Eyeshine

Eyeshine is a 501c3 non profit Public Charity founded by concerned parents, teachers, students, and dedicated community members to address the critical need for outdoor recreational and educational support of children and adults who are blind, visually impaired and disabled. Our programs are designed to engage our children and their families and encourage them to give back to their communities. Eyeshine serves students who are blind, visually impaired or disabled by implementing outdoor sports, recreational activities and long-term educational programs that instill confidence, courage and character and provide members with the opportunity for inclusion and service in the community. Eyeshine provides special needs children and young adults with the opportunity to embrace exciting, new challenges that instill self confidence, courage, and character. We serve youth ages 6-25, and depending on the individual and their circumstances, we can extend that limit. Our programs are all-inclusive, always placing our students first and not limiting or controlling who we serve. We take the time and effort to educate our interns and volunteers to help them understand what is involved in relating to some of the special needs associated with the particular challenges that our students experience, and how to help them adapt to their environment. Many of our programs include a mentor from our group of talented volunteer interns. We have partnered with UCSB and other local schools and community groups in order to provide the necessary support and experience needed for each particular event and activity. Eyeshine believes in the power of peer-to-peer education. We have found that people will often take on new challenges with more of an open mind when supported by their peers.