Helen Keller Services

08/27/2026

Progress update from Islandia.

The finishing touches are going on at the future home of the Helen Keller Services Children's Learning Center in Islandia, and it's starting to feel like a school.

These photos show a few of the spaces at 11 Oval Drive as construction wraps up. Bright, open rooms designed for children ages 3 to 5 who have complex developmental needs, including autism, Down syndrome, or multiple disabilities, and children who are blind or have low vision.

For nearly four decades, the CLC in Brooklyn has shown what happens when teachers, therapists, and specialists work with a child together, under one roof. Soon, Long Island families will have that closer to home.

We're truly looking forward to opening our doors and beginning to serve Long Island children and families in a space built for them. We'll share more as we get closer.

District representatives are welcome to join us for an upcoming open house to walk the site. For details, contact CLC Islandia Principal David DeJong at [email protected].

Image description:
A photo collage of the interior of the Helen Keller Services Children's Learning Center in Islandia, with the HKS Children's Learning Center logo in the top left corner. Three photos show newly finished spaces: a bright lobby with a wood reception desk and dark ceiling panels overhead, a room with classroom furniture and cubbies being unpacked beside a large window, and a long hallway with a blue hexagonal ceiling panel and doors along both sides.

08/19/2026

Right after our Children's Learning Center Class of 2026 graduated in Brooklyn last week, we asked Vanessa what the day meant to her.

Her son started at the CLC at age three.

Here's what she said.

Video Transcript:

"Hey, I'm Vanessa. I just wanted to share with you guys that today was such a heartful moment just with everyone here, looking at their children grow into just the young and new individuals that they're going to be. Some children beat many milestones that us parents were told that they wouldn't beat. And just the tears in my eyes are just full of joy, and just, I don't know what to do next because Helen Keller just put us in such a safe space. I don't want to leave and go nowhere else where I feel like I won't be safe as if I wasn't with them. So, I just appreciate all of the work that they did with our children and my son as well. Because he came in nonverbal, and we didn't just graduate, we graduated verbal. So, just congratulations to all the graduates and thank you Helen Keller a thousand times. I just, I appreciate you guys. Words can't explain it enough."

[End card: HKS Children's Learning Center logo. Text reads "Coming to Long Island in 2026." QR code linking to HelenKeller.org/CLCLongIsland.]

08/19/2026

Last week, twenty-five preschoolers crossed the stage at St. Francis College as the Helen Keller Services Children's Learning Center celebrated its Class of 2026.

Most of them started with us at age three. This fall, they head to kindergarten.

One mom told us: "Some children beat milestones that us parents were told they wouldn't beat. My son came in nonverbal, and we didn't just graduate. We graduated verbal."

The full story and photos from graduation day: https://www.helenkeller.org/childrens-learning-center-2026-graduation

Twenty-five preschoolers graduated from the Helen Keller Services Children's Learning Center in Brooklyn. The specialized preschool expands to Long Island in 2026.

08/14/2026

Proud to be part of this work alongside VISIONS, SAGE, and the Center for Hearing and Communication. Caregivers across New York City deserve this support.

Big news for caregivers across New York City! VISIONS has been selected by NYC Aging as the lead agency for New York City’s comprehensive citywide caregiver services program, expanding critical support for unpaid caregivers across all five boroughs.

Through this new partnership, VISIONS, together with SAGE, Helen Keller Services, and the Center for Hearing and Communication, expects to provide 1,100 caregivers each year with counseling, respite, education, support groups, and other essential resources.

For more than 15 years, VISIONS has helped caregivers navigate the challenges of caring for their loved ones while also caring for themselves. We’re proud to build on that work and help even more New Yorkers access the support they deserve.

Read the full story and learn more about this exciting expansion: https://buff.ly/lykH8pX

08/14/2026

Thank you, Assemblymember Jo Anne Simon, for celebrating with our Children's Learning Center graduates. A big day for these students and their families.

08/14/2026

The cards say it best. Thank you, Assemblymember Charles Lavine, for visiting Camp Helen Keller and for standing behind our campers.

08/13/2026

Caps, gowns, and one very proud room.

Yesterday, 25 preschoolers graduated from the Helen Keller Services Children's Learning Center in downtown Brooklyn. Most of them started with us at age three. This fall they head to kindergarten.

Thank you to Deputy Brooklyn Borough President Rev. Kimberly Council, Assemblymember Jo Anne Simon, and Ana Aguilar from Senator Andrew Gounardes's office for celebrating with our families.

