FREE Virtual Youth Peer Learning Group from Helen Keller National Center

HKNC South Central, North Central, and New England Regions are collaborating on hosting a FREE Virtual Youth Peer Learning Group for ages 16 – 23.

Dates: April 21st – May 26th, on Wednesdays, 6:00-7:00 PM CST / 7:00-8:00 PM EST

Purpose: A socialization platform for DeafBlind youth to meet peers across the country. Each week incorporates Pre-Employment Transitional information for youth to explore educational and vocational goals.

The Virtual Youth PLG is offered at no cost through Zoom, which is a web-based platform that allows participants to join by video or phone. If you’re not sure if this is accessible to you but you would like to participate in this group, let us know and we will work with you to identify potential accessibility options. We will have interpreters during the sessions to ensure full communication access.

Peer Learning Groups are made up of eight youth from across the country, facilitated by HKNC staff. The topics are fun and will include the following for each week:

• Week 1 (April 21): Introduction & Icebreaker Games
• Week 2 (April 28): What is Pre-ETS?
• Week 3 (May 5): Career & College Exploration
• Week 4 (May 12): Self-Advocacy Skills
• Week 5 (May 19): HKNC Youth Programs
• Week 6 (May 26): Exploration of Post-Secondary Goals

The youth will enjoy connecting with others who share common interests. If you know of any youth who would be interested in participating, please have them fill out the 2 REQUIRED Forms (PLG Field Services Registration Form & PLG Public Release Form) and submit to your regional representative, Natasha.Aymami@hknc.org, by the DEADLINE APRIL 16th. 

About the Helen Keller National Center

Authorized by an Act of Congress in 1967, HKNC is the only organization of its kind—providing training and resources exclusively to people age 16 and over who have combined vision and hearing loss.

Students travel from across the country to our headquarters in Sands Point, New York, for on-campus training in assistive technology, vocational services, orientation and mobility, communication and independent living, and our regional offices bring HKNC resources to communities throughout the United States.

Our instructors are sensitive to the cultural differences between students with different levels of hearing and vision loss and varying educational backgrounds, providing individualized training and guidance to each student.

HKNC also is a leader in professional learning, “training the trainers” to work with the deaf-blind community.

HKNC is the national division of Helen Keller Services, which also includes Helen Keller Services for the Blind, a regional division serving the New York City/Long Island area.