By Staff
Special to The Standard
Envision attempting to do it all – fishing, hiking, barbecuing, swimming, skating, outdoor games, arts and crafts, and trips to amusement parks, horseback riding and a Birmingham Barons baseball game - doing it all in a week.
Campers at Alabama Institute for the Deaf and Blind also attended computer classes and learned Braille, speech therapy, orientation and mobility. In addition, they received assessments in vision and hearing. During their free time, they learned about American Indians and the tribes that lived in the region.
The finale was an awards program and a parents weekend - and the end of AIDB's Summer Enrichment Camp 2006.
Thirty-eight students who are deaf or hard of hearing from public schools throughout Alabama attended the camp on the Alabama School for the Deaf campus, as thirty-four students who are blind or visually impaired from public schools throughout the state attended the camp on the Alabama School for the Blind campus.
Many campers were return attendees and could not wait to come back. Twenty percent of the students that attended the summer program in 2005 enrolled in the Fall as full time students at ASB.
The parents enjoyed opening weekend events, which included special informative sessions on many diverse topics.
Helen Keller School of Alabama offered a specialized camp during the same week.  The focus of the camp was to provide comprehensive assessments for potential students.  Qualified evaluators assessed campers in all significant educational areas and offered specific recommendations to families and service providers for improving the child's skill level.
Although the days were filled with the business of testing, campers had opportunities to engage in fun activities. 
They enjoyed a trip to the Marianna Greene Henry Arena for a visit with the horses, playing in the HKS Hackney Play Therapy Center, water play, and local excursions for special treats.
Summer campers agreed - the week was jam-packed with fun. Many are making plans to come back next year.
AIDB, founded in 1858, provides comprehensive education and service programs of superior quality for children and adults who are deaf, blind, and multidisabled. Through the Alabama School for the Deaf, Alabama School for the Blind, Helen Keller School of Alabama, E. H. Gentry Technical Facility, and the Alabama Industries for the Blind, AIDB provides educational and rehabilitation services throughout a person's life. AIDB also operates Regional Centers in Auburn, Birmingham, Dothan, Huntsville, Mobile, Montgomery, Talladega, Tuscaloosa, and Tuscumbia.
Each year AIDB serves over 12,400 children and adults from throughout Alabama. Call (256) 761-3207 or visit www.aidb.org for more information.