New MSB Independent Living Home Opens

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Back in June of 2011, students and board members of the Maryland School for the Blind (MSB), as well as elected officials united to celebrate the groundbreaking of the new Independent Living Home, designed to prepare students in the Expanded Academics Program (EAM) for the challenges of the real world. The program provides these young adults who are nearing graduation with the opportunity to administer and enhance the skills they have acquired such as chores around the house, shopping, preparing meals, budgeting money and living within a group. According to MSB President Michael J. Bina, Ed.D., this project would not have been made possible without the funds provided by Baltimore County, France-Merrick Foundation, L.H. Cranston, Inc. and Middendorf Foundation, Inc. He also made mention of the following companies including, Ayers Saint Gross, Gast Construction Company, Inc. and Jarrettsville Furniture who supported this project. This house is absolutely magnificent, noted Bina during the grand openingcelebration on Thursday, Jan. 26, not even eight months after the groundbreaking ceremony. Made from brick, plaster and mortar, this environment is not only a good quality house, but it will teach them to make good decisions. The home is equipped with ground-level access, an electric stove, wooden cabinets, washer and dryer, telephone and so much more. The building was designed to resemble a normal house that you can find in any community. Bina went on to explain there are two separate independent living homes. The first one was established about 15 years ago, only housing young boys OR young girls who attended MSB. Whoever was not living in the house at the time were required to stay in the institutional dormitories in order to keep the living conditions separate. With the completion of this new home, it will expand independent living education and allow both girls and boys to have a head start, acknowledged Bina. Just like in the real world, students must meet certain requirements to receive this wonderful privilege. Maureen Bisesi, Director of Residential Services, revealed that students need to complete an application, go through the interview process and sign a contract once an authority has reviewed their past skills. These children must work hard to get a place in the house and once here, they must figure out the household necessities they will need for each area within the home, such as bathroom, kitchen, etc. Once they decide this, they will then need to go shopping for these utensils and learn how to budget their money every week, so that they have enough money for dinner each night and are not stuck eating peanut butter and jelly, said Bisesi. Its all about living the learning. According to a press release, This is the first of many buildings to be erected which will give the staff the tools needed to achieve the schools mission of maximizing each students independence before they graduate. On Monday, Jan. 23, Rasheeda McCrae, KeShaun Thomas, Tymeka McDowney and Andrea Washington settled into their new home on the campus and all agree they are extremely excited. I just would like to thank everyone who has helped with this project because now we can learn more skills than we already know, noted McCrae. The girls revealed they divide up the household chores, such as cooking, cleaning and laundry and enjoy working together as a team. At the conclusion of the grand opening, Bina asked the girls what is the most challenging aspect of adapting to their new environment and how is living on their own different from the dormitories. Our biggest obstacle is probably waking up in the morning using the alarm clocks, said Thomas. Other than learning to do things on our own, we also have to walk a longer distance to school, but we have no problem with that because walking is great for us! The new independent living home has already made a significant impact on staff and students and will ensure childrens ability to become versatile members of their communities after graduation. MSB serves 73 percent of Marylands 1,800 students who are blind or visually impaired through its Baltimore on-campus day and residential programs statewide outreach services in all 24 Maryland local school systems, stated in a press release. MSB is located at 3501 Taylor Ave. For more information, call 410-444-5000 or e-mail info@mdschblind.org.