As our readers know, I have great admiration for the ongoing – and important – educational commitment of The Hadley School for the Blind. The mission of Hadley is to promote independent living through lifelong distance education programs for people who are blind or visually impaired, their families, and blindness service providers.
A New “Mini-Course” Independent Living Series from Hadley
Hadley’s new Independent Living series takes a mini-course approach, allowing students to focus on a specific aspect of independent living, based on individual needs and interests. The two-lesson courses in this series teach students how to carry out tasks of daily living in a competent, more independent way. The first three courses in this series are open for enrollment:
Independent Living: The Beginnings
Independent Living: The Beginnings describes how to use nonvisual senses and remaining vision to do many daily living tasks in a competent, more independent way. It describes how to use the senses to gather information about the environment, make changes in the environment, and live more independently.
After completing Lesson 1, the student will be able to:
- discuss the necessity of using the senses to be successfully independent
- describe ways to use the sense of hearing
- explain how to use the sense of touch
- describe how to use the senses of smell and taste
- explain ways to use remaining vision
- discuss how to use the tactile-kinesthetic sense.
After completing Lesson 2, the student will be able to:
- identify environmental adaptations
- describe basic principles of organization and labeling.
Independent Living: Orientation and Mobility (O&M) Basics
Independent Living: Orientation and Mobility Basics emphasizes the importance of receiving training from a certified O&M instructor and explains how to use the human guide technique, self-protective techniques, and trailing. It presents strategies for exploring surroundings and identifies specific travel aids. Note: This course does not replace training from a certified O&M instructor.
After completing Lesson 1, the student will be able to:
- explain the importance of O&M instruction
- describe to someone how to be a human guide for you
- describe self-protective techniques and trailing
After completing Lesson 2, the student will be able to:
- identify ways to explore your surroundings
- discuss specific travel aids
Independent Living: Clothing Care and Dressing Confidently
Independent Living: Clothing Care and Dressing Confidently describes how to use nonvisual techniques and any remaining vision to identify, organize, and care for clothing, footwear, and accessories in the wardrobe. Many of the adaptations, techniques, and suggestions are simple to learn and incorporate into a daily routine.
After completing Lesson 1, the student will be able to:
- describe techniques for identifying clothing, footwear, and accessories
- identify ways to organize a wardrobe
- discuss strategies for shopping for clothes
After completing Lesson 2, the student will be able to:
- explain how to identify and treat stains
- discuss how to sort clothing and label laundry products and machines
- describe adaptive techniques for doing laundry
- identify the ironing skills taught by a Certified Vision Rehabilitation Therapist (CVRT)
- describe instructions for plugging in appliances
These new mini-courses are open to students in all four of Hadley’s Program areas. For more information or to enroll, contact Student Services at 800-526-9909 or email student_services@hadley.edu.
More about Hadley
Mr. William A. Hadley (at left) was a college and high school educator and Superintendent of Schools who lost his sight at age 55. He was encouraged by his ophthalmologist, Dr. E.V.L. Brown, to learn braille, but was unable to find local instruction. As a result, Mr. Hadley taught himself braille and, with Dr. Brown, founded Hadley in Winnetka, Illinois in 1920.
Since that time, Hadley has expanded its course offerings to serve over 10,000 students in more than 100 countries. All Hadley courses are offered in a distance-learning format and the minimum student age is 14. Hadley has no upper age limit and enrolls many students who are in their 80s and beyond.
Here is an overview of Hadley’s current program offerings:
- The Adult Continuing Education Program (ACE) offers a wide variety of courses, including braille and academic studies, independent living, life adjustment, technology, business and employment skills, and recreation.
- The Forsythe Center for Entrepreneurship, part of the ACE Program, offers business, entrepreneurship, and technology courses for individuals who are seeking to advance their careers or successfully launch and grow a business.
- The Blinded Veterans Initiative, also part of the ACE Program, complements the Forsythe Center. The Veterans Benefits module contains information on disability compensation, pensions, medical care benefits, survivor benefits, and veteran-specific resources.
- The Family Education Program offers courses for family members of individuals who are blind or visually impaired. Courses include child development, independent living, braille reading and writing, and adjustment to blindness.
- The High School Program provides academic courses and electives for students who wish to earn a high school diploma. Students can earn high school credit or earn a diploma through Hadley.
- The Hadley School for Professional Studies offers professional continuing education. Courses are available, along with continuing education (CE) credit, to anyone who works directly with blind or visually impaired individuals in a work, school, or community setting, whether as a paid employee or volunteer.
Think about investing in your future (and yourself!) by enrolling at www.hadley.edu.