Helen Keller Services (HKS)

Thank you to the Garden City Kiwanis Club for hosting Helen Keller Services at last week's St. Patrick's Day Luncheon! It was wonderful connecting with so many community leaders who share our commitment to creating positive change. Special thanks to John Wilton and Pat Curry for the invitation to this vibrant event. We're excited about the potential partnerships that will help further our mission of supporting individuals who are blind, DeafBlind, or have low vision across Long Island. Image Description: A three-image collage from the Garden City Kiwanis Club's St. Patrick's Day Luncheon. The top left shows two bagpipers in traditional Scottish kilts performing. The top right features a U.S. Marine in dress uniform carrying flags during the ceremonial procession. The bottom image shows Helen Keller Services staff gathered around their designated table, with a "Helen Keller Services” table marker visible and the room decorated in festive green lighting with white and green balloons. #HelenKellerServices #GardenCity #GardenCityNY #CommunityImpact #CommunityEngagement #Accessibility #Blindness #DeafBlind #LowVision #KiwanisClub #Kiwanis #Nonprofit #LongIsland #LongIslandCommunity #StPatricksDay

Last month, researchers from Johns Hopkins University visited the Helen Keller National Center (HKNC) campus for three days to conduct spatial localization assessments with select HKNC participants. Their visit to HKNC was part of a National Institute of Health (NIH)-funded study titled?Spatial Localization with Vision and Hearing Loss?which is being conducted to investigate the joint impacts of hearing and vision loss on an individual’s everyday functioning that requires locating objects and people around us. The goal being to create an in-person assessment protocol for professionals such as orientation and mobility specialists, audiologist, and more. While on campus, the researchers successfully assessed (6) HKNC participants. All of the participants were excited to be part of the study and requested research information to share with their family and friends. The visit went so well that the Johns Hopkins researcher may return to assess more HKNC participants for their study. Image Description: Johns Hopkins Researchers, HKNC staff member, and the HKNC Executive Director pose for a photo under the Helen Keller National Center sign. #DeafBlind #DeafBlindness #DeafBlindAwareness #Research #HearingLoss #VisionLoss #OrientationAndMobility #JohnsHopkinsUniversity #NIH #HelenKellerServices | Wilmer Eye Institute, Johns Hopkins Medicine | Yingzi Xiong | Dr. Prachi Agrawal, MD, MPH

Last week, Scott Davert, tech expert and Lead Research and Training Specialist at Helen Keller National Center (HKNC), was joined by Bryan Ward, Coordinator of iCC Programs, along with Kevin Dobens and Jess Borin, Senior Instructors of Technology with HKNC, at the CSUN Assistive Technology Conference in Anaheim, California. The team immersed themselves in accessibility innovation, exploring next-generation technologies that expand possibilities for individuals who are blind, DeafBlind, or have low vision. During the conference, Scott evaluated breakthrough devices designed specifically for the DeafBlind community, testing tactile interfaces and communication tools that could transform daily independence. The team also engaged in productive discussions with partners from American Printing House for the Blind about accessibility solutions and potential collaborations. We were thrilled to see the legendary Stevie Wonder at the conference, continuing his longtime advocacy for accessible technology and inclusion! Coming soon: Watch for Scott Davert's in-depth article showcasing the most impressive innovations from CSUN25, including how a new service called OneCourt may revolutionize how DeafBlind individuals experience live sports again! Can't wait for more tech innovations? Join us at our own Tech Blitz event on May 15th, 2025 at Helen Keller National Center! Event details and registration at https://lnkd.in/etM8Hyzr. Image Descriptions: Image 1: Kevin standing beneath the CSUN Assistive Technology Conference banner in the main conference hall. Image 2: Scott's hands exploring the OneCourt device at their exhibition booth, with the tactile interface clearly visible. Image3: HKNC team members and representatives from American Printing House gathered around a table at CSUN, sharing drinks and conversation. Image 4: Stevie Wonder seated at a round table surrounded by attendees at the CSUN Conference, with a distinctive green-lit display visible in the background. #AssistiveTechnology #Accessibility #DeafBlind #HelenKellerServices #TechBlitz2025 #Accessibility #Innovation #Deafblindness #Blindness #VisionLoss #VisuallyImpaired #Blind #StevieWonder #AssistiveTech #DisabilityInclusion

Ready to level up your iOS braille display skills even further? Scott Davert is back with Part 2 of his essential tips series! Learn how to customize your braille experience with table matching, eliminate cursor noise, use status cells efficiently, and create custom keyboard shortcuts that will transform your workflow. Building on his popular first guide, Scott shares 10 more power techniques in this follow-up, including the "Sound Curtain" feature that's especially valuable for DeafBlind users. Whether you're new to braille displays or a seasoned pro looking to maximize efficiency, these expert insights from Helen Keller National Center will significantly enhance how you interact with your iOS devices. Visit https://lnkd.in/eKvzq9JD Image Description: Promotional graphic featuring various sizes and models of refreshable braille displays and an image of Scott Davert. The bottom left corner features the iOS logo, and the top right corner shows the Helen Keller National Center for DeafBlind Youths and Adults logo. The background is a light gray pattern with subtle square elements suggesting a digital or tech theme. #HelenKellerServices #DeafBlind #Blind #LowVision #VisuallyImpaired #iOS #AssistiveTechnology #Braille #VoiceOver

