PEOPLE

Students: Stories of Triumph

Meet Leesly Leon


My name is Leesly Leon. I am from Imperial, California. I went to a regular public school, but I had a teacher of the visually impaired and knew other blind kids. One of my friends attended The Hatlen Center while I was a senior in high school, and she told me that she was learning how to live independently. But the thing that really made me want to attend the program was when I visited the center the summer before my senior year. I found out that it wasn’t a “center” but a gated apartment complex, and the blind students weren’t the only people living there. I saw a student’s apartment and visited the computer lab and saw all the adaptive equipment that was available, some of which I had never even seen before. I moved in on August 20, 2010. For the first time, I was alone in my own apartment, and I was excited! At first I lived on salads and top ramen, but soon I started to cook. I enjoyed all the different lessons the instructors of the program provided me with, but I especially liked my cooking lessons. I remember that when I first came to The Hatlen Center I was very afraid of the stove. I learned that the trick to cooking safely on the stovetop is not to touch the hot pan. I am glad to say that thanks to The Hatlen Center living skills instructors, I can now prepare meals for my friends and family safely and independently. I also enjoyed learning about public transportation and the latest advances in adaptive technology for the blind. I am so grateful that I was allowed to be a part of this incredible program that gave me the opportunity to become more independent. I hope many more students decide to make the same decision I made and become a part of The Hatlen Center.