Advertisement
The center, located at 401 Azalea Avenue, is holding an open house tocelebrate 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.
Advertisement
After a brief ribbon-cutting ceremony, visitors can take student-led toursof the new dormitory as well as some classes. The dormitory is a short walk tothe classroom and kitchen training areas where students learn skills includingusing tactile techniques while cooking, cane travel, Braille, and touch typekeyboarding 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.
"I am particularly excited about the independent living apartmentsincluded in our new dormitories," said Melody Lindsey, the center's director."These apartments provide a safe environment where our students gainconfidence in their newly learned, non-visual ways of doing things."
Invited guests include Virginia Gov. Tim Kaine, Virginia Secretary ofHealth and Human Services Marilyn Tavenner, the Henrico County Board ofSupervisors, and local legislators 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.
SOURCE Virginia Rehabilitation Center for the Blind and Vision Impaired
