YES Summer Academy (online)

YES Summer Academy (online)


Aug 5

LightHouse for the Blind and Visually Impaired

Connect, Learn, and Grow

YES Summer Academy Goes Online!

Youth Employment Series (YES)
July 6 (Monday) – August 7 (Friday), 2020

Registrations open until June 12, 2020

The LightHouse for the Blind and Visually Impaired Youth Employment Series (YES) is excited to offer a redesigned 2020 Academy for aged between 16 – 24 years youth who are blind or have low vision.

Despite the many changes as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, Youth will continue to have the opportunity to fill their summer with engaging and valuable learning experiences. They will have the chance to participate in independent living trainings, employment readiness projects, peer social hours, and mentoring conversations with life-long friends, mentors and supportive LightHouse staff through this groundbreaking program.

The YES Virtual Summer Academy is a 5-week long interactive experience. Youth will gain first-hand knowledge of building confidence and positive identity, learn collaboration and how to be a "team player”. They will get to know how to identify strengths and interests, as well as acquire a sense of direction through personalized job exploration learning activities.

 

The program will culminate with youth investigating career interests and equipping themselves with the tools to transition successfully. These include:

  • Career/strength assessment plans
  • Working resume
  • Interview strategies

Specific days will have a particular focus:

  • Mondays – presenter spotlight and seminars
  • Wednesdays - group-based discussions and weekly community building evening sessions.
  • Fridays - one-on-one coaching sessions

Students will receive 5-6 hours of direct weekly instruction via Zoom, phone, and email communication, approximately 2 hours per day, 3 days per week; they are also expected to complete application activities and work-based learning projects along with scheduled sessions.

The YES Summer Academy will encourage students to reflect and apply their learning experience to their lives and be more prepared for future dream opportunities and adulthood.

To take part in the YES Summer Academy, follow the steps below:

  1. Complete the LightHouse Student Intake Form and select “YES Summer Academy 2020” under the Program Interest section. If you have participated in LightHouse Youth programs within the last year, please skip this step and go directly to Step 2.
  2. Complete  the YES Summer Academy Participation Application and Short Responses. Please send your responses to youth@lighthouse-sf.org by June 12, 2020.

 

For professionals looking to fund places for students in the YES Academy Summer Series, please see the below planned learning outcomes:

  1. Job exploration counseling
  2. Counseling on opportunities for exploration and enrollment in comprehensive transition or post-secondary educational programs
  3. Workplace readiness training to develop soft and independent living skills
  4. Critical instruction in self-advocacy refinement and connection to blind and low vision mentors
  5. Work-based learning opportunities via community involvement, and additional emphasis around critical Expanded Core Curriculum (ECC) concepts including assistive technology and independent living.

 

If you have any questions or need any further information, please contact Ann Wai-Yee Kwong, Transition Program Specialist, at youth@lighthouse-sf.org or call 415-694-7328

 

We look forward to welcoming your students to the LightHouse YES Summer Academy 2020.

View full calendar