âTake Our Daughters and Sons to Work Day 2022â applies to all children, especially those who are blind or who have low vision. Why? Because we know that children with visual impairments need purposeful exposure to jobs and career choices that they may not âseeâ on TV or by casually walking down a street. Letâs … Continued
_________________________ Sean Plumer learned so much about potential careers in computer coding and programming at the 2021 APH National Coding Symposium, heâs already signed up for this yearâs event, which runs May 9-13, 2022 online. A 17-year-old junior in high school, Sean has been interested in computer coding since before he began losing his vision … Continued
Editorâs Note: National Student Employment Week has passed, but a summer job remains a right-of-passage for many high school students. It might be a teenâs first taste of freedom offered by a paycheck, it might represent saving up for something special, it might be a step toward saving for college or transition to living independently. Just … Continued
Thereâs no question that Christina Ha is a remarkable, history-making woman, the only blind contestant ever and the season three winner of âMasterChef.â For Womenâs History Month, we asked her to share her story as inspiration for parents and their children who are visually impaired. The key takeaway? Anything is possible if youâre determined. FamilyConnect: … Continued
Parents and caregivers of children who are blind or visually impaired, you have an important role in helping your child prepare for a successful transition to adulthood. And did you know a successful transition starts in early childhood?! Itâs true. The book Beyond High School: Preparing Adolescents for Tomorrowâs Challenges states âFor students with disabilities, … Continued
Editorâs Note: Each state offers a summer work or pre-employment transition program for youth with visual impairments, including those with additional disabilities. These programs are excellent opportunities for young people to learn about working as a person with vision loss and build confidence and gain valuable work experience. In this blog Gavin, an aspiring actor, shares what he … Continued
Perhaps youâve noticed your young child is having trouble reading, even though theyâve started building a vocabulary. Maybe a teacher says your teen is having problems seeing the blackboard from an assigned seat, or isnât meeting their full potential working online. Or it could be that you take your child to the family eye doctor before they … Continued
Editorâs Note: Meet Payton Polk, the 2021 recipient of the APH-Papano Scholarship for STEAM students. Payton, a biochemistry major at UCLA and shares her experiences navigating classes at UCLA as a person with a visual impairment. This blog also appears on the APH CareerConnect website. APH: Hi Payton! Thank you for taking the time to share your story. Would you begin by telling us a little about … Continued
Editorâs Note: APH ConnectCenter and APH CareerConnect are thrilled to introduce Richard Rueda as APH CareerConnectâs new Digital Content Manager. Richard brings two decades of experience in transition and vocational rehabilitation experience to the ConnectCenter. Learn about how APH CareerConnect supports and empowers blind and low-vision job seekers from high school through mid-career as they … Continued
Hello, October, arguably the most magnificent monthânot (only) because of the sensational scents, sights, and sips of fall, but (also) because October is National Disability Employment Awareness Month, NDEAM for short. In celebration: We stop and remember. We educate others. We plan and gear up for the future. Why? Because, as is the 2021 NDEAM … Continued