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Feb 8 – Feb 10
Youth Employment Series (YES) Say What? Communicate with Clarity in Applications and In-Person
In February, join the LightHouse Youth Employment Series, YES, workshop focusing on the importance of communicating with clarity as youth learn to navigate multiple systems (school, college, work, etc.) and become advocacy-savvy. Professional communication and advocacy are often conducted through written communication such as emails and information provided from completing applications. Hence, it is important to be aware of the what, why, and how’s of interacting with organizations. Youth will have the opportunity to communicate with clarity from the written word to verbal interactions, obtain self-advocacy strategies, as well as gain information on understanding complex financial systems such as Achieving a Better Life Experience (ABLE) Accounts.
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 February will provide students with the tools to navigate and locate resources, obtain further understanding of financial empowerment, and learn to communicate with clarity, as well as refine their advocacy-savvy strategies. 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 the what, why, and how’s of interacting with organizations and systems as they consider different options after high school (independent living, college, work, etc.).
2. Transition age youth will be empowered as they learn about financial concepts of the ABLE Accounts and taxes.
3. Students will participate in interactive activities as they become increasingly advocacy-savvy, developing effective strategies in a variety of scenarios from accessing academic to work accommodations.
4. Participants will practice communicating with clarity using written, verbal, and interpersonal interactions for future personal and professional growth.
5. The over-night nature of the YES workshop provide opportunities for students to refine their workplace readiness soft skills including effective social and professional communication and independent living all while building community with their blind and low vision peers.
If you are interested in participating in the February 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.
