Visitors from Alabama

In 1955, the Blind Relief Association had a visitor from Alabama, who laid the foundation stone of the Association’s building.

The icon of inspiration, Helen Keller.

64 years later, B.R.A had another visitor from Alabama, in fact the former president of the Alabama Institute for the Deaf and Blind.

Dr. Jack Hawkins, the current Chancellor of Troy University along with Mr. Sohail Agboatwala, Associate Vice Chancellor visited campus on January 14 and were amazed to see the various programs for the blind run by B.R.A. 

Dr. Hawkins served as the president of the Alabama Institute for the Deaf and Blind in Talladega from 1979-1989. He has also served as a trustee of the Helen Keller Eye Research Foundation, and the American Foundation for the Blind. The “Jack and Janice Hawkins Chapel” at the Alabama Institute for the Deaf and Blind has been named in his honor.

With decades of experience in the field of visual and hearing impairment, Dr. Hawkins was intrigued to see what the Blind Relief Association offered. He shared innovative ideas on improving the employment opportunities for the blind and spoke words of encouragement to the trainees of the Association.