Helen Keller School of Alabama
Emerging Eagles
Alabama Institute for the Deaf and Blind
Principal: Mrs. Amy Shelly
Superintendent: Dr. Dennis Gilliam
Helen Keller School’s (HKS) Emerging Eagles program is designed for students who have completed their academic credits and are remaining in school until the age of 21. The program’s primary focus is continued education of essential skills, including daily living tasks such as cooking and cleaning, job readiness, self-advocacy and other life skills that are based on the Alabama Transition Standards in a natural environment with hands on activities. The Emerging Eagles program saw tremendous student growth after the first year. Students engaged in cooking activities that were carried over into the dorms. They exhibited more confidence in work/job skills and performed better when working off campus. Most importantly, the students became strong self-advocates. The Emerging Eagles not only worked in the classroom and on job sites but also began volunteering within the community. This experience gave the community a different opinion of Helen Keller students. Friendships and partnerships were formed and continue today. The Emerging Eagles program continues to demonstrate its positive impact, helping students overcome significant challenges and recognize their limitless potential by paving the way to achieve success post-graduation.
