Schreiber Students Spend Enriching Day at Helen Keller National Center

This past Wednesday, Schreiber High School students were offered the opportunity to take a field trip to the Helen Keller National Center- the only comprehensive facility in the United States that provides training for DeafBlind individuals in skills needed for independence. Here, residents are taught lessons that will help them achieve their goals when they leave the facility, whether that be getting a job, pursuing higher education, or living on their own.

Upon arrival students were given a tour of the grounds and saw different areas of the center, including the gym and art room. The guide pointed out how the walls were painted white in contrast to the dark-colored doors so people with low-vision could more easily navigate their way around. Faculty members demonstrated technology DeafBlind individuals may use such as Braille display for their computer and the RUBY reader to magnify print size. They also learned about strategies DeafBlind individuals may use for taking care of money such as using an iBill (a device that vibrates according to the dollar bill it scans) or even just folding bills differently so they are easily recognizable.

Students were then introduced to Maricar Marquez, the Coordinator of the Independent Living Department at Helen Keller National Center. Marquez demonstrated how she- as a DeafBlind person- pours herself a cup of water and makes a peanut butter sandwich. Blindfolds were then passed around to students as they were asked to try and replicate what Maricar had done. By stripping participants of their vision, this experiment was meant to give students a unique perspective on how different, simple tasks can be accomplished without vision.

To finish off the trip, students met with the mobility team and certified guide dog Mocha. Mocha lives at the facility to help simulate for residents what it would be like having a guide dog. Students watched as he performed various tricks taught to help a DeafBlind person.