Short Course Program

These programs are designed to address the unique educational needs of students with visual impairments currently attending school in their local school districts.

The demands of classes and homework can leave little time to concentrate on the Expanded Core Curriculum (ECC), such as daily living skills, adaptive technology, or orientation and mobility. The short course program will provide intensive short term instruction in areas of the ECC. Time will also be provided daily to maintain the core curriculum assignments missed during attendance at the short course. Students who can adapt to a new learning and living environment for a short period of time will benefit from this experience.

See the Short Course Program Frequently Asked Questions for more information.

Short Courses 2019-2020

To begin the application process, please complete the brief Short Course Interest Form

Building Advocacy, Self-Esteem, and Social Skills

October 14-18, 2019
(Registration closes September 16, 2019)
Ages: 14+

Come to CSB for a week to establish a community of peers with similar perspectives and experiences of dealing with visual impairment. This course is an opportunity to participate in the diversity of programs offered at CSB while focusing on improving self-knowledge by better understanding your visual impairment and how to explain it to others. Develop new recreation and leisure skills through our APE and Art programs. Experience working in our on-campus retail store, the Rocket Shop Cafe. Explore the use of phone Apps and other technology to orient yourself in a new environment. During this week you will join CSB for our annual White Cane Day celebration!

Low Vision: Access to the Classroom

November 11-15, 2019
(Registration closes October 14, 2019)
Ages: Middle School & High School

Join this week long course where students with low vision will learn to access materials in their classroom by using Google Drive/Docs with screen magnification software, Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software/hardware, iPads, and video magnifiers. This week is sure to be filled with memorable experiences while increasing their skills, confidence, and independence in accessing their classwork.

Students applying for this course should have usable low vision and can benefit from magnification.

Preparing Your Best Burger

December 9-13, 2019
(Registration closes November 11, 2019)
Ages: 16+

Discover what it takes to make a really good burger. Not something you heat up in a microwave, but a fresh burger with all the fixings. It could be a beef patty, a veggie burger or turkey. The choice is yours.

Creating that meal requires knowing what you want, a shopping list of ingredients, how to purchase what you need, money skills to buy your ingredients, safe food handling, knife skills, kitchen tools, how to measure quantities and of course the oven.

Join us for a week of cooking, shopping, chopping and of course eating your ultimate burger.

Let's Get Cooking

February 3-7, 2020
(Registration closes January 6, 2020)
Ages: High School

Are you ready to look beyond the microwave to prepare food? Join an existing CSB class for a fun filled week in the kitchen. Learn to prepare snacks and meals that are simple, nutritious and delicious. Participate in meal planning, shop for ingredients and follow recipes. Access customer service to locate your ingredients and improve your safety and independence in the kitchen.

*This course is designed to meet the needs of students enrolled in a functional academic program.

UEB and Refreshable Braille

March 2-6, 2020
(Registration closes February 3, 2020)
Ages: Elementary and Middle School

Are you confused by some of the UEB changes to the braille code? Maybe you don't have time in your busy day to learn the new contractions and rules. Apply now for a fun filled week focused on learning the UEB changes. In addition, students will work with our technology staff and be introduced to use of various devices with refreshable braille.

Students applying for this course should already know 75% of the EBAE contractions or a total of about 150 contractions. The week will begin and end with an assessment of braille skills to demonstrate the development of newly learned knowledge.

Access to Transit: Apps Edition

March 30-April 3, 2020
(Registration closes March 2, 2020)
Ages: 14+

CSB is proud to announce this O&M themed short course designed to expose participants to a variety of navigational and transit Apps while traveling on local public transportation such as BART and AC Transit. Students will learn to download and use specific Apps to plan trips, locate places of interest and the types of public transit needed to visit these destinations. Content will be shaped to meet the interests, skill level and needs of applicants, but likely activities will include walking, bus and transit routes including a visit to The Lighthouse for the Blind in San Francisco. Students must bring their own cell phones or tablets and have the ability to download a variety of free Apps throughout the week.

Media Makers Workshop: Making Media that Matters to You

April 27-May 1, 2020
(Registration closes March 30, 2020)
Ages: 10 to 15 years

Become a media maker.

Join this week-long media making workshop where participants will learn how to produce fun, informative, authentic media that matters! Together, we'll go through the basics of storytelling, and will embark on the beginning steps of production. Students will strengthen functional skills and increase self-determination while they interact with their environment in new and exciting ways, all the while capturing the adventure using technology!

Lil' Sprouts - Plant Life (Day Camp)

Day 1 of 2: date TBD, Day 2 - May 20
(Registration closes January 20, 2020)

Join CSB's elementary age class for two unique days of all things plants. In early spring, we will prepare our garden beds and plant vegetable starts and a variety of seeds. We will explore plant development and learn about the importance of roots, stems and leaves. Discover how water and nutrients move through the plant. Return to CSB in late spring to harvest our bounty and prepare a simple and nutritious meal from the garden. Transportation is not provided for these one day courses. Students must arrive with a parent/guardian or district teacher.

Sensory Exploration (Day Camp)

Day 1 of 2: date TBD, Day 2 - May 20
(Registration closes January 20, 2020)

Come explore a variety of sensory activities from a simple water table to an engaging interactive bubble tube surrounded by a fiber optic curtain. Both morning and afternoon activities will include a sensory craft and time for exploring the many sensory experiences available: two tactile walls, a musical percussion wall, a musical touch wall, a ball pit, a cloud pit, platform swing, vibro-acoustic chair, mini-trampoline and more. So, whether you are craving an energizing experience or needing a calming corner, you will find what you need here in the sensory room.

Activities in this course will support social interaction skills, recreation and leisure and sensory processing skills.

Summer Academies

If you would like to look at our offerings from last year to get an idea of programming, check out our Summer Academy page.