Discover Your Future justification letter

Discover Your Future Gallaudet University June 23-30, 2019

Dear Rehabilitation Counselor for the Deaf/Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor:

Every summer, Gallaudet University, through its Youth Programs office, hosts several camp programs for deaf, and hard of hearing youth. This year’s camps are scheduled for June 23-30, 2019 on our picturesque campus in Washington, D.C. Our Summer Youth Camps are designed for middle and high school students up to the age of 19. The camps provide stimulating summer learning and experiential opportunities that blend education, excitement, and enjoyment in a bilingual environment, rich in cultural diversity, located just minutes from the U.S. Capitol.

Gallaudet University is the world’s only university designed to be barrier-free for deaf and hard of hearing students. For more than 150 years, Gallaudet University has led advances in education for deaf and hard of hearing students and deaf rights worldwide. Today, students from across the United States and around the globe, diverse in perspective, backgrounds, interests, and communication styles, form an exciting learning community as they prepare for dynamic careers and a lifetime of growth.

We would like to call your attention to Discover Your Future (DYF), one of our most popular camps. It is designed for college-bound deaf and hard of hearing students entering grades 10-12. Campers will work on developing their transition plans; identifying their interests and skills, and exploring different potential careers during career classes, leadership seminars, and educational field trips.

DYF will benefit campers in learning more about themselves and preparing them for success in the 21st century work environment. DYF will enable campers to return to school equipped with additional skills, knowledge, and abilities that will be applicable in preparing for their future career development. The following activities have been developed to support our goal in preparing our campers both personally and professionally:

• Experience what it is like to be a student on the Gallaudet University campus.
• Take career-related assessments, with support from our Career Center advisors and Youth Programs staff.
• Interpretation of assessment results to help narrow down career interest(s) and preference of work environment.
• Engage in self-discovery career related activities designed to help campers learn more about their strengths, areas of improvement, personality style, interests, and values.
• Create a transition portfolio with a timeline to help campers develop their Individual Plan for Employment with their families and Vocational Rehabilitation/Department of Rehabilitation (VR/DOR) counselors.
• Meet with successful Deaf professionals during leadership seminars and learn how they prepared for their career successes.
• Participate in outdoor activities, including a Personal Discovery ropes course, to develop leadership, teamwork, self-confidence, and communication skills.
• Learn about self-advocacy, youth leadership, and disability rights with camp staff leading workshops and activities.
• Attend fun and educational field trips to explore Washington, D.C.: attractions include the Washington Monument, the Lincoln Memorial, the Smithsonian museums, The National Holocaust Memorial Museum, Union Station, and many other world-famous sights.

DYF meets the goals of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) Pre-Employment Transition Services (Pre-ETS/PETS) program in the following areas:

• Campers receive career guidance and exploration.
• Campers receive information on post-secondary educational opportunities.
• Campers understand the importance of self-advocacy through career classes, leadership seminars, educational field trips, team-building activities, workshops, and group discussions.

DYF will take place from June 23-30, 2019. The camp fee is $750. This fee covers room, board and various transportation expenses during the camp itself. Campers are responsible for their own transportation costs to and from Washington, D.C./Gallaudet University. We will provide round trip transportation to and from Union Station or Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA). Campers are encouraged to bring their own spending money as well.

We look forward collaborating with you to support deaf and hard of hearing youth with their transition plans, and to start early in preparing for their future. For more information about our Summer Youth Programs, please see http://www.gallaudet.edu/youth-programs/summer-youth-camps. Also, feel free to contact me if you have any questions.

Thank you.

Sincerely,

Jesse Saunders
Director, Youth Programs