Christian Padilla
Like any 18-year-old, Christian Padilla cannot wait to live on his own.
He’s been learning how to cook. He’s been practicing his laundry. He’s been taking classes on budgeting. And, while some might think the fact that Christian is legally blind might be a deterrent, it’s exactly what’s given him the drive to push forward.
Born with morning glory syndrome, a birth defect of the optic nerve, and later diagnosed with glaucoma, Christian has struggled with vision loss his entire life. Speech problems have been an added burden, causing teachers throughout school to severely underestimate his learning potential.
Faced with many challenges but receiving little professional support, Christian and his family were referred to Junior Blind in 2007 by his Department of Rehabilitation counselor. As Christian explains, “I was looking for something that could help me feel good about myself.”
Participating initially in our Visions’ overnight adventures, Christian soon found self-esteem and independence to go hand in hand. Away from home for the very first time, he realized just how much he could accomplish on his own and loved the feeling of satisfaction that went with it.
When he learned next about Junior Blind’s Student Transition & Enrichment Program (STEP) and its focus on preparing visually impaired teens for life as independent adults, Christian enrolled immediately. For once, he found classes and teachers that were determined to help him succeed. Committed to making both college and a career a reality for all of its students, STEP’s coursework and internship helped Christian build critical skills—how to write a resume, how to interview effectively, how to travel safely, how to use adaptive technology, how to budget properly and more.
Most importantly, STEP taught Christian to have confidence in his potential.
“I learned that if I didn’t give up, I really would succeed,” he says.
Feeling empowered, Christian hungered for even more guidance and instruction after his three-week STEP experience ended. Our Davidson Program for Independence (DPI)— an intensive, months-long residential training program dedicated to enabling blind adults to live and work on their own—seemed the most obvious next move.
“Knowing that a program like DPI existed gave me the kick I needed to want to grow up,” shares Christian. “I knew just how much it could help me move on in my life.”
This August, Christian graduated from DPI after five months of daily classes in independent living skills, computers, Braille and white cane use. He’s looking forward to starting community college and would like nothing more than to counsel others who are also visually impaired, helping them find their own path to independence. And, of course, there’s his first apartment. Having successfully managed his own personal living space at DPI, Christian is eager to add “living on his own” to his list of achievements.
For Blanca Padilla Ramirez, Christian’s mother, the change she has witnessed in her son has been extraordinary.
“I love that my son has plans for his life,” she exclaims. “He believes in himself 100 percent more and knows that if he works hard, anything is possible.”
For Christian, explaining the metamorphosis is simple.
“Junior Blind helped me look at my life in a whole different way.”
| 
