YES Weekend Workshop: Conferences and Connections (in-person)

When Friday, April 21 at 4:00 pm to Sunday, April 23 at noon

Networking can happen in a variety of ways, some structured and at other times organically, and this April YES participants will get chances to practice their skills in multiple environments. We will be spending part of the weekend at the CTEBVI (California Transcribers and Educators for the Blind and Visually Impaired) conference’s Youth Institute, where students will hear from mentors and professionals who are blind, and participate in various activities that will encourage networking. We will also hear from some blind and low vision mentor spotlights, discuss networking strategies and approaches, and leave plenty of time to socialize with peers!

YES (Youth Employment Services) workshops are monthly weekend-long learning experiences for youth and young adults who are enthusiastic about realizing their dream careers, emphasizing the vocational enrichment of low vision and blind youth, providing access to a multifaceted array of mentorship, employment readiness skills, and alternative accessible techniques. Each YES workshop focuses on a specific theme and offers an array of self-advocacy, assistive technology, living skills, and soft skills curricula empowering students to strive toward future employment or post-secondary educational success.

The weekend is spent learning from blind and low vision mentors, connecting with blind and low vision peers, and engaging in creative hands-on activities which further support youth to explore and achieve their individualized and professional goals.

1. Students will get opportunities to practice networking and establish connections with blind and low vision professionals at the CTEBVI Conference. Students will utilize navigation skills, have conversations with mentors about topics such as advocacy, college preparedness, and employment experiences. They will also explore the conference exhibit hall and connect with professionals from various blindness agencies.
2. Participants will build a repertoire of work-readiness skills while attending the CTEBVI Youth Institute and participating in lessons on navigation, dressing for success and financial literacy.
3. Students will practice their independent navigation skills when taking BART to and from the conference.
4. The overnight 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 all while building community with their blind and low vision peers and mentors.

Things to Bring:

• A notetaking device or implement (braille note, pen, slate and stylus, phone with keyboard, laptop, etc.). You may be asked to complete activities electronically.
• Necessities you may need such as any orientation & mobility tools to travel safely, money for transportation to and from the workshop, or personal medication.

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

1. Contact your Department of Rehabilitation counselor to discuss workshop attendance and authorization. The cost for this workshop is $950 and includes all activities, food, and lodging for the weekend.
2. Confirm attendance with Daisy Soto, Youth Services Coordinator, by email at DSoto@lighthouse-sf.org or 415-694-7328. If you have any questions or would like to pay for your participation in this workshop, contact DSoto@lighthouse-sf.org. Note, space for this program is limited and workshop attendance must be confirmed one week prior by Friday, April 14.