This summer, The Maryland School for the Blind held summer programs in its library—the 16th library renovated as part of the Baltimore Elementary and Middle School Library Project. The library offered four weeks of in-person, daily programs based on the Expanded Core Curriculum (ECC), which provides a specialized set of vision-related skills for blind and visually impaired students.
The focus was on five key areas: technology skills, compensatory skills (Braille and print literacy), independent living skills, recreation/leisure skills, and career education. The following programs were also offered: TRECKK For Success, which provides coding, physical education, and ECC instruction and a STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math) program, which offers computer coding, robotics, Braille bricks, game adaptation, astronomy, home skills such as sewing or using tools, journalism, and fitness.
The programs hosted approximately 25 students in the TRECKK Computer Coding programs and approximately 50 students in the Extended School Year (ESY) programs. Many ESY students also participated in the TREKK coding programs, and the staff members were thrilled with the open space and engaging features of the library.
