Daily Local News (West Chester, PA)
Local teen at School for Blind works toward independent life
PAOLI >> Lia Berastain, 17, organizes stuffed animals in the toy section of Boscov’s, talking and laughing as she moves giraffe stuffed animals and teddy bears into a neat display.
The Royer-Greaves School for Blind junior works at the Exton department store through the Discover Program, an internship-like program RoyerGreaves offers through its partnership with the Chester County Intermediate Unit and local employers. Lia, who has developmental disabilities and is visually impaired, hopes to parlay the skills she acquires into a full-time job.
“I would love to have a job and my own money to buy food and clothes for myself. I plan on doing that by putting effort in my job and being independent,” Lia said.
Fostering independence is central to Royer-Greaves mission, and Lia is well on her way, said Executive Director Vicky Mayer. “The hope is that all students at Royer-Greaves can one day become active, participatory citizens of their communities,” Mayer said. “I see Lia on track with a very bright future.”
Royer-Greaves School for Blind on South Valley Road serves students ages 5 to 21, all of whom have a visual impairment along with at least one other disability. Royer-Greaves provides academics, physical education, and instruction in the arts and music, all tailored for the students it serves. The Paoli school also provides specialized services that most other schools do not: music therapy, individualized nutrition and health assistance, and life skills and jobs training.
Lia landed her position at Boscov’s after expressing an interest in retail to the people shaping her Individualized Education Plan (IEP) at Royer-Greaves and the CCIU.
Discover Program Vocational Specialist Joey Druecker and Job Trainer Nanci Blum say Lia is excelling at work, and RoyerGreaves’ education and support have been key to her professional development.
“Royer-Greaves practices pre-vocational training within their curriculum,” Druecker said. “It has been great to see her progress.”
Lia’s determination and disposition make her a joy to work with, said Blum. “Lia is funny. She has a great smile, and I love how she wants to do well.”
In Royer’s Life Skills Classroom, Lia practices folding and organizing shirts with the help of a special form. She also works with her teachers on professional presence, determination and tasksolution stamina.
Before she became a teacher at Royer-Greaves, Moira McCarthy was a job trainer. She uses that experience to help shape Lia’s training curriculum.
McCarthy “gives me great advice about my job,” Lia said of her teacher. “She tells me that I can be awesome at anything, if I do what I have to do and do it how I have to do it. She corrects me and if I do something wrong, she shows me how to do it in the right way.”
Lia said McCarthy supports her in ways that go beyond school. “When I have a hard time with something, she just talks to me. She really understands me.”
The appreciation is mutual. “It’s motivating for me as her teacher to see how interested Lia is in learning and living independently,” McCarthy said. “I have learned a lot from her.”
While Lia enjoys the retail environment, her dream is to teach and play music for a living, and she is learning to play the guitar - just like one of her mentors and teachers, Royer-Greaves Music Therapist Suzanne Kane. “Suzanne has a great heart. She shows me a great example of how I should be. She shows me how to have more energy and be more positive. I would love to be like her when I grow up.”
Lia believes the determination, dedication, and organizational skills she applies to Boscov’s would serve her well in a music career or another job as well.
The successes Lia has already achieved are inspiring other Royer-Greaves students, Mayer said. “They hear her talk about what she is proud of and it encourages them to believe that they too can do the things that she does.”