Every night students must go out to dinner so they become comfortable in the community and other people get used to seeing persons with low vision. Outside activities that encourage blind persons to live independently include a scavenger hunt, snow and water skiing, and picnics where participants cook over an open fire. According to Tigges, participants are encouraged to think of something that they want to try, and the center will either help them do it or point them in the right direction. The purpose is to teach people confidence. It's problem solving.
People develop confidence that they can do it.
To students like Berans, the center has made a big difference. Tigges said that new students should enter the program when they are ready. People can come to the center too soon. They first have to accept that they are blind. Blindness carries a pretty heavy stigma and people don't want to admit that they are blind.