AIDB Short-Term Programs

A reminder that Short-Term Programs has two courses coming up soon!

Check the links and contact info provided on the flyer to register!

The Short-Term Programs (STP) Open House, originally scheduled for Saturday, December 13, 2025, has been moved to July 2026. We know the holiday season can be a busy time for families, and we want to make it easier for everyone to attend.

All scheduled STP courses will continue as planned. We’ll share the new Open House date in early 2026, and we can’t wait to celebrate with you then!

Merry Christmas and warm wishes for a joyful holiday season from all of us at STP. If you have any questions, please contact:

Brooke Beecham @ [email protected] (256) 589-1712
Chelsea Cauble @ [email protected] (256) 921-7581

Check out what Short-Term Programs has coming up!

We are excited to host our open house on December 13, 2025 on the ASB Campus from 1:00-4:00 p.m.

We also have a very exciting and unique line-up of courses coming in 2026!

To register for the open house or to get an early registration for our courses, please scan the QR codes provided on the flyer or use the following links.

Open house: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/12-1rUxQjqcXPcK3EtGQ55LQwTLit1uM4qLLSE-iBuaY/viewform?edit_requested=true

Courses: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdXEPhX3XFieWdl1i3OL1IiUco1-_YlNyG0ktczro-oGA4Oqg/viewform

We look forward to seeing all of you!

Sharing from Helen Keller's Birthplace-Ivy Green. Camp Courage September 25-27, 2025 in Tuscumbia for children grades 4-6.

🍪👩‍🍳 Calling All Future Bake Bosses! 👨‍🍳🍰

Join us at AIDB North Campus in Decatur, AL for our Bake Boss course on September 13–14!

In this hands-on class, students will:
Plan and budget their own bake stand
Bake delicious sweet treats
Price products and interact with customers

It’s a recipe for real-world skills in independent living and entrepreneurship—plus a lot of fun in the kitchen!

When: September 13–14, 2025
Where: AIDB North Campus – Decatur, AL
Cost: FREE to attend
Transportation may be provided

Open to students in Alabama who are blind or visually impaired.

Current STP students – register here: https://wkf.ms/3GRNmlj
New students – join the STP family here: https://wkf.ms/4jTkqHp

📩 Space is limited—sign up today and show off your baking and entrepreneurship skills!

🏠✨ Home Harmony Highlights! ✨🏠

Our students had an incredible week during the Home Harmony course at Short-Term Program, where they explored essential independent living skills to help build confidence and independence at home and beyond. From learning how to properly wash hair, fold fitted sheets, and make a bed, to organizing a book bag, doing laundry, budgeting, and even dismantling and cleaning a stovetop — these students were busy!

A huge THANK YOU to our amazing guest speakers! Ms. Natalie from Hair Studio 36 (Decatur, AL) led an engaging and hands-on lesson on proper hair care and washing techniques. The students loved naming their mannequin heads and learning how to care for their individual hair types.

Ms. Kim Chichester, AFCB Residential Manager, also joined us to share real-world tips on grocery budgeting and using a grocery shopping app to make meal planning more manageable. Her insights sparked great conversations and practical applications for our students preparing for more independence.

We’re so proud of the growth and effort each student showed this week.

Our next course, Creative Expressions, begins in just a couple of weeks! If you haven’t registered yet, don’t miss out — click here to register now! https://wkf.ms/3GRNmlj

🎨✨ Creative Expressions – Now Enrolling! ✨🎨
Are you ready to get hands-on and let your creativity shine?

Creative Expressions is a tactile art course designed specifically for students who are blind or visually impaired. Explore your imagination through knitting, sewing, jewelry making, painting, and so much more!

This course is part of AIDB’s Short-Term Programs (STP) — which are FREE, and transportation may be provided!

If your child is already an STP student and would like to sign up for this course, click here: https://wkf.ms/3GRNmlj
If your child wants to enroll in STP to access this and other amazing courses, click here: https://wkf.ms/4jTkqHp

Let’s make something beautiful together!