Join Helen Keller Services and The Center for AAC & Autism for an essential LAMP Workshop (Language Acquisition through Motor Planning) on April 11, 2025 in Downtown Brooklyn. The LAMP therapy approach empowers individuals who are non-speaking or have limited speaking abilities to express themselves using AAC devices. This evidence-based methodology has shown remarkable success in developing independent communication skills while addressing sensory needs and reducing challenging behaviors. This full-day training (9:00am-3:30pm) is ideal for speech-language pathologists, special education professionals, parents, and caregivers working with individuals who have complex communication needs. Presenter: Laurie Shaw, MS, CCC-SLP Registration: $139 (50% off for parents & students with code LAMP50) Earn 0.5 ASHA CEUs! Location: Helen Keller Services for the Blind 180 Livingston Street Brooklyn, NY 11201 Register today at https://lnkd.in/eraqDUXp or email [email protected]. Phone: (866) 995-1726 Image Description: A promotional graphic for a LAMP Workshop (Language Acquisition through Motor Planning) featuring navy blue text at the top. The graphic includes a photo of a person assisting a child using an AAC device on a tablet. Event details including date, time, location, registration fee, and discount information are clearly displayed. Presenter Laurie Shaw’s headshot appears on the left side, with contact information and a QR code for registration on the right. The bottom features logos for Helen Keller Services for the Blind and The Center for AAC & Autism. All event details are provided in the post and on the event page. #HelenKellerServices #AAC #AutismSpectrum #Autism #AutismAwareness #NonVerbal #NonVerbalAutism #NonVerbalCommunication #SpecialEd #SpecialEducation #SpecialNeeds #Diversity #InclusionMatters #Accessibility

Helen Keller Services Family Day: Exploring Senses, Building Connections! Our Family Day at Sands Point Preserve was a wonderful success! Families from across the community joined us for an afternoon of discovery, connection, and fun as they explored the world through different senses. Children and parents eagerly engaged at every interactive station: Creating personalized braille nameplates with our DeafBlind participants and staff Exploring music through tactile vibrations Discovering new scents at our blindfolded smelling station Experiencing haptic communication through our touch-based drum circle activities Learning about assistive technologies like braille displays that create pathways to independence Crafting macrame keychains, and painting planter pots for Plant a Row of Port Washington A special thanks to Bach 2 Rock for providing beautiful live music throughout the event. Family Day provided a unique opportunity to bring our communities together, raising awareness about how individuals who are blind, DeafBlind or have low vision experience their world. By exploring alternative sensory pathways and different communication methods, we hope our visitors gained new insights into the community of individuals Helen Keller Services supports. These experiences foster understanding and encourage advocacy for greater accessibility and opportunities for individuals with disabilities - values that are at the core of our mission at Helen Keller Services Thank you to everyone who participated in making this event such a success! Stay tuned for our next event in the 2025 HKS Sensory Awareness Series - Dining in the Dark on May 17 at Sands Point Preserve. This exclusive benefit will transform dining into a multi-sensory culinary celebration, featuring a farm-to-table experience crafted by master chefs. For more information or to reserve your place, contact [email protected]. Image descriptions in comments. #HelenKellerServices #SensoryAwareness #FamilyDay #Accessibility #AccessibilityMatters #Inclusion #DeafBlind #DeafBlindAwareness #CommunityEngagement #CommunityEvent #DisabilityAwareness

Advancing Access Through Innovation! Helen Keller Services is thrilled to announce Tech Blitz 2025 will take place on May 15, 2025, at Helen Keller National Center in Sands Point, NY. This event brings together leading innovators in assistive technology with the blind, DeafBlind, and low vision community, creating a unique and engaging space for discovery and collaboration. Come experience how these technologies are transforming accessibility and independence in education, employment and everyday life. For Technology Users: Experience the latest in assistive technology firsthand! From AI-powered solutions and braille displays to magnification devices and other advanced communication tools, discover innovations that enhance daily living, personal autonomy, and community participation. FREE admission and shuttle service from Port Washington LIRR station. For Technology Providers: Showcase your products and solutions at this exciting assistive technology event with individuals in the blind, DeafBlind and low vision communities! Connect directly with users who actively use these devices, rehabilitation specialists, and educators who influence adoption decisions. Following our successful 2024 event featured on CBS News, Tech Blitz offers unparalleled visibility and valuable user feedback. Learn more and register at https://lnkd.in/etM8Hyzr Event sponsorship opportunities available! ?Questions: Email [email protected]. Image Description: Tech Blitz 2025 flyer by Helen Keller Services. The design features a dark blue background with the HKS logo and "TECH BLITZ 2025" at the top. Below that are four photos from Tech Blitz 2024: a woman trying out a robotic ASL fingerspelling hand; attendees testing braille displays at a vendor table; a person with a white cane exploring magnification devices; and two people communicating in tactile ASL in front of a display booth. The bottom of the flyer includes the tagline "ADVANCING ACCESS THROUGH INNOVATION" with event details: May 15, 2025 at Helen Keller National Center, 141 Middle Neck Road, Sands Point, NY 11050, and the URL https://lnkd.in/enF6Bjky. The Tech Blitz logo appears in the bottom right corner. #HelenKellerServices #TechBlitz2025 #AssistiveTechnology #Accessibility #Innovation #DeafBlind #Deafblindness #Blindness #VisionLoss #VisuallyImpaired #Blind #InclusionMatters #DisabilityAwareness #AssistiveTech #DisabilityInclusion

