Secretary Walker Visits L&I Summer Academy Preparing Blind and Visually Impaired Students for College and Employment

STATE COLLEGE, Pennsylvania — Department of Labor and Industry (L&I) Secretary Nancy A. Walker on Thursday, June 27, met with 20 high school students from across Pennsylvania who are learning independent living skills at Penn State that will prepare them for employment after high school.

Since 2009, L&I’s Office of Vocational Rehabilitation (OVR) has offered a Summer Academy for Blind and Visually Impaired Students. During this time, approximately 325 students took part in it.

Each summer, OVR offers a 10-day academy – as well as a separate academy for deaf and hard of hearing students – to help students develop the skills needed to succeed in post-secondary education and competitive integrated employment.

The Pennsylvania State University has hosted the academy on its University Park campus since 2014. There is no cost to students and their families to participate in the academy. The program is funded by federal pre-employment transition funds.

“Every young person must learn a set of independent living skills to successfully transition from childhood to adulthood—but that list of skills is somewhat longer for youth with disabilities. L&I’s summer academies help students and their families plan and adapt to new circumstances with the best chance for success. These programs draw on the experiences of those who have successfully transitioned from high school to college to employment, and they are a shining example of government being a force for good for Pennsylvania families,” said Secretary Walker.

The Academy is an immersive experience, offering students the chance to live in a residence hall with a roommate, eat in the dining hall, and participate in team-building activities. Students have the opportunity to take part in a variety of classes including white cane skills, housing applications, study skills, assistive technology, disability services, social and emotional skills, adaptive sports, career planning and more . Each student and their family receives a report highlighting their strengths and areas to focus on for a successful transition to college.

The summer academies also help young professionals who will support people with disabilities in their future careers by hiring college students with social service majors to serve as resident assistants (RAs). The RAs teach classes and provide guidance to the participants to ensure that each student has a great experience. In the past, OVR has seen college students and RAs come to work for the Department.

Pennsylvania’s disability support systems are a top priority for the Shapiro administration. Governor Josh Shapiro’s proposed 2024-2025 budget prioritizes services for Pennsylvanians with disabilities that support barrier-free independence by investing an additional $787,000 in vocational rehabilitation. More than 50,000 people with disabilities receive services through the Vocational Rehabilitation Program, and an additional 17,000 students with disabilities receive OVR’s Transition to Work Services program each year. Pre-employment transition services are available to Pennsylvania students with disabilities, ages 14 and older.

The OVR Summer Academy for students who are blind or visually impaired is open to Pennsylvania high school students enrolled in vocational rehabilitation services through the Office of Blindness and Visual Services. In addition to working directly with families, OVR partners with the Pennsylvania Training and Technical Assistance Network (PaTTAN) to distribute information about the academies to all vision departments in Pennsylvania Intermediate Units.