PEOPLE

Students: Stories of Triumph

Meet Alyssa Rossi


I came to The Hatlen Center not knowing anything in mobility and living skills. My teachers Meggie and Samir literally changed my life. I learned so much about street crossings, how to be oriented in unfamiliar areas, how to analyze traffic, and I gained so much confidence about asking for assistance and being around people I don’t know. Before I was kind of scared by that. Meggie and I, ohmygosh, we were just like a team. I’m not afraid to go out anymore. It’s fun. I took the bus to Hilltop Mall as a lesson, now I’m going to Hilltop tomorrow with “my girls.” My friend Laura and I go everywhere on paratransit now. I’ve been to El Cerrito countless times, and before I was afraid to take paratransit.

As for living skills, I came here not even knowing how to turn on the stove; I didn’t know anything. Samir started teaching me simple things like laundry, folding, and hanging up my clothes, and then we started cooking. I learned really, really well from Samir. Egg salad first, then spaghetti, boiling chicken, grilling chicken, garlic mashed potatoes, cookies, and pumpkin pie. There are so many things I can cook now, and I am a master at pasta dishes. I love French toast, it is so much fun. I had never full-on grocery shopped before, but I learned fast. Besides living skills and mobility, I also learned how to pay my bills, and Ron helped me appreciate technology. His lessons on the Braille Sense notetaker have made me feel more prepared for college.

In addition to all that, the symphony was awesome!

Alyssa is a very talented singer. Click here for an amazing video of her singing O Holy Night.