Meet Keanu.

When Keanu neared the end of his Early Intervention and Pre-K instruction, he still was not walking or talking. A combination of physical disabilities, including dwarfism and legal blindness, and health conditions meant Keanu couldn’t attend his local elementary school. He needed a fully-accessible school that could meet all of his educational, assistive technology and medical needs. His parents selected the Henry Viscardi School at The Viscardi Center because they knew it would be a place where Keanu could learn and socialize like any other child, whatever his challenge.

Today, Keanu is a spirited, outgoing fifteen-year old who loves math, singing in the chorus, spending time with his friends, playing wheelchair basketball and building with Legos. Truly empowered, he has an incredible sense of self-pride and is preparing to pursue his post-graduation education and employment endeavors. He’s learned to advocate for himself and others, understands the importance of setting and achieving his goals, and has role models in his peers, educators and health professionals he sees and works with every day.

He is also learning independent living skills, like cooking, and Braille so when his retina degeneration renders him completely blind, he’ll be prepared to use new ways to read and communicate.

View Keanu and his classmates’ exclusive airport and travel experience with JetBlue Airways.

Learn more about Henry Viscardi School.