Teens/Young Adults

In collaboration with Opportunities for Ohioans with Disabilities (OOD), Cleveland Sight Center provides services to help teenagers and young adults as they prepare for independence. These programs are specifically designed for those 14 - 22 years old who are blind or have low vision and may have additional disabling conditions.

Career Exploration

CSC’s Career Exploration program is designed for the student 14 -16 years old who is blind or has low vision. Program aspects include:

• A career interest survey
• Determination of strengths and needs
• Job shadowing
• Tours of Cleveland-area businesses
• Discussions and presentation from employers
• Learning work-related “soft skills” 

Disclosure of disability to a potential employer, time and money managements, problem solving on the job and workplace ethics and behavior are also covered.  This is a “career exploration” option through Bureau of Services for the Visually Impaired (BSVI) of Opportunities for Ohioans with Disabilities (OOD).

Click here for more program information.

Summer Youth Work Experience

Summer Youth Work Experience is a summer transitional program for young adults who are blind or visually impaired. It is a five week residential program providing a paid work experience, instruction in job readiness and “soft skills”, one-on-one or small group instruction in the areas of orientation and mobility, computer skills and activities of daily living. For most participants, this program is his or her first real job and first opportunity to experience independent living. Expected beneficial outcomes include:

• Increased job skills
• Creation of a work history
• Increased confidence in community travel
• Improved independent living skills
• Improved expectation of community employment

Click here for more program information.

Additional Transition Resources

CSC offers resources in making transitions to school, home and daily living for teenagers and young adults. Click here for a listing of Transition Resources.

A new resource guide for students with visual impairments is available here. 

The website Affordable Colleges Online posts these resources for students:

• College Resources for Students with Disabilities
• College Scholarships and Financial Aid for Students with Disabilities 
• The NFB of Ohio Scholarship Information for 2018-2019
• College for Students with Disabilities: A Guide for Students, Families and Educators

Contact Sylvia Snyder, Director, Children & Young Adult Services at 216-791-8118 ext. 8777 or ssnyder@clevelandsightcenter.org for more information on these programs.