From the grand opening of the Alabama Institute for Deaf and Blind (AIDB) Opelika Regional Center to the graduation of the Class of 2022, AIDB has had many reasons to celebrate throughout the month of May. Not the least of which was the grants given to seven AIDB teachers from The Arc of North Talladega County (The Arc). 

Each year, The Arc sets aside ten thousand dollars for grants for all special education teachers in schools in North Talladega County, Talladega City, and AIDB. Each grant is capped at $500 and is used for an item that benefits the students they serve and the classroom. All grant applications are reviewed by The Arc’s Special Education Grant Committee and then voted on by The Arc’s Board of Directors. 

Recipients of this year's grants include Elsa Calhoun, Helen Keller School of Alabama; Rachel Chastain, Helen Keller School of Alabama; Amy Fisher, Alabama School for the Blind; Robert Godbold Jr., Alabama School for the Deaf; April Nesmith, Helen Keller School of Alabama; Eric Richardson, Helen Keller School of Alabama; and Megan Spann, Helen Keller School of Alabama. In total, these seven teachers received over $3000 in grants from The Arc! 

Funding for the grants is made possible through Go Casual T-Shirt Sales and Sunshine Saturday, an annual family event featuring entertainment, food, and a variety of vendors.