DeafBlind Events
List of upcoming events
April 2025
Family Fun Day
April 12, 2025
Central Michigan University
11a-3p
2025 Michigan Association for Education and Rehabilitation of the Blind and Visually Impaired
(MAER)
Lansing Center
333 East Michigan Ave
Lansing, MI 49833April 23-25, 2025
More Conference Information at MAER Website
June 2025
Summer Youth Vocational Program (SYVP)
Helen Keller National Center, New York
Session I: June 2, 2025 - June 27, 2025 (Application Deadline: April 4, 2025)
Session II: July 14, 205 - August 8, 2025 (Application Deadline: May 9, 2025)
Are you looking for your first job or to try a new job? Are you looking to make some money this summer? Then SYVP is the program for you! HKNC’s Summer Youth Vocational Program (SYVP) will prepare you for employment and give you the confidence for starting life after high school. You can try out jobs based on your interests, talents, abilities and aspirations at several work sites.
At SYVP you will:
- Work at a job you like and get paid for it
- Try out different jobs and share how you like them with your peers
- Take worksite tours and meet hiring managers
- Create your work portfolio and resume, and participate in practice interviews
- Understand your personal interests and strengths
- Learn from DeafBlind leaders how they applied advocacy to achieve success in college and their careers
- Develop work readiness skills including personal care, managing meals, budgeting, travel and telecommunications
- Be a part of the youth summer groups who come to HKNC over the summer
- Join fun recreation activities and socialize with peers and staff
- Develop an action plan to meet your goals!
Come to NY and join your peers ages 16-24 from around the country to learn skills that lead to employment success, and to experience what NY can offer you. Enjoy a boat ride, treasure hunt, talent show, swimming, crafts, Dave & Buster’s, mall shopping, bowling, BBQ’s and NYC! It will be 4 memorable weeks over your summer!
Contact your Regional Representative to find out how you can apply:
https://www.helenkeller.org/hknc/nationwide-services
Summer Unified English Braille Class
June 17, 2025 - August 19, 2025
Tuesdays, 9:30a -12:30p
Online Class
Registration opens April 2025
July 2025
College Bound Program: A structured college prep program
Helen Keller National Center, New York
July 7 - July 11, 2025
Application Deadline: May 2, 2025
The HKNC College Bound Program is an immersive program targeted on preparing youth for college. There is a focus on the apartment and dormitory experience, the skills for independent living, orientation & mobility, classroom accommodations, internship accommodations and work-study exploration.
Learn how to:
- Prepare for college
- Work with the college accessibility office
- Manage classes and college life
- Enhance college skills related to budgeting, accessing Google docs, formatting and saving papers, web browsing strategies
- Work on actual college applications
- Protect your personal identity
- Manage social media
- Optimize your classroom experience
- Request interpreting supports
- Develop self-advocacy
- Be prepared for emergencies
Learn about: available transportation options, find how to navigate your college campus, alerting devices/systems, simple cooking, organizational systems, labelling techniques, safe travel techniques, general safety, interviewing skills, time management, on-line food shopping and using customer service, accessing blackboard and canvas, internet safety, and e-books.
The program is tailored to meet your needs and covers 23 important college skills!
Learn in group classes with HS and college peers and in one-on-one classes.
Admission will be on a first come/first served basis.
Request an application from your Regional Representative
https://www.helenkeller.org/hknc/nationwide-services
or Dora Carney (Admissions Coordinator) at dcarney@helenkeller.org
Braille Camp
Helen Keller National Center, New York
July 28, 2025 - August 1, 2025
Application Deadline: May 23, 2025
Do you need to brush up on your braille skills? Do you want to meet new people and have fun together doing it?
Then the HKNC braille camp is for you!
The braille camp is a week-long, fun-filled and interactive learning experience designed for those who want to enhance and improve their braille skills. Leaders in the DeafBlind community, HKNC staff and current and former participants will lead the reciprocal learning experience for the week. You set your goals of what you would like to learn and HKNC will help you to work towards achieving them.
Enjoy staying in the residence and enjoying hearty meals and snacks. At night, join all the participants in fun recreation activities and of course, visit NYC!
For further information, contact your Regional Representative:
https://www.helenkeller.org/hknc/nationwide-services
August 2025
29th Annual Summer Camp for YouthM~POWER
MY PURSUIT OF WORK, EMPOWERMENT & RESOURCES
Come and join the new “I Love NY” M-Power camp to meet new friends, visit NYC and join fun activities to learn about the work. Are you starting to wonder what life will be like after you finish HS? This is the program for you to hear the stories from leaders in the DB community about how they became successful and to make connections with new friends. Bring your hopes and dreams to explore with M-Power!
You will learn how to search for a job, what skills a person needs on the job, what types of job you might like, how to apply for college and how to advocate for yourself on the job or in college.
HOW FAR CAN YOU GO? IGNITE YOUR FUTURE!!
ARE YOU READY?
- To learn the skills you’ll need, to work with peers on special projects
- To visit participants who are living in their own apartments
- To plan a meal together with peers and food shop, cook and eat
- To write a resume
- To meet a dog guide
- To learn about technology for a job or college
- To visit participants working at different jobs
ARE YOU SET?
- To make plans for your career & life after high school
- To learn about mobility and communication on the job or for college
- To learn about volunteer and work opportunities
- To explore your job interests
- To visit colleges and learn about accommodations that are right for you
- To learn how to make your own choices and wishes known
Come to NY and join your peers ages 16-24 from around the country for a fun-filled, action-packed one-week program. Enjoy a boat ride, treasure hunt, talent show, swimming, crafts, Dave & Buster’s, mall shopping, bowling, BBQ’s and NYC!! Your family is invited to visit on the weekend after the program to learn about your goals and join info sessions.
Contact your Regional Representative to find out how you can apply:
https://www.helenkeller.org/hknc/nationwide-services
The contents of this website were developed under a grant from the U.S. Department of Education H326T230033. However, those contents do not necessarily represent the policy of the U.S. Department of Education, and you should not assume endorsement by the Federal Government. - Project Officer, Rebecca Sheffield.
Website: U.S. Office of Special Education Programs IDEAs That Work