Older Adults Find Connection and Skills in Confident Living Program at HKNC

We recently hosted our Confident Living Program (CLP), welcoming seven participants and one family member to Helen Keller National Center. This year’s group was unique, bringing together individuals who use Oral, Visual ASL, and Tactile ASL communication. In the past, we typically had all Oral or all Signing groups, making this program especially dynamic.

Throughout the week, participants engaged in a variety of topics and activities including preparing grilled cheese sandwiches and iced tea with adaptive IL tools, creating communication cards, learning about emergency preparedness, being introduced to different types of mobility canes and tips, as well as estate planning. Additionally, thanks to a grant from the Consumer Technology Association (CTA), participants also experienced both high and low-tech solutions, from smart health tools to braille displays. Tatum Robotics also introduced their robotic hand designed for tactile communication.

Overall, participants shared that the sessions were accessible, engaging, and meaningful, and that they would recommend CLP to their friends. They also offered personal reflections on what stood out most to them:

• “Braille displays hit me a lot, to be able to communicate with family and friends.”
• “Estate planning and emergency preparation was a wake-up call for me, and I need to get busy when I get back home.”
• “I like getting the latest info on technology and learning new strategies, like using a toaster bag for grilled cheese.”
• “Meeting everyone from students to staff and interpreters was a big deal. It helped me appreciate and I want to come back every year.”

We are proud of the connections and skills gained during this program, and their feedback reinforces the importance of continuing to offer hands-on, accessible, and innovative training for older adults with combined vision and hearing loss.