Editor: For many years the childcare service at NFB convention has been run by Carla McQuillan with the help of her daughter, Alison. Here are a description of this year's program, the schedule of camp hours, and the registration form. The deadline for registration is June 15.
If you are between the ages of six weeks and twelve years, NFB Childcare is the place to be at national convention in Dallas. NFB Childcare will be open for fun during meetings and general convention sessions.
Our childcare rooms are divided by age of the children served, with appropriate toys and activities in each room. We have separate rooms for infants and toddlers, preschoolers, and school-age children. The infants and toddlers spend much of their time in the room with occasional walks around the hotel and stories read from Braille books. The preschool group will enjoy Braille story time, a few arts and craft projects, and small group play on the hotel lawns. The school-age children will have special-guest presentations on writing stories, science and technology, music and movement, and blind people employed in different professions. In addition, there will be daily excursions to the hotel lawns for outdoor games and water play.
Special Outdoor Activity!
This year, on Tuesday, July 3, NFB Childcare will bring in a giant inflatable obstacle course for the children to experience and explore. The course will include several obstacles to climb over, through, and around, ending in a giant slide. This activity will be available for preschool and school-age children during the morning sessions.
Children who are not signed up for NFB Childcare for the day may try the obstacle course during the lunch break, from 12:00 to 2:00 p.m., with the following conditions:
1. Children must be accompanied by an adult who stays the entire time the child plays.
2. A waiver of responsibility must be signed by a parent or guardian (available at NFB Childcare and at the course site).
3. There will be a fee of $1 per course run-through. Tickets may be purchased at the NFB Childcare desk prior to the event. Tickets can be purchased on-site, availability permitting.
4. Children must go through the course in stockinged feet or barefoot.
5. NFB Childcare reserves the right to deny participation to any individual who poses a safety threat or concern.
Banquet Night
Kids in NFB Childcare will enjoy their own banquet night activities, beginning with their meal. Afterwards the children will be dazzled by the exotic live animals of the Creature Teacher. Hairless guinea pigs, iguanas, and hedgehogs are just a few of the animals in the Creature Teacher's educational presentation. Immediately following the Creature Teacher's lesson, the children will relax with a movie and popcorn.
NFB Workers
NFB Childcare is under the supervision of Carla McQuillan, a longtime member of the Federation. Carla is the executive director of Main Street Montessori Association, operating three Montessori schools and a teacher education program in Oregon. She has directed NFB Childcare since 1996. Alison McQuillan serves as the activities and staff coordinator for the program. Alison monitors the daily activities, drop-off and pickup, and staff-to-child ratios. She ensures that only parents and authorized adults are allowed into the childcare rooms.
Each of the three rooms has a supervisor who is responsible for the activities of that age group. These leaders are chosen for their experience and demonstrated capacity to handle groups of children and workers. They are staff members of Carla's schools. Other workers and volunteers are drawn from within the Federation. Workers and volunteers usually include a mix of blind and sighted teens and adults who take shifts throughout the week.
Michelle Chacon is a certified orientation and mobility instructor and a teacher of blind children. She will be available throughout the week to consult with parents and staff and will provide some individualized instruction for our kids.
Babysitting List
NFB Childcare maintains a list of people who are interested in providing care outside scheduled hours for childcare. The list is at the check-in desk for NFB Childcare. Parents are welcome to review names on the list if they are in need of caregivers during off hours. NFB Childcare and the National Federation of the Blind are not responsible for the actions and behavior of those on the babysitting list. We do not screen the people listed; we merely maintain a central list for the convenience of convention attendees.
Preregistration
Due to the limited space, parents wishing to enroll their children in NFB Childcare must complete and return the following registration forms no later than June 15, 2012. You also may email or call to reserve space for your child or children or to contact Carla with questions: <[email protected]> or (541) 726-6924.
NFB CHILDCARE REGISTRATION FORM
Completed forms and fees must be received on or before June 15, 2012.
Parent's Name
Address
City State Zip Phone
Cell Phone Cell Phone
Children]s Name(s)
Age Date of Birth
Age Date of Birth
Age Date of Birth
Include description of any disabilities or allergies we should know about:
Who, other than parents, is allowed to pick up your child(ren)?
Per Week: $100 first child, $75 siblings
No. of Chn $
(Does not include banquet)
Per Day: $25 per child per day
No. of Days x$25 child $
(Does not include banquet)
Sa M T W TH (circle)
Banquet: $25 per child No. of children $
Turkey Sandwich Cheese Sandwich
We understand that NFB Childcare is being provided as a service to make our convention more enjoyable for both parents and children. We will pick up children immediately following sessions. We understand that, if our child(ren) does not follow the rules or if for any reason staff are unable to care for our child(ren), further access to childcare will be denied.
Parent's Signature Date
Make checks payable to NFB Childcare. Return form to NFB Childcare, 5005 Main Street, Springfield, OR 97478; (541) 726-6924; and <www.mainstreetmontessori.org>.
NFB CHILDCARE SCHEDULE
NFB Childcare will be open during general convention sessions, division and committee meeting day, and the evening of the banquet. The hours for NFB Childcare are tentative. The actual hours will be based on the beginning and ending of sessions so that parents can drop off their children thirty minutes before the start of session and must pick up their children within thirty minutes of the end of session. On occasion the actual end or beginning of session may be earlier or later than the agenda indicates. We charge a $10 per quarter-hour per child late pickup fee. NFB Childcare provides morning and afternoon snacks. You must provide lunch for your children every day.
Date NFB Childcare Hours
Saturday, June 30th 8:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. and 1:30 p.m.-5:30 p.m.
Sunday, July 1st Childcare is closed.
Monday, July 2nd 8:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. and 1:30 p.m.-5:30 p.m.
Tuesday, July 3 9:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. and 1:30 p.m.-5:30 p.m.
Wednesday, July 4th 8:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. and 1:30 p.m.-5:30 p.m.
Thursday, July 5th 8:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. and 1:30 p.m.-5:30 p.m.
Banquet 6:30 p.m.-30 minutes after adjournment.