On Thursday, Helen Keller Services' Gus Chalkias, Program Director of Assistive Technology Services, and Joe DiNero, Assistant Program Director, shared valuable insights with medical students at Hofstra University's Donald & Barbara Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell.?As part of the school's Patient, Physician, and Society curriculum’s “Human Condition” course, Gus and Joe offered firsthand perspectives on providing effective, compassionate care for patients who are blind or have low vision. Through personal experiences and professional expertise, They helped these future doctors understand how to better communicate with and support patients with vision loss. Their presentation emphasized the importance of seeing beyond the disability to connect with patients as individuals, while providing practical strategies for creating more accessible and inclusive healthcare experiences. We appreciate the opportunity to present at Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell, which is shaping the next generation of healthcare providers who will serve our community with knowledge and respect. Through education and advocacy like this, we continue fostering greater understanding and awareness of the lived experiences of individuals who are blind, DeafBlind, or have low vision. Image Description: A three-image collage showcasing a presentation at Hofstra's Zucker School of Medicine. The main image on the left shows two men standing beside a Zucker School of Medicine banner. On the left is Gus Chalkias holding a white cane, and on the right is Joe DiNero wearing a plaid button-down shirt. The top right image shows Gus and Joe seated at a table with a yellow-skirted tablecloth during their presentation. The bottom right image captures the audience perspective, showing a lecture hall filled with medical students, with laptops visible on their desks. #HelenKellerServices #BlindCommunity #InclusiveHealthcare #BlindnessAwareness #MedicalStudents #DisabilityInclusion #VisionLoss #VisuallyImpaired #PatientCenteredCare #DisabilityAdvocate #BreakingBarriers #MedicalEducation

Our Winter 2025 Newsletter Is Out! Building Pathways to Independence Meet one of our featured stories: When Faruqee refused to give up on his goal of finding meaningful employment, determination and the right supports changed everything. Now thriving as a Quality Assurance Specialist at Amazon, his journey shows what's possible when talent meets opportunity. Read more about Faruqee's inspiring journey and other stories of achievement below. What's Inside This Edition: -Celebrating employer partnerships creating career opportunities -New senior support group (Sight Through Support) in Nassau County -Exciting Spring events including Family Day and Tech Blitz 2025 -Success stories of independence and achievement Haven't subscribed yet? Join our mailing list: https://lnkd.in/e2GTeq9D Read the full newsletter here: https://lnkd.in/eXhyU5Yw Image Description: Faruqee stands in an Amazon warehouse smiling while holding his employee badge and a product scanning device. #HelenKellerServices #Newsletter #DeafBlind #Blindness #AccessibilityMatters #DisabilityAwareness #DisabilityEmployment #DeafBlindAwareness #DeafBlindness #VocationalRehabilitation #CommunityEngagament #SuccessStories

From learning braille as a child to pursuing a master’s degree, Chelsie Reid’s journey demonstrates what’s possible with the right resources and determination. When her family immigrated to the U.S., they faced uncertainty about her future—but with support from Helen Keller Services, she gained the skills and confidence to thrive. Now, she’s pursuing a master degree in Mental Health Counseling, guided by her passion to help others. "Many people are often surprised by our adeptness in using computers or iPads," Chelsie shares, "but it is thanks to Helen Keller Services that I acquired these indispensable tools to pursue my aspirations." Read her inspiring story here: https://lnkd.in/e65zQQaR Linked image description: A two-photo collage. On left, showing Chelsie as a preschooler wearing a blue and gold graduation cap and gown during the Children’s Learning Center graduation; on right, showing Chelsie today standing outdoors in a building corridor with her guide dog Linny. #DisabilityAwareness #DisabilityInclusion #AccessibilityMatters #InclusionMatters #DisabilityRights #EarlyIntervention #SuccessStory #BlindCommunity #Blindness #VisionRehabilitation #BreakingBarriers #HelenKellerServices