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Dreaming with Ambition: Exploring College, Leadership, and Social Success

In September, join the LightHouse Youth Employment Series, YES, workshop focusing on the experience of blind and low vision college students. Youth will have the opportunity to visit a college campus, refine leadership and advocacy skills, practice their mobility all while connecting with blind and low vision college students and mentors.

YES workshops are monthly weekend-long learning experiences emphasizing the vocational enrichment of low vision and blind youth, increasing and providing access to a multifaceted array of mentorship, employment readiness skills, and alternative accessible techniques. The YES Workshop in September will provide students with the tools to dream with ambition: obtain further understanding of disability accommodations and speak with disability services staff, explore additional social and leadership opportunities on college campuses, enhance their personal understanding of various types of financial aid, as well as jumpstart the personal insight essays for college and scholarship opportunities. The weekend is spent learning from blind and low vision mentors and engaging in creative hands-on activities which further support youth to explore and achieve their individualized and professional aspirations.

Workshop Learning Objectives:

1. Participants will learn about different college and post-secondary educational options (community college and private and public universities) and how their majors, interests, and experiences connect with potential future career paths.

2. Transitional age youth will also elevate their attitude and awareness in a variety of college majors, degrees and career paths, from a B.A. in Social Work to a journey of entrepreneurship from blind and low vision individuals, engaging in an interactive discussion with a Mentor Spotlight featured in the documentary Do You Dream in Color.

3. Youth will have the opportunity to learn about disability services, financial aid and scholarships, meet with current blind and low vision students as well as hear their stories regarding college application, reasonable accommodations, and school and personal life balance. 4. Students will participate in interactive activities to craft their personal leadership brand and advocacy strategies. 5. The over-night nature of the YES workshop provides opportunities for students to refine their workplace readiness soft skills including effective social and professional communication and independent living.

Things to Bring:

1. A notetaking device or implement (braille note, pen, slate and stylus, phone with keyboard, laptop, etc.). You will be asked to complete activities electronically.

2. Necessities you may need such as money for transportation to and from the workshop or personal medication.

If you are interested in participating in the September YES Weekend Workshop, please:

1. Contact your Department of Rehabilitation counselor to discuss workshop attendance and authorization.

2. Confirm attendance with Ann Wai-Yee Kwong, Transition Program Specialist, by email at youth@lighthouse-sf.org or by phone at 415-694-7328. If you have any questions or would like to pay for your participation in the workshop, please contact youth@lighthouse-sf.org. Each workshop costs $950 to attend for the entire weekend. Please note, space for this program is limited to 20 students and workshop attendance must be confirmed one week prior.

Mark your calendars to save-the-date for the October 12-14 YES weekend.