Virginia Rehabilitation Center for the Blind and Vision Impaired Celebrates Opening of New Student Dormitory

Oct 11

JupetongEducation , , , , , , , , , , No Comments

Do you think that the blind can’t use computers? Can’t cook? Can’t get around town? Attend the October 17 open house at the Virginia Rehabilitation Center for the Blind and Vision Impaired, and see how instructors there empower the blind and visually impaired to lead productive, fulfilling lives through non-visual techniques taught at the center.

The center, located at 401 Azalea Avenue, is holding an open house to celebrate the grand opening of its new student dormitory. The event is 9 a.m. – Noon on Friday, October 17, and is open to the public.

After a brief ribbon-cutting ceremony, visitors can take student-led tours of the new dormitory as well as some classes. The dormitory is a short walk to the classroom and kitchen training areas where students learn skills including using tactile techniques while cooking, cane travel, Braille, and touch type keyboarding with talking or magnification software.

VRCBVI has been serving residential and commuter students since 1972. Construction on the new dormitory began in August 2007, and was funded with a $3.5 million appropriation from the Virginia General Assembly.

The new dormitory includes:

— fourteen suites, each consisting of two private rooms and one shared bathroom
— six independent living apartments that include cooking and living areas and give students the opportunity to gain the skills that they need to live alone
— laundry facilities
— a recreation area
— residential staff
— an on-site health education department.

“I am particularly excited about the independent living apartments included in our new dormitories,” said Melody Lindsey, the center’s director. “These apartments provide a safe environment where our students gain confidence in their newly learned, non-visual ways of doing things.”

Schedule of Events
9 a.m. Event Begins
9:30 a.m. Opening Remarks & Ribbon Cutting Ceremony
10 a.m.-Noon Student-led Tours of Dormitory and Classes

Invited guests include Virginia Gov. Tim Kaine, Virginia Secretary of Health and Human Services Marilyn Tavenner, the Henrico County Board of Supervisors, and local legislators from the Virginia General Assembly.

CONTACT:
Virginia Rehabilitation Center for the Blind and Vision Impaired
Melody Lindsey, Director
401 Azalea Avenue
Richmond, Virginia 23227
Phone: 804.371.3323
Email: melody.lindsey@dbvi.virginia.gov
Worldwide Web: http://www.vrcbvi.org

Source: Virginia Rehabilitation Center for the Blind and Vision Impaired

Leave a Reply