Congratulations, Class of 2026.

To our families: we know what it took to get here. It was an honor to do it with you.

ID: A four-photo collage from the 2026 Children's Learning Center graduation in Brooklyn. Top left, a boy in a blue cap and gown seated in a wheelchair beside a staff member. Top right, a boy in cap and gown walks the aisle with a white cane, guided by two adults. Bottom left, graduates sit on a low stage with xylophones and a drum. Bottom right, HKS staff and guests pose for a group photo.

08/12/2026

Join us Sunday, September 20 at Sands Point Preserve for Helen's 5K Run/Walk.

Bring the family. Kids, strollers, and dogs welcome. Run it, walk it. All ages, all abilities, all paces.

Maricar Marquez will be on the course with her guide dog Cliff. She's HKNC's Supervisor of Independent Living, and she races road 5Ks and triathlons. Her invitation is a simple one:
I'm running. Are you in?

Not on Long Island? The virtual window runs September 14 through 26, anywhere in the country.

Every registration supports communication access at Helen Keller National Center, including ASL and tactile interpreting, SSP services, and assistive technologies, plus the programs that help DeafBlind adults live and work independently in their communities.

Register: www.helenkeller.org/5krunwalk

Image Description:
A graphic announcing the Helen Keller Services 5K Run/Walk. The left half is dark navy with the HKS logo and large white text reading "5K RUN/WALK," followed by "Sept 20, 2026, Sands Point Preserve," "All Ages & Abilities Welcome," "Register: helenkeller.org/5krunwalk," and "I'M RUNNING. ARE YOU IN?" The right half is a photo of Maricar Marquez in a maroon jacket and black cap wearing race bib 111, standing beside her black Labrador guide dog Cliff in a yellow Guide Dog harness.

08/10/2026

That's a wrap on another incredible summer at Camp Helen Keller!

On Friday, our campers took the stage for the annual end-of-summer show, a Back to the '90s celebration performed for an audience of family, friends, and supporters. We were honored to welcome NYS Assemblyman Ed Ra who joined us in cheering on our performers.

After five weeks of swimming, adapted sports, arts and crafts, music, and dance, plus themed days ranging from Toy Story to Star Wars, our campers had plenty to celebrate. This summer's field trips took them rock climbing at Island Rock, on rides at Adventureland, bouncing at BOUNCE!, golfing at Alley Pond, and zip lining at Adventure Park, all made possible by the generosity of John and Janet Kornreich through The Viscardi Center’s VIP grant.

The week before, NYS Assemblyman Chuck Lavine visited camp to present a $30,000 grant he secured through New York State to support Camp Helen Keller. Thank you, Assemblyman Lavine, for your continued commitment to children on Long Island who are blind or have low vision.

To our campers, families, counselors, and staff: thank you for a summer of friendship, courage, and fun. See you next year!

Image descriptions:
1) Two photos from the Camp Helen Keller end-of-summer show. Top: six campers in tie-dye shirts stand in a line on stage beneath a screen displaying the "Camp Helen Keller Goes Back to the 90's.” Bottom: the full group of campers and counselors fills the stage, younger campers seated in front and older campers and staff standing behind them in decorated camp shirts.
2) Two photos. Top: eight campers in tie-dye and white shirts perform a choreographed dance on stage. Bottom: six adults stand together smiling. From left: Monica Godfrey-Lehrer, Sue Ruzenski, Liz Meade holding a bouquet of flowers, John Kornreich, Stephanie MacLennan, and Jeff Kunkel.

08/06/2026

We had a great time at the Village of Islandia's annual community BBQ on Saturday. Thank you to Mayor Allan Dorman and the Village of Islandia for the warm welcome.

It was a pleasure meeting so many of our new neighbors and sharing what is coming to 11 Oval Drive. The Helen Keller Services Children's Learning Center will open in Islandia beginning in 2026, a specialized preschool program for children ages 3 to 5 with disabilities and complex developmental needs.

We are proud to be part of this community and we look forward to seeing you around the neighborhood.

Learn more at www.helenkeller.org/clclongisland or call (631) 675-2273.

ID: Five people stand together under a blue and white tent at the Village of Islandia community BBQ, with tall evergreens behind them. Mayor Allan Dorman is second from right, wearing a plaid shirt and navy cap. The others are members of the Helen Keller Services leadership team in navy polos. Two Children's Learning Center banners flank the tent.

|