A Celebration of Possibility: Children’s Learning Center Class of 2025 Takes Center Stage
25 graduates, countless milestones, and bright futures ahead—our annual preschool graduation reminds us of what's possible when we invest in every child's potential.
In June, the Children’s Learning Center celebrated an extraordinary milestone that captured hearts across Brooklyn—and beyond. Our Class of 2025 graduation ceremony showcased the incredible growth of 25 remarkable children. This special moment was beautifully captured by News12 Brooklyn in a heartwarming segment featuring our incredible graduates and their families.
News12 Coverage of the 2025 CLC Graduation
News Anchor:
Graduation season is in full swing, but one special ceremony in our borough may just melt your heart. In downtown Brooklyn, 25 incredible preschoolers celebrated a major milestone, graduation day. These young students ages three to five attend the Children’s Learning Center at Helen Keller Services for the Blind.
Each child is either blind, visually impaired, or living with additional developmental challenges like autism or Down syndrome. Well, at yesterday’s ceremony, families and teachers, they applauded their resilience, growth, and the bright futures ahead.
CLC Principal, Dr. Avien Henry:
This is our yearly graduation ceremony. I think it’s something that our parents really look forward to. When they come to us, a lot of them are really scared and really nervous, but then after two years of hard work and seeing how much progress their kids made, it’s just an awesome celebration.
Parent:
I’m just so proud of everyone that’s here today. Really, it was the team effort.
Parent:
He’s come a long way, and I’m thankful that he got a chance to go to this school.
News Anchor:
I love it. Now, the Children’s Learning Center is the only preschool in New York City exclusively for children with visual impairments and complex needs. And on this day, every student truly shines.
More Than Caps and Gowns
When these remarkable 25 children first arrived at NYC’s only specialized preschool for children who are blind, have low vision, multiple disabilities, autism, Down syndrome, or other developmental delays, many families were uncertain about what lay ahead. Yesterday’s ceremony told a different story entirely—one of growth, resilience, and readiness for kindergarten.
“This is our yearly graduation ceremony. I think it’s something that our parents really look forward to,” shared Dr. Avien Henry, Principal, during the News12 interview. “When they come to us, a lot of them are really scared and really nervous, but then after two years of hard work and seeing how much progress their kids made, it’s just an awesome celebration.”
Behind Every Graduate: A Team That Believes
The joy radiating from every little cap and gown tells a powerful story. Behind each graduate stands our comprehensive team of teachers, assistants, therapists, and specialists—professionals who understand that the right support at the right time changes everything. Our multidisciplinary approach includes Teachers of the Visually Impaired, speech therapists, occupational therapists, physical therapists, orientation and mobility specialists, and our Parent Resource Center coordinators.
As one proud parent reflected during the ceremony, “I’m just so proud of everyone that’s here today. Really, it was the team effort.” Another parent commented, “He’s come a long way, and I’m thankful that he got a chance to go to this school.”
Families Finding Their Village
The graduation ceremony represents more than academic achievement—it celebrates families who found their village and children who learned to navigate their world with confidence. Each success story reinforces our mission of creating pathways to independence from the earliest years. The spirit that filled our downtown Brooklyn location was unmistakable as families applauded not just their own children’s achievements, but the collective success of the entire class.
A Model for What’s Possible
Our Children’s Learning Center continues to demonstrate that when we provide specialized, high-quality early intervention services, extraordinary outcomes follow.
This graduation success comes at an exciting time as we prepare to expand our proven model to Long Island, ensuring more families can access these vital services closer to home. The achievements celebrated at graduation day reinforce why this expansion is so important—every child deserves the opportunity to thrive from their earliest years.
Ready for What’s Next
As these 25 graduates transition to kindergarten, they carry with them the confidence, skills, and resilience developed through our comprehensive early childhood program. Their journey is just beginning, and we can’t wait to see where their paths lead.
From all of us at Helen Keller Services for the Blind, congratulations to our Class of 2025! You’ve shown us what’s possible when community, expertise, and belief come together to support every child’s potential.
Voices from Our Families
“Picking up our son from school and hearing his cheerful ‘Yes!’ when I ask if he had a great day always brings us immense joy, especially when we reflect on how far he has come. While we are so proud that he is graduating, we are also sad to leave this place that has become a second home to us.”
“Watching our daughter grow and blossom under your care and tutelage has been a truly incredible experience. Not everyone would have looked at her and seen all of her amazing potential but, every single person she has encountered at Helen Keller did.”
“Helen Keller exemplifies excellence in education, and I firmly believe that it should be the standard against which other schools are measured. I am always at ease knowing that my child is in school, and his positive attitude and happiness reassure me that you are making a profound impact on young lives.”
“Thank you for preparing our son so wonderfully for his transition. The foundation you built has been invaluable. Your weekly updates and photos brighten our days and provide such valuable insight into his speech progress. Thank you for not only working with him at school but also giving us the information we need to reinforce those skills at home. The communication bridge you’ve built between school and home has been instrumental in his continued growth.”
“Your gentle and understanding nature has made a significant impact on our son’s development. Thank you for the valuable tips and insights that have helped improve his development. Your daily notes keep me engaged and emotionally stable, as you keep me abreast of his daily activities and achievements. You’ve given us hope and helped us fight for the tools he needs. Thanks to you, we get to hear his unique voice express his emotions. You’ve been instrumental in his journey.”
“We want to say thank you for being amazing! Our son’s experience at Helen Keller is just spectacular. We love to see the bonds he has created with you guys because he cherishes every one of you. We are truly grateful his first school experience was with the Helen Keller family. Every single one of you truly makes it a home, a place where we as parents know our kids are safe and happy.”
About the Children’s Learning Center
Helen Keller Services for the Blind’s Children’s Learning Center is a specialized program located in Downtown Brooklyn which offers a full range of programs and services for preschool children who are blind or have low vision, as well as multiple disabilities, autism, Down syndrome, or pervasive developmental delays. Our dedicated team of professionals creates an inclusive and nurturing environment that fosters growth and development.
Our early intervention program provides in-home therapeutic services for infants and toddlers with visual impairments and additional disabilities. Our comprehensive team includes teachers of the visually impaired, speech therapists, occupational therapists, physical therapists, and orientation and mobility specialists who work collaboratively to support each child’s development. Through our Parent Resource Center, we offer multilingual support and resources to families, recognizing their crucial role in their child’s progress.
Graduation Pics
Interested in supporting our mission? Contact our Development team at development@helenkeller.org to explore partnership opportunities that advance independence for children and families in our community.
Your generosity ensures that children, teens, and adults who are blind, DeafBlind, or have low vision continue receiving the support they need to achieve their full potential.
