Dealing with the Present Summer Program

Dealing with the Present…While Preparing for the Future

Teenagers who are visually impaired face a wide array of situations in school, at home and on the job, where they must utilize problem solving, teamwork, personal management, and specialized skills. Perkins Outreach Services is again offering a three-week residential program of intensive skills training, socialization and recreational activities, and opportunities to improve self-confidence for students in grades 7-12.

The Outreach Summer Program will address the following areas:

• increase self-awareness and improve self-esteem through understanding of personal strengths and limitations
• food preparation from start to finish (i.e. menu planning, shopping, preparing, serving and clean-up)
• introduction to personal finances (i.e. basic money management, banking)
• personal care skills (i.e. grooming, eating, hygiene skills)
• functional communication skills (i.e. handwritten signature, taping, keyboard skills, braille)
• home management skills (i.e. laundry, cleaning, organization skills)
• career planning resources
• orientation and mobility skills
• social skills and peer relationships
• community experiences (i.e. independent shopping and resources exploration)
• leisure and recreational activity planning and experiences (i.e. swimming, horseback riding, canoeing)

Additional Information:

• Special requests for intensive skills training or assessments in any of the areas listed above will be considered.
• This is a residential three-week program, which includes remaining at Perkins over the two weekends for the additional recreational activities and skills practice. Housing will be apartment style.
• Parents are invited once during the program for a scheduled observation and a progress meeting.
• Comprehensive reports and recommendations will be sent to the parents and agency/school providing funding for each participant.
• Space is limited. All applicants will be interviewed after a completed application packet has been returned. School and other educational and/or vocational contacts will also be interviewed. Students accepted into the program will be notified as soon as possible.

Registration:

• Download the application packet. Please indicate your interest in the Outreach Summer Employment Program and return the completed form to:

Perkins Outreach Services
175 North Beacon Street
Watertown, MA 02472
FAX: 617-972-7586
E-Mail: Outreach@Perkins.or

• For more information, contact Kelly Cote, Outreach Activities Coordinator, at 617-972-7867 or via e-mail at Kelly.Cote@Perkins.org.