The Berkeley Adult School’s partnership with the East Bay Center for the Blind provides community education for adults with disabilities
In the weekly ceramics class at the East Bay Center for the Blind, a woman who is deaf-blind, uses a wheelchair and speaks only Spanish is regularly in attendance. Most classrooms would struggle to reach this student, but that’s not the case here.
“It’s not a problem, the teacher works with her,” says Mike Cole, executive director of the East Bay Center for the Blind. “This woman makes really neat stuff.”
Kathleen Rowe, the instructor provided for free by the Berkeley Adult School, caters her class not only to those who are blind, but also people with intellectual disabilities.
“To be the norm in a learning environment is vastly significant. The curriculum is designed with your needs in mind.”
Kathleen Davis, Program Coordinator, Life-Long Learning, Adults With Disabilities and Community Education Program at Berkeley Adult School
Established in 1939, the East Bay Center for the Blind—which Cole describes as “folksy”—features a grand piano, a computer lab and walls full of braille books. It has served for over 30 years as a site where the Berkeley Adult School hosts free classes. In addition to ceramics, there’s a music appreciation class as well as a health class that addresses body and psyche through traditional Chinese techniques such as acupressure and meridian massage—all designed for the unique needs of the participants, many of whom are seniors.
“If a person is having trouble following [the instructor’s] verbal directions, then she appears at your side and will help you and show you what she wants you to do,” Cole says.
Kathleen Davis, the health class teacher, is also the Berkeley Adult School’s coordinator for its Life-Long Learning, Adults With Disabilities and Community Education programs. She said it’s important for adults with disabilities to be able to meet and take classes with other members of their population.
“To be the norm in a learning environment is vastly significant,” Davis says. “The curriculum is designed with your needs in mind. The teacher gives priority to hearing your experience and questions. To be the student of importance in a classroom generates a confidence that permeates into all of life.”
Thomas Reid, principal of the Berkeley Adult School, says his school’s commitment to helping people with disabilities is firmly rooted in Berkeley’s long history of progressive policies aimed at inclusiveness. He added the classes provide a “structured, focused learning activity that helps people become a little bit more independent and better able to take care of themselves.”
The Berkeley Adult School’s commitment to education is matched by the commitment to learning from the members of East Bay Center for the Blind, most of whom use public transportation to travel from all over the area to attend these classes.
“It’s a big job for the individuals,” Cole says. “But they’re committed. And the teacher’s committed. And we’re committed to having them.”
Davis adds that the impact of these classes goes far beyond the immediate lessons in art or health. They give participants a social connection and foster continued emotional, intellectual and creative growth.
“I deeply believe access to life-long learning is part of how we keep elders independent, happy and able to care for themselves and others,” Davis says. “We’re never too old to learn and grow and change.”
Cole says he hopes the partnership between the East Bay Center for the Blind and the Berkeley Adult School continues long into the future.
“We’re not only grateful,” Cole says. “We’re really pleased that they care.”
For more information about the East Bay Center for the Blind, go to www.eastbaycenterfortheblind.org. More information about Berkeley Adult School can be found at bas.berkeleyschools.net or by calling 510-644-6784.
Written by John Flynn
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| Bay Area California | Variety of Classes |
