May 26, 2009 -This summer the Michigan Commission for the Blind (MCB) will offer 10 programs for eligible youth who are blind or visually impaired, all designed to provide opportunities to prepare for independence and the transition into postsecondary education or employment:
Summer in the City, June 15-25, is a two-week program for blind and visually impaired youth age 14-21 and in high school featuring high-school-to-career transition activities emphasizing daily living skills and employment skill development. The program is sponsored by the Michigan Commission for the Blind and the Kent, Ottawa, and Ionia intermediate school districts. The Association for the Blind and Visually Impaired in Grand Rapids will provide the skills training. For more information, contact Pat Angerman (MCB) at (616) 356-0180.
MCB Business Enterprise Program Summer Employment, June 15 through August 7, is an eight-week food service and vending internship in MCB's Business Enterprise Program for blind and visually impaired youth ages 15-22. Participants work 20-30 hours per week at $7.40 per hour. The June 15 through August 7 timeline is flexible. For more information, contact Lucy Edmonds (MCB) at (517) 373-3459.
Career Club, June 16-18, July 14-16, and August 11-13 is a nine-day program for blind and visually impaired youth in Eaton and Ingham counties. Participants will explore careers, learn about their individual strengths and interests, work on team-building skills, develop a career plan, discuss work skills and ethics, practice interviewing, complete a job application, develop job-seeking skills, and have fun. This program is sponsored by the Michigan Commission for the Blind, Eaton and Ingham intermediate school districts, and Peckham, Inc. An end-of-the-year celebration is scheduled for August 20 from 3:00 to 5:00. For more information, contact Nichole Wright at (517) 335-4262.
Macomb Skill Building Camp, June 17-26, is for blind and visually impaired Macomb ISD students age 14-18. This program will focus on topics from the Expanded Core Curriculum for Students with Visual Impairments, including independent living skills, community-based experiences, activities of daily living, recreation and leisure, obtaining information about community resources, and more, to promote independence. During this camp, the students will be utilizing Macomb Academy's apartment at Lakeside Terrace in Sterling Heights to provide students with the opportunity to learn and practice adaptive daily living skills in a home-like environment. For more information, contact Tina West (MCB) at (313) 456-1659.
MCB 2009 College Preparatory Program at Western Michigan University, June 25 - August 14, in Kalamazoo, is for blind and visually impaired high school juniors and seniors, as well as anyone else who is blind or visually impaired who would like to pursue college training and has not done so yet as a person who is blind or visually impaired. The purpose of the program is to give potential college students the opportunity to take a college class for credit, along with other classes and activities designed by MCB. Students will find out what it's like to be a college student, try out their independent living skills in a supported environment, and have an opportunity to learn about themselves and make plans for their education after high school. To determine a student's readiness to meet the challenges of academic classes and daily living on campus, each student must complete a college assessment. During the program itself, students reside at a Western Michigan University student dormitory. For more information, contact Lisa Kisiel (MCB) at (269) 337- 3238 or Shannon McVoy (MCB) at (269) 337-3449.
Detroit Summer Youth Program, June 22 - August 14, is an eight-week program that focuses on activities for transitioning after high school graduation into postsecondary education or employment. This is a collaborative venture between the Michigan Commission for the Blind, Detroit Public Schools, and Wayne Regional Educational Service Agency (RESA). The program is open to blind and visually impaired high school youth in the Detroit Public Schools ages 14-26, who will have the opportunity to gain actual work experience in a variety of agencies and organizations throughout the area. The program also provides some technical training, daily living activities, and recreational experiences. For more information, contact Shawnese Laury-Johnson (MCB) at (313) 456-1957 or Euan Singleton (MCB) at (313) 456-1652.
MCB Personal Adjustment Training, July 6 through August 28, is a comprehensive training program that offers blind and visually impaired high school and college students age 16 and older the opportunity to strengthen the skills that they will need in order to live on their own and be ready for postsecondary education or employment after graduation from high school. For more information, contact Therese Andrews at (269) 337-3771. MCB Macomb Employment Connection, July 13-24, is for blind and visually impaired Macomb ISD students ages 14-26. This program is an opportunity for students to develop, improve, and increase their exposure to the community and develop skills for self-reliance, independent living, and the sound work ethic needed to compete for employment. For more information, contact Tina West (MCB) at (313) 456-1659.
Quest for Success Summer Youth Program at Camp Tuhsmeheta (near Greenville), July 19-24, is a week-long summer camp program for blind and visually impaired youth ages 14-18 who are in high school. Sponsored by the Michigan Commission for the Blind and the Michigan Department of Education, the program combines fun-filled summer camp activities with the chance to learn invaluable skills in Braille, access technology, travel skills, cooking, and organizational management. For more information, contact Wendy VanElk (MCB) at (269) 337-3767.
Bear Lake Camp in Lapeer, July 22, is a one-day camp sponsored by MCB for blind and visually impaired youth ages 14-26 featuring simulated employment activities and other activities of daily living. For more information, contact Elizabeth White (MCB) at (517) 335-5521.
For more than 30 years, the Michigan Commission for the Blind has provided training and other services for individuals who are blind or visually impaired to achieve independence and/or employment in the careers of their choice, annually serving nearly 4,000 state residents. For more information, visit www.michigan.gov/mcb or call toll-free: voice 1-800-292-4200; TTY 1-888-864-1212.
The Michigan Commission for the Blind is part of the Department of Energy, Labor & Economic Growth (DELEG), which is investing in Michigan's future by preparing for the new energy economy, helping to create the jobs of today and tomorrow, ensuring that our children and adults have the skills these jobs demand, making Michigan a better place to do business, and training and placing those who need jobs now.
Read more releases from the Michigan Department of Energy, Labor & Economic Growth
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