NABA opens test kitchen for blind youth

The kitchen is a double galley, with each side a mirror image
of the other. Counters and floors are high-contrast, to help
visually impaired students navigate. All plates and utensils are
brightly colored, and many tools are specially adapted for use by
low-vision populations. 

The Northeastern Association of the Blind at Albany, Inc. (NABA) held a dedication ceremony for The Gibney Youth Center today, unveiling the center's new adaptive kitchen and performance stage. 

The Gibney Youth Center will help support NABA's year-round program that provides on-going and consistent rehabilitation, integrated activities for visually impaired youth ages 8-17. The focus of the Youth Programming is to enhance each child’s opportunity to become independent adults. As Executive Director Christopher Burke explained during the ceremony, NABA offers services on a continuum, and effort spent now to help children learn to confidently navigate through real-life situations, will help them maintain their independence as adults. 

Measuring cups fitted with braille for low-vision youth to
use as they learn to cook in NABA's new teaching kitchen,
part of the newly unveiled Gibney Youth Center. 

 After the dedication ceremony, staff demonstrated some of the adaptive tools that the kitchen and adjacent laundry room have. The kitchen includes a gas and electric stove, high contrast counter surfaces, and braille on the stove, dishwasher and other appliances. NABA also expanded the hallways that connect the kitchen with the rest of the facilities, which will enable them to use the area as a gallery space for the Blind Artists Society. For more photos of the event, please visit our Facebook page.

NABA continues to grow its reach and services. In 2009, the agency expanded, adding a new building, 80 Central Avenue, and parking lot, to its portfolio. "It's rare to have a non-profit stay and invest in an area," Burke said. NABA and its clients like being part of the fabric of uptown, with its supportive community and convenient businesses. Clients can walk to banks and restaurants, and the organization has a great relationship with the city and the police department, Burke said.

The newly completed Gibney Youth Center would not have been possible without the help from the following organizations:  

·         The Gibney Family Foundation

·         Lavelle Fund for the Blind, Inc.

·         Ronald McDonald House Charities

·         The Hannaford Charitable Foundation

·         Marcella’s Appliances

·         Comfortex

·         

No-cut gloves, to help keep kids injury free as they cook.  

Skidmore College’s Theatre Department

·         Sano-Rubin Construction Services, LLC

·         New York State Commission for the Blind

The Gibney Youth Center is located inside the Northeastern Association of the Blind at Albany, located at 301 Washington Avenue. For more information, please visit their website: http://naba-vision.org/