Virtual Summer Youth Vocational Program
Innovative, six-week employment training experience for youth ages 16-22.
In response to COVID-19, the Helen Keller National Center for Deaf-Blind Youths and Adults (HKNC) is addressing the access that young adults with combined vision and hearing loss have to services provided under the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA).
The center’s Virtual Summer Youth Vocational Program (SYVP) offers Pre- Employment Transition Services, established through WIOA, and prepares transition-age youth for competitive and integrated employment during social distancing.
Participants will virtually join peers ages 16 to 22 from around the country for this innovative, six-week experience. The Virtual SYVP will offer opportunities to gain knowledge and experience in the following areas:
- Vocational Exploration
- Self-Determination
- Advocacy
- Communication Methods
- Worksite Orientation & Mobility
- Assistive Aids & Devices
- Interviewing & Employment Skills
The program’s second session goes from July 20 to Aug. 28.
The program cost is $625 per week.
Participants will gain self-awareness through the process of gathering information about their interests, abilities and values.
They will explore the “world of work” through the distribution of information of a variety of career options and associated criteria. As a result of their discoveries through self-awareness and “world of work,” participants will narrow potential career options supported by informed decision-making.
Virtual SYVP aims to provide the following outcomes:
- Learn from competitively employed deaf-blind mentors and peer experiences
- Develop an understanding of work through virtual worksite tours and informational interviews
- Increase self-awareness of personal strengths/interests through the SYVP seven focus areas
- Identify future skill-building goals and develop an action plan to meet those goals
- Prepare for interview-readiness through the development of a work portfolio and practice interviews
- Learn about universal precautions for work safety during COVID-19
Prior to the beginning of the program, HKNC staff will assess technology available to the participant to determine the best instruction modality that would ensure full access to information and instruction. Instruction may be provided by telephone, iPhone, iPad, email, computer, videophone, FaceTime, Zoom meetings and/or Google Classroom.
More details are available on the HKNC website.
For more information, contact Dora Carney, Admissions Coordinator, at Dora.Carney@hknc.org. You may also find your regional representative at https://www.helenkeller.org/hknc/nationwide-services.