Founded in 1832, Overbrook School for the Blind in Philadelphia has long been a leader in innovative education for students who are blind or visually impaired. Committed to fostering independence, functional skill-building, and accessibility, the school continuously seeks solutions that enhance the students’ experience. A key part of the school’s mission is ensuring that facilities provide privacy, safety, and ease of use, particularly in spaces where students need additional support.
Rooted in its mission to expand opportunities for individuals with visual impairments, including those with additional challenges, Overbrook empowers students to lead active, fulfilling lives. With a vision focused on helping each student reach their highest potential, the school embraces ability, fosters inclusion, and shares its expertise with communities locally and globally.
“A key part of the school’s mission is ensuring that facilities provide privacy, safety, and ease of use, particularly in spaces where students need additional support.”
To address challenges with traditional privacy solutions, Overbrook partnered with Silentia to implement hygienic, durable, and easy-to-use privacy screens that improve both privacy and staff efficiency.
Identifying the Right Solution: Privacy Without Compromise
Privacy is essential in the boys’ and girls’ bathrooms of the Kappen Aquatic Center (KAC), where students use changing tables and shower facilities. Traditional shower curtains presented several challenges where it was difficult for students to maneuver independently, requiring staff assistance in areas where privacy was most needed. Hygiene was also a concern, as fabric and vinyl curtains were difficult to keep clean and wore out quickly, and the high humidity and chlorine exposure in the pool environment caused materials to deteriorate, requiring frequent replacements.
In 2020, Overbrook’s head therapist recognized these issues and discovered Silentia’s privacy screens as a potential solution. After collaborating with Silentia’s local representative, the school identified the best configurations to support students’ needs across multiple areas.
Implementation: A Customized Approach for Accessibility
Overbrook first installed Silentia screen solutions to improve privacy and functionality in the KAC bathrooms. Wall-mounted StoryPanels folding screens now provide coverage around changing tables while accommodating ceiling lifts and safety changing beds.
Then, Overbrook installed Daylight shower panels, mounted to the partition walls in each shower stall, to replace successive layers of shower curtains. This made the stalls easier for students to use while eliminating the privacy limitations and hassle of track-hung curtains.
The StoryPanels feature multicolored graphics resembling planets on a white background, paired with dark blue panels. This high-contrast design helps students with visual impairments navigate the space more easily.
Beyond the KAC, Overbrook has also integrated StoryPanels screens in the nurse’s office and a changing room in a recently renovated wing of the school.
Implementing the screens and onboarding staff proved to be very easy. The screens are intuitive to operate, so staff required little training following installation. The improvements were immediately apparent, as even students were able to use them with ease.
Impact: Improved Student Experience, Long-Term Cost Savings
The introduction of Silentia screens has significantly improved both student independence and staff efficiency. Students now navigate changing and shower areas with greater ease, building functional daily living skills and confidence. As a result, they are better able to access their environment and gain greater independence thanks to the ease of use of Silentia products in the KAC.
The contrast between light and dark panels further enhances visibility for students with visual impairments, improving accessibility.
“Students can now navigate changing and shower areas with greater ease, reinforcing their functional skill development and helping them gain confidence through independence.” – Damaris Shiavi Schaeflein, Aquatic Center Coordinator, Overbrook School for the Blind
Swimming and other pool activities are part of every students’ curriculum, so with every student using the aquatic center, staff across all departments have welcomed the change, recognizing the immediate benefits over the previous curtain system.
The new screens simplify daily operations by eliminating the need for frequent cleaning and maintenance. Designed with durable, rust-resistant materials, Silentia screens withstand the chlorine-heavy environment, ensuring long-term reliability. This durability not only enhances functionality but also reduces costs, eliminating the ongoing expense of replacing worn-out or damaged privacy barriers.
Future Vision: Expanding Standardization for Accessibility
Building on this success, Overbrook is working to standardize equipment and privacy solutions across the school—one brand of lifts, one brand of beds, one brand of privacy solutions. This uniform approach is not only an economical one, it will also create a more adaptable learning environment, ensuring staff and students can engage with their surroundings consistently.
With Silentia’s commitment to hygiene, accessibility, and long-term cost efficiency, Overbrook School for the Blind is setting a new standard in inclusive and functional facility design. By prioritizing student privacy, confidence, and independence, the school continues to pave the way for a more accessible future.
Want to learn more about privacy solutions for healthcare, special education, and other environments? Connect with our team.
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