Alfa Insurance of Montgomery, Ala. and the Alabama Farmers Federation board of directors are donating $250,000 to help the Alabama Institute for Deaf and Blind (AIDB) build a new dormitory at the Helen Keller School of Alabama campus in Talladega. Details of the donation were announced by Jerry Newby, president of Alfa Insurance, and Terry Graham, AIDB president.
Newby complemented AIDB for serving deaf, blind and multi-disabled children from Alabama and other states for almost 150 years.
“Without AIDB, many blind and deaf individuals – particularly those in rural areas – would not have access to specialized educational programs, facilities and materials,” Newby said.
The new single-level facility will replace the two-story Rogers Hall as a dormitory for young women, according to Graham. He said Rogers Hall has a number of safety concerns. The structure, which was built in 1947, has no elevator or sprinkler system. An antiquated fire escape serves the second floor. Rogers Hall has seen only minor renovation during the past 57 years.
“. . . it was clearly too risky to have young women with multiple disabilties and staff serving them living in the builidng,” Graham said. “The current gift toward a new dormitory reflects Alfa’s commitment to the deaf, blind and multi-disabled children we serve.”
Construction bids will be opened this month with groundbreaking scheduled to begin in March. Total cost of the project is $1.1 million.
Topics Alabama
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