Uplifting article

From Boston Public Schools:

Blind student – gifted violinist and computer programmer – graduates from Boston Latin School
Musical prodigy Albano Berberi of Roslindale, a visually impaired Albanian immigrant, will enroll in Wheaton College next year

June 12, 2008

BOSTON - Albano Berberi, a visually impaired student, arrived in Boston from Greece in 2001, a sixth grade student who spoke no English and was unable to read and write in Braille. This month, he is graduating from Boston Latin School as an accomplished violinist who has excelled in rigorous Advanced Placement (AP) coursework.

Determined to pursue his love of music and computers, Albano, whose family had immigrated to Greece from Albania when he was a child, quickly learned English and Braille, with the help from new assistive technology designed specifically for students who are visually impaired. In 10th grade, just four years after arriving in the U.S., Albano scored “Proficient” on the MCAS English exam and “Advanced” in MCAS Mathematics.

Albano, who lives in Roslindale, completed his senior year at Boston Latin School with a full course load that included College English, AP Music, AP Computer Science, French 4 Honors, and Pre-Calculus. Throughout high school, he devoted himself to music composition and performance while exploring his interest in computers as an academic subject and a hobby.

In the fall, Albano will enter Wheaton College, where he will major in music performance and writing, with a minor in computer science.