Whole New Experience for Teen’s with Disabilities
Via’s Teen Summer Program – Now Accepting Registration
February 19, 2010
 BETHLEHEM, PA – Young people want to be connected to friends and family, and learn, work, and be respected for their choices. Via’s Teen Summer Experience, now accepting registration, helps teens develop social skills and peer networks that lead to success in young adult life, career development and independence.
Via Teen Summer Experience facilitates relationships between young adults and the communities in which they live, connecting teens to their community through recreational, social, volunteer and educational activities. Via Teen Summer Experience is an intensive 11-week program, with opportunities to participate in a wide range of activities that includes job shadowing and career counseling, volunteer activities in a variety of inclusive settings, and a series of recreational and team-building activities.
Via partners with more than 75 small and large employers and 42 local agencies and institutions of higher education throughout the Lehigh Valley. Through these partnerships, Via Teen Summer Experience provides opportunities for teens and young adults to participate in:
- Inclusive learning and volunteer activities
- Research post-secondary educational opportunities
- Attend non-credit classes and recreational activities with their peers
- Complete career interest inventories
- Job shadow, job site visits and career exploration
- Mock interviews with Human Resource managers at Lehigh Valley companies
- Resume preparation
- Recreational activities including swimming and sports
- Excursions (Martin Guitar, NorthStar Adventure, Ungerer, St. Luke’s Hospital, Crayola Factory, Eagles Training Camp and more).
Via Teen Summer Experience works individually with each teen and their family to develop educational, recreational and vocational goals for their summer program. The goals focus on the individual interests of the teen and center on developing skills and experiences that further develop their social and vocational skill sets, as they prepare to transition from school to adult life.
 Teens and young adults will have the opportunity to develop their social skills, experience vocational exploration through volunteering and research career opportunities. All of these skills help prepare young adults to become successful members of the community and workforce upon their graduation.
For more information or to register visit us online at www.ViaNet.org or contact Lisa Musselman, Via Community Connections Director (L.Musselman@ViaNet.org | 610-317-8000 x431). Registration closes April 30, 2010.
Via of the Lehigh Valley is a non-profit human service agency that provides services for children and adults with disabilities like autism, cerebral palsy and Down syndrome. Serving the community since 1954, Via’s staff help individuals and families from birth through retirement focusing in Children’s Services, Community Connections and Employment.
Via works with children up to age three in their homes and daycares to address disabilities and delays. Via finds jobs in the community for adults and provides coaching and training for successful employment. And Via helps people, from teens to those at retirement age, connect and live in their community by volunteering, participating in leisure activities, and finding or purchasing affordable, accessible housing. Via fosters and advocates the concept of inclusion and choice within schools, neighborhoods and communities, personal relationships, and employment. Via believes that personal satisfaction and dignity are achieved through individual success and independence and is committed to helping people live full and productive lives. Visit www.ViaNet.org to learn more about Via’s services.
For more information, contact:
Lisa Walkiewicz, Communications Director
L.Walkiewicz@vianet.org | 484-893-5390
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