Lighthouse for the Blind-Saint Louis Sponsoring Trips for 32 Children to Attend Space Camp at the U.S. Space and Rocket Center in Huntsville, Alabama

ST. LOUIS, MO, September 25, 2012 (Press-News.org) The Lighthouse for the Blind-St. Louis, a not-for-profit manufacturing and packaging organization with a dedicated social service mission (http://lhbindustries.com), is sending 32 children who are visually impaired and blind to Space Camp, a week-long experiential and educational program hosted at the U.S. Space and Rocket Center in Huntsville, Alabama.

John Thompson, president of the Lighthouse for the Blind-Saint Louis, said, "This is a record number of Space Camp scholarships that the Lighthouse has granted in one year since we began offering Space Camp scholarships in 2006 as part of the Lighthouse 'See the Future' programs. Every year, the Lighthouse provides scholarships for children who are blind or legally blind, aged 9 to 18 years, to attend Space Camp for Interested Visually Impaired Students (SCIVIS) at the U.S. Space and Rocket Center, at Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama. This year's SCIVIS session runs September 22-28.

"The growth of our Space Camp scholarship program signifies a milestone for the Lighthouse and supports our mission to give hope and provide opportunities to those who are blind or visually impaired," Mr. Thompson added.

Angie Yorke, Community Enrichment Programs Manager at the Lighthouse, said, "SCIVIS uses space to excite and educate students in fields of math, science and technology. Its benefits include building teamwork, self-confidence and communication skills learned through state-of-the-art simulations of space missions, rocket building, robotics and conducting experiments on the International Space Station. The program includes presentations by NASA professionals who are blind discussing career choices and working in the space industry."

The SCIVIS week is coordinated by teachers of the visually impaired from across the United States. Special considerations are extended during camp week to help the students feel at ease during training for "space missions."

The students will also benefit from the latest technology such as tactile Braille displays, CCTV's, large print output, and synthetic speech for computers. Siblings or friends of the visually impaired students are welcome to attend during the week.The Lighthouse scholarships cover each student's $675 tuition for meals, lodging, programming and materials.

Also known as LHB Industries, Lighthouse for the Blind-Saint Louis is a non-profit entity that helps adults and children who are visually impaired maintain dignity and independence by offering Employment, Education and Support Services.

The Lighthouse currently employs nearly 70 people who are legally blind at its plants in the cities of Berkeley and Overland in St. Louis County. The Lighthouse and its employees manufacture, assemble, warehouse and sell high-quality products to government and business customers nationwide. These include first aid kits, medical kits, catheters, aerosol and liquid paints, aerosol and liquid cleaning products, eco-friendly products and many others.

All sales revenues directly support Lighthouse programs including Professional Career Development; Special Technology and Adaptive Resources for Students (STARS); Summer Jobs for Students; Continuing Education; Arts & Entertainment Accessibility; Low Vision Aid; and others available for individuals who are legally blind and visually impaired in Missouri and Southwestern Illinois.

For information, contact Brittney Smithers, Marketing & Sales Specialist, at toll-free 800.542.3697, or 314.423.4333, or visit the website http://www.lhbindustries.com. Media contact: Jeff Dunlap at 314.993.6925.

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