06/27/2024 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 06/27/2024 13:11
06/27/2024
OVR offers the 10-day academy each summer - as well as a separate academy for students who are deaf or hard of hearing - to help students build the skills they'll need to succeed in post-secondary education and competitive integrated employment.
The Pennsylvania State University has hosted the academy at its University Park campus since 2014. There is no cost to students or their families for participation in the academy. The program is funded through federal pre-employment transition funds.
"Every young person must learn a set of independent-living skills to succeed in their transition from childhood to adulthood - but that list of needed skills is a little longer for youth with disabilities. L&I's summer academies help students and their families plan and adjust to a new set of circumstances with the best chance of success. These programs are based on the lived experiences of people who have successfully made the transition from high school to college, and then to employment and are a great example of government being a force for good for Pennsylvania families," Secretary Walker said.
The academy is an immersive experience, offering students the chance to live in a college dorm with a roommate, eat their meals at a dining hall, and participate in team-building activities. Students have the chance to take a variety of classes, including mobility skills with the use of a white cane, how to request accommodations, study skills, assistive technology, disability services, social and emotional skills, adaptive sports, career planning, and more. Each student and their family receive a report outlining the student's strengths and areas that could be focused on to make the successful transition to college.
OVR's Summer Academy for Students who are Blind or Visually Impaired is open to Pennsylvania high school students enrolled in vocational rehabilitation services through the Bureau of Blindness and Visual Services. In addition to working with families directly, OVR partners with the Pennsylvania Training and Technical Assistance Network (PaTTAN) to distribute information about the academies to all vision departments within Pennsylvania's Intermediate Units.
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