Blind, visually impaired kids shine on Tilles Center stage

Sophia Allard danced onto the Tilles Center stage Friday morning at  LIU Post in Brookville brimming with confidence and poise, belting out lyrics from Pitbull's pop hit "Ole Ola." 

The 11-year-old from Mineola was among 40 blind or visually impaired youngsters from Camp Helen Keller who performed during an end-of-camp show for parents, staff and elected officials.

"I like this camp because everyone's the same and it's a lot of fun being around all the campers," said Sophia, who has attended the LIU camp for three years. 

Nancy Allard, Sophia's mother, said her daughter benefits from being around other visually impaired children. 

"It's great for her to be around other children that have similar conditions because then she feels the same as everybody else," Nancy Allard said. "In school, she's the only one with a vision impairment. And sometimes that can be a little bit challenging … So the opportunity for her to be around other people that have similar situations and conditions and just feel normal is amazing."

Helen Keller Services, with offices in Hempstead, Islandia and Brooklyn, is a nonprofit offering programs and services for the blind and visually impaired community.

The five-week camp, for children ages 4 to 16 from Nassau, Suffolk and Queens, is free and funded through the New York State Commission for the Blind, in addition to grants and private donations. 

Campers participate in traditional activities such as swimming, sports, arts and crafts, technology, field trips and music and dance — all adapted for the student's specific needs.

Camp director Stephanie Trollo said public schools often struggle to support visually impaired students, failing to teach them to advocate for themselves.

"So they come to camp, and, even though we're a camp for blind kids, it's usually the most independent that they've ever had to be," Trollo said.

Teaching a visually impaired camper to dance a choreographed number, Trollo said, can be a challenge. 

While typical students may learn to dance watch videos on YouTube or TikTok, visually impaired children rely on verbal instructions such as putting your hands to the side as if you're pushing a box or simulating splashing water on your face.

"It may sound like we're just teaching dance moves," Trollo said. "But really we're teaching them information that they've missed out on as they've grown up."

The 20-song performance had a 'peace and love' theme, as campers decked out in tie-dyed shirts and exaggerated 1960s hippie attire, performed an eclectic series of numbers from Three Dog Night, rapper Mac Miller, the O'Jays and even Kermit the Frog. 

"It's not about being the kid who has a visual impairment," said Nicole Mauro of North Bellmore, a former camper and counselor who now serves as the camp's assistant director. " … Instead now it's about being the kid who sings or the kid who dances or the kid who has a really silly sense of humor and it comes through when they do a silly dance. It's about them getting to explore those parts of themselves."

Jennifer Gallagher of Freeport has two adopted blind daughters from China — Ellie, 10, who attends the camp and Annie, 16, who finished the program last year.

"This camp is amazing and I love it," Ellie said after the show. " … It feels wonderful. There's no stress. No people making fun of you."

Annie said the camp gave her a sense of belonging that she never experienced before.

"I don't feel alone because other kids also feel the same way," she said. "I feel like I'm welcomed and I feel like myself."

By Robert Brodsky

robert.brodsky@newsday.com@BrodskyRobert

Robert Brodsky is a breaking news reporter who has worked at Newsday since 2011. He is a Queens College and American University alum.