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TEEN EVENTS

Sponsored by GSAP

What is the purpose of the Teen and Young Adult Program?

State Deaf-Blind Projects from Georgia, Florida, South Carolina, Mississippi, Tennessee, Alabama and Texas support teens and young adults with deafblindness to plan for the future, develop friendships and become self-advocates by providing weekend retreats where presenters who are positive role models and mentors with deafblindness address topics related to transition, self-determination, social skills and self-advocacy.  Separate sessions are offered for parents.

WHO CAN PARTICIPATE

Any teen or young adult with deafblindness ages 16 (or sometimes 14) through 22 who is on a career path to work, technical school, or college is invited to participate.  Participants must have both vision and hearing loss.

    EDUCATION

·  Weekend retreats and events

·  Opportunities to attend national workshops

·  Expand your knowledge, develop new skills and prepare for your future        

·  Get ahead and  prepare for your next transition now                 

     FUN

·  Make new friends who are deafblind from Georgia and other states

• Keep in touch with new friends through email, your Blackberry, TTY or even the telephone
• Attend retreats, social events and workshops
• Have fun

    Networking and Mentors

·  Meet successful role models who are deafblind

·  Connect with professionals and agencies in Georgia and the United States

PARENT SESSIONS

·  Parent sessions at retreats feature professionals with expertise in transition issues for young adults who are deafblind.

·  A chance to share experiences with other parents.

SOUTHEASTERN REGIONAL DEAFBLIND TEEN RETREAT IN GEORGIA (January 2009)

The Georgia Sensory Assistance Project (GSAP) in collaboration with state Deafblind Projects from Florida, Mississippi, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Texas held a Teen Retreat in Macon, Georgia, January 16-18, 2009 at the Georgia Academy for the Blind. Twenty-seven teens and young adults with vision and hearing loss attended the weekend event for a chance to meet and socialize with other young people and be inspired by dynamic presenters who are deafblind.   Kim Powers Smith, former host of the Emmy award winning TV show “Kim’s World” and frequent presenter on advocacy for persons with disabilities encouraged the young adults to be self advocates and take an active role in making decisions about their future.  Jason Corning, a college junior from the University of Wisconsin, Whitewater, worked with participants on using sites like Facebook and My Space to do social networking, and gave tips on giving presentations to help others understand deafblindness.  Fifteen family members attended and learned about services offered by Vocational Rehabilitation and the Helen Keller National Center, and were encouraged to make their children active participants in the transition process.

 One highlight of the event was a panel of young people and adults with deafblindness who talked about their experiences in college, at work, and in the community and the barriers and supports they have encountered.  Matthew Roush from Atlanta and Virginia Jordan from Athens, both veterans of GSAP teen events, were panel members, as were Leigh Russell, from the Georgia Association of the Deaf Blind (GADB), and Kim Paulk, an adult with deafblindness who lives in Macon.  Other highlights included a fun evening of bowling, dancing and karaoke, and a chance for the teens to share their talents in music, martial arts, and painting. 

GSAP would like to recognize people and organizations who helped plan and execute the event.  Dr. Dorothy Arensman and Mr. Frank Reynolds at the Georgia Academy for the Blind for allowing us to use their facilities and taking such good care of us,  Eric Hefner and Chad Oliver of Zaxby’s of Middle Georgia for providing a delicious lunch,  Tom Ridgeway and the Macon Lions Club for providing refreshments for our Saturday Coffee House, Georgia Perimeter College Interpreter Program for sending great Support Services Provider (SSP) volunteers and the student volunteers from Stratford Academy in Macon who helped on Saturday.

Kim Powers Smith and Chris Myltek cheer  for  a team response to questions posed by  Mike Fagbemi from the National consortium on Deaf Blindness         

Getting to know each other Friday night

Barbara Chandler, regional representative from Helen Keller National Center and Bob Green, deafblind services coordinator from the Georgia Department of Labor meet with parents

NEXT GEORGIA TEEN EVENT:

TENTATIVELY SCHEDULED FOR OCTOBER 2009

CHECK BACK FOR DETAILS!