Immersion Courses

 Calendar for 2010

 Immersion and residential services are available at the Homai campus and may also be available off-site. Immersion Courses provide opportunities for intensive programmes, mentoring and peer support. Learners may also attend the Homai Campus School when it is identified through the IEP process as the most appropriate educational placement.

Immersion Course Programme

Short term immersion courses in the Expanded Core Curriculum. They may range from 1 day to 1 year in length. These may include:

• Support and training in the use of assistive technology
• Introduction and development of skills of daily living
• Support in regular curriculum areas, especially where there is an emphasis on spatial and/ or visual elements (e.g., maths, science, geography);
• Research and study strategies for senior students provided in intensive short courses through collaboration with librarians, Resource Teachers Vision and mentors;
• Longer term education programmes where it is agreed through the IEP process that the student’s educational needs can best be met at the national campus. Length of enrolment is dependent on identified student outcomes and review meetings with the family/whanau are held regularly.
• Education and support programmes for families and whanau;
• Transition services and programmes;
• Peer support programmes in conjunction with RNZFB; and
• Opportunities for parents to participate in education programmes.

Advertising of Courses

In most other instances however the courses will be advertised in:

• Board of Trustees’ Newsletter
• Homai Campus School Newsletter
• RNZFB Children’s Services Newsletter
• Parents of Vision Impaired (PVI) VISION magazine and
• Vision Education Agency and BLENNZ websites

Application forms are circulated electronically to Visual and Sensory Resource Centres and can also be requested by phone from BLENNZ Homai Campus, Resource Centres and the Coordinator Immersion Programmes.

Application Forms

Each course application form includes:

• The purpose of the course
• An overview of the course content
• Criteria for participation.
• Personal information
• Parental consent and risk disclosure forms
• Medical information

In some instances the applicants are very clearly defined e.g. BrailleNote research for senior students. In these instances the potential applicants are identified and invited to attend.
Please note that submitting an application does not guarantee a place on any course. The Immersion Programmes Application Committee meets to consider all applications. 
Members of this committee are as follows:

• Manager, Teaching and Learning Support Services
• Co-ordinator Immersion Programmes
• Resource Teacher Vision (nominated by the RTV Working Party)

Factors that are taken into consideration by the committee when determining placement on a programme will include:

• programme criteria
• student need, including age and developmental level
• safety of learners
• dynamics and needs of the group
• opportunity to participate in the future
• number of courses previously attended
• access to support in the course content in own region or educational setting.

At times a weighting may be given to learners from a:

• remote area or
• region with only one RTV.

This is a new and evolving service and as such processes and procedures are being revised and refined as feedback is received. Feedback and comment is welcome and can be provided to lwear11@gmail.com or ruth.wedde@blennz.school.nz

Revised Calendar for BLENNZ Immersion Courses 2010

Term 1

Week 4   Teenage Drama Workshop 24-27 February     

                Christchurch

     Contact: Ruth Wedde

Week 5   Careers Course A:  Homai Campus 

     Years 11/12 Low Vision/Blind 2-4 March   

                Contact: Lesley Wear         

Week 7      Technology: Pacmate Training:  Homai Campus

15-17 March  

                   Contact: Ruth Wedde                     

Week 8    Careers Course B:  Homai Campus 

                 Years 11/12 Low Vision/Blind 23-25 March 

       Contact: Lesley Wear         

Term 2  

Week 2   Careers:  Homai Campus 

               Years 9/10 Low Vision/Blind 27-29 April

               Contact: Lesley Wear

Week 4   Technology: Jaws Training Homai Campus 

               10-12 May

               Contact: Ruth Wedde

Week 4   Child and Family: Focus: Early Childhood 14-16th May  

                 Homai Campus.

     Contact: Ruth Wedde

Week 5   Child and family course: Focus: Music   21st -23rd May               

                Homai Campus

                Contact: Lesley Wear

Week 8     Tech Choices

      Homai campus

      Blind/severe low vision.   31st May-4th June

      Contact: Ruth Wedde

Term 3   Winter term 

Week 5     Child and family: focus -Blind learners with additional disabilities

                 5-9years old

      Homai Campus 20-22 August  

                 Contact: Ruth Wedde

Week 6     Child and family course: Focus: Early Childhood    

                 Homai Campus   27th – 29th August

                 Contact: Ruth Wedde

Week   7    Maths Life Skills and Study Management Skills Years 9&10

       Homai Campus 31 August-2nd September 

      Contact: Lesley wear

Term 4  

Week 1   Child and family course: Focus: Music

               Homai Campus     15-17 October  

                Contact: Lesley Wear         

Week 2   Braille Users at Primary Years 5-8        

               Homai Campus 18-21 October    

    Contact: Ruth Wedde

Week 3   Life skills 14+ with caregiver. Low vision with additional disability E.G.  aspergers

Homai Campus 29-31October

Contact: Lesley Wear      

Week 5   Technology

    Location to be confirmed   9-11 November   

               Contact: Ruth Wedde

Week 6   Child and family course; Focus: Early Childhood

               Homai Campus 19-21 November

               Contact: Lesley Wear