Blind, visually impaired academy takes place in State College

STATE COLLEGE, Pa. (WTAJ) — The Office of Vocational Rehabilitation is currently hosting its annual Summer Academy for Students who are Blind or Visually Impaired at Penn State University, and on Thursday attendees got to hear from a special guest.

Kids from across Pennsylvania came to the academy to learn new skills and they’ve been listening to different guest speakers. However, on Thursday, June 27, they heard from an extra special guest.

For the average person, tasks like cooking or riding the bus are pretty easy. For the blind or visually impaired, those tasks may pose a real challenge.

“Learning skills can help students with visual disabilities be more independent because it can be tough navigating sometimes,” Manny Delvalle, a visually impaired student, said.

That’s why it’s important for kids struggling with vision issues to learn these important skills early. Penn State’s summer academy offers a way to move forward with more confidence.

The academy is for high school students (grades 9-12) who anticipate attending a two- or four-year college or technical/trade school after graduation. The academy’s primary focus is to introduce the wide range of skills and experiences necessary to have a successful post-secondary transition in education.

Students achieve this by participating in a variety of activities and classes. Those include techniques of daily living, travel skills, self-advocacy and networking skills, career awareness, social skills, enhancing access to technology skills, low-vision rehabilitation, and STEM experiences. All students attending the academy reside at Penn State University in a dormitory. Students get to share rooms, eat meals in a campus dining hall, and immerse themselves in other activities reflective of college life.

“Some of them have never really been away from their homes before. Some have never been to a college campus before, but the skills they’re learning will impact them well beyond college,” Ryan Hyde, Executive Director for the Office of Vocational Rehabilitation, said.

It may be intimidating at first, but those around them say it’s a way for them to get what they deserve.

“Our students deserve knowledge and deserve to be able to go to college and succeed and go to work and succeed,” Becky Knaub, teacher, assistive technology and vision therapy.

On Thursday, attendees also learned that they’ve got Pennsylvania’s government in their corner as well. Pennsylvania Department of Labor & Industry Secretary Nancy Walker took the opportunity to speak with them and listened to what they’ve learned and the challenges along the way.

“It’s so great to hear kids talk about how they may have been afraid or challenged when they started the week that they feel empowered and able at the end of the week,” Walker said.

Walker added that the investments into people with disabilities from Governor Shapiro go a long way. Governor Josh Shapiro’s proposed 2024-25 budget prioritizes services for Pennsylvanians with disabilities that support independence without barriers by investing an additional $787,000 in vocational rehabilitation.

More than 50,000 individuals with disabilities receive services through the vocational rehabilitation program and an additional 17,000 students with disabilities utilize the OVRs pre-employment transition services program annually.

Kids who attended the academy also had the opportunity to learn that they’re not alone through listening to other attendees’ experiences.

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“I’m thrilled that they’re here. I’m thrilled that they worked so hard and that they, you know, stayed and that they’re just happy to come to lessons,” Knaub said.

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