Playdate in the Park – For Families of Blind & Low Vision Children

Calling all North Alabama families! Do you have a child who is blind or has low vision (birth–age 13)? Join us for a fun and meaningful morning at Delano Park!

Date: Friday, August 1, 2025
Time: 9:30 AM – 11:30 AM
Location: Delano Park, 825 Gordon Dr SE, Decatur, AL 35601

This event is a great way to:
-Let your kids play and enjoy the park
-Meet other parents and families
-Connect with AIDB staff and service providers
-Learn about available support and resources

Whether you’re new to AIDB or have been with us for years, this is the perfect opportunity to build community as we head into the new school year. Let’s come together, share, and support one another!

For more info, contact:
Olivia Wade
[email protected]
256-589-2502

We can’t wait to see you there!

☀️ KICK-OFF TO SUMMER was a SPLASH! ☀️

Our Short-Term Programs students dove into summer with a week full of fun, laughter, and unforgettable experiences! From hiking trails and swimming laps to splashing around at the water park and cooling off at the splash pad — every day was an adventure.

* They tapped into their creative side with arts and crafts
* Grilled up some delicious cookout food (yes, they even helped man the grill!)
* Played wild water games like Water Battleship
* Learned how to set up a real camping tent
* Practiced tying different kinds of knots — outdoor skills in action!

It was the perfect way to start the summer — making memories, building skills, and most of all, having FUN!

Last week in our Student Safety Course, our students got hands on with fingerprinting and analyzing evidence patterns!

🚨 Safety Squad: Empowering Heroes! 🚨
This past week, AIDB Short-Term Programs hosted Safety Squad, a dynamic course designed to empower students who are blind or visually impaired with essential life-saving skills, confidence, and real-world experiences.

Throughout the course, students learned how to:
✅ Make an effective 911 call
✅ Administer CPR and First Aid
✅ Respond calmly in medical and home emergencies
✅ Understand and practice electrical safety
✅ Stay safe on and around school and public transportation

But that’s not all—our students had incredible hands-on experiences with local heroes and experts, including:
* A boat ride and water rescue discussion with the Morgan County Rescue Squad
* Crime scene exploration with Decatur CSI Tech Glenn and Mental Health Liaison Kate Anderson
* Fire extinguisher safety and hands-on training at the Decatur Fire Department Training Facility with Lt. Sivley
* Exploring an ambulance and learning about intubation with Decatur EMS
* A visit and behind-the-scenes look at the Morgan County 911 Center
* Bus safety education with Ryan Smith, Decatur Regional Center driver
* A special lunch and tour of a brand-new McDonald's
* Practicing electrical safety with a custom-made board created by AIDB Maintenance and HVAC staff (Shane Bridwell and Freedom Ford)

Students even had the chance to meet and include Chip Dobbs, a member of the AIDB Board of Trustees, who joined in on some of the excitement!

This course wasn’t just about safety—it was about empowerment, independence, and adventure. Our students left feeling confident, prepared, and inspired.

We are so proud of our STP Safety Squad heroes!

🎯 Pathways to Success: Career Exploration & Cane Travel
June 24–27 | AIDB North Campus – Decatur, AL
FREE Course | Transportation may be provided

What does the future look like for students who are blind or visually impaired? With the right tools and guidance—anything is possible.

During our Pathways to Success course, students will dive into hands-on career exploration, engaging discussions, cane travel instruction, and meaningful mentorship opportunities. This holistic experience is designed to help students discover their interests, strengths, and aspirations—all while building critical independent travel skills. Don’t miss this chance to gain skills, grow in confidence, and start mapping out your future!

This course is open to school-aged students in Alabama who are blind or visually impaired.

Already enrolled in STP? Register here: https://wkf.ms/4jWjvpr
Not enrolled in STP yet? Apply here: https://wkf.ms/4jTkqHp

Check out our other summer courses, meet the staff, or just find out more information about STP on our webpage: www.aidb.org/STP

Questions? Contact STP Director Jessica Chapa at [email protected] or 256-761-3858.