Deafblind student ready to graduate from SCCC and open his own restaurant

SCHENECTADY, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- A local college student who is graduating this week from SUNY Schenectady Community College is breaking barriers in the kitchen. Chris Gonzales thrives in pretty much any setting, but he shines when it comes to fine dining.

"Food kind of brought me through a lot of ups and downs in my life," Gonzales explained.

It's been his dream to open his own Mexican restaurant one day. As he makes his way through the kitchen into the dining hall inside the Casola Dining Room, what you may not notice right away is that Chris is a deafblind individual.

"There is nothing special about me. Just like everybody else. I just happen to struggle with being able to see and hear," Gonzales said.

Since birth, his vision and hearing have deteriorated, but those challenges never stopped him from pursuing his lifelong goal. His associate professor, Kimberly Otis, said, "His tenacity would not allow him to fail. We just figured it out. We were able to explore different methods of teaching."

With the help of some technology, Chris became a star culinary student. "The biggest thing is communication," he said.

Otis added, "We have a mic system I can wear that transcribes what I'm saying."

His limited ability to see allowed him to read from a screen what his instructor was saying, and he also had the help of an interpreter in class. The learning tools were provided through the college's disability transition services coordinator.

"Without them, I wouldn't be able to communicate," Gonzales stated. "I wouldn't be graduating. I wouldn't have a normal career."

As he prepares to cross the stage and earn his degree in Hotel and Restaurant Management as well as his Assistant Chef certificate, he's never been more ready to navigate the kitchen. "A lot of people have a tendency to take life for granted. We don't," Gonzales explained.

A lesson helping him dish out an unforgettable meal with compassion and understanding. "Just forget about everything else and enjoy something delicious and be in the happy moment," Gonzales reflected.

Through his academic journey, he has also been on dialysis for chronic kidney disease. Gonzales will have his Hotel and Restaurant management degree in-hand Thursday morning at graduation after completing the program.