The Helen Keller National Center does a lot of wonderful things, but even it can't control the weather.

Rain on Sunday effectively canceled Helen's Walk, a 5K walk around Sands Point to raise money for the center. In keeping with the spirit of what the center offers, there was still a good turnout of students, staff, and volunteers, there to congregate, and learn — even if it meant staying inside on a wet morning.

"We have displays and exhibits in the main lobby. We have a lot of younger children who walk with their parents, so we try to put an educational component into this event," said Joe McNulty, the center's executive director.

The Helen Keller National Center for Deaf-Blind Youths and Adults has been in Sands Point since 1976. It is designed to offer services for those that are combined blind and deaf, as was Keller. This includes dorm-like housing, and life skills training.

"The goal is to gain skills for communication, adaptive technology, independent living, and then finding a job suitable for themselves," said Sue Ruzenski, director of direct services at the center.

Students that live at the center do so from anywhere from two weeks to a year. The mission is independence, period. Cooking and cleaning are among the domestic skills taught to residents. The center operates 10 regional offices around the country, so the deaf-blind can receive training at their own home or work site if they can't make it here.

And we all need money — the center has relationships with employers around the area, so students can work with a job coach on site. In time, the students learn the skills to be able to do the work themselves.

Then there is Jon Gabry. Despite being deaf and legally blind, the New Jersey native attends Nassau Community College, and works at a credit union.

"I'm learning technology and independent living, and mobility; communication skills also," he said in sign language, as Ruzenski translates.

A recent Mississippi State study estimates that approximately 1.2 million people nationwide have combined vision and hearing loss, and that the cause in most cases in nothing more than age. While the center is primarily for training, medical researchers do pay the students a visit on occasion to gather information about their affliction.

The center largely relies on Congress for their funds, but events like the walk (when Mother Nature cooperates), and an annual golf outing are held to bring additional money in. Along with the walk, there are raffles, with local businesses donating items and services to be given away.

According to event organizer Randye Hubsher, Helen's Walk is just part of the bigger picture the center tries to paint — rain or shine.

"Part of today is to get name recognition for the center, so people are aware of us today, but also so they're aware of us the entire year," Hubsher said.

For more information about the Helen Keller National Center, visit www.hknc.org.