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December 2021 Voyagers Holiday Gathering Fall Independence Trip Recap Upcoming Events Resources and Opportunities

December 3, 2021 Voyagers Holiday Gathering   'Tis the season to celebrate friendship and gather together! Voyagers and their families are invited to join in seasonal festivities at Vista Center, San Jose. The evening will include fun and accessible holiday games and creation, all activities will include valuable life learning lessons from the Expanded Core Curriculum. We can’t wait to ring in the holidays together!  Reindeer Games: An engaging reindeer relay where the students will prance, dance, and dash their way through to the finish line. This relay will teach physical coordination, balance, and include Orientation and Mobility skills.  Deck The Halls: Get creative with tactile ornament making! This craft will teach tactile discrimination and fine motor skills.  A Caroling We Go: Join your voice in singing classic carols and dancing to a jingle. This teaches personal hobbies and helps develop talents, teaching healthy leisure activities.   Santa’s Cookie Crew: Bake a batch of simple sugar cookies and decorate with sprinkles. This teaches students early independence living skills such as oven safety and spreading skills.    When: Friday, December 3rd Time: 6:00 - 8:00pm  Location: Vista Center, San Jose 101 North Bascom Avenue, San Jose, CA 95128 RSVP: Using our NEW website RSVP Here by November 27th

October 16-17, 2021 Voyagers' Fall Independence Trip re-cap Fifteen courageous Voyager students joined Vista Center’s annual Independence Trip this past weekend! This was a chance for students to try new things, develop confidence, and learn to cook, clean, and care for themselves. The sun was shining high in the sky, warming the students' backs, and the wind blew the salty spray gently against their faces as they paddled the 2 miles from Sausalito to Angel Island. The spirit of adventure and willingness to try new things abounded among the group! Students glided past the Golden Gate Bridge, the San Francisco skyline, and beached for lunch on the historic island. Voyagers then explored the rocky island hikes practicing their white cane skills, developing core stability and balance, as the sun set in the distance. In the evening, students set up tents, cooked a hearty dinner, and shared funny stories, advancing their independent living and social skills.    For many, this was their first time ever learning how to kayak. These students faced their fears to brave the elements, trusted their bodies, and met new people. In the process, they found an internal strength and self-determination they didn’t know existed. They proved they can be physically active just like everyone else, and that their vision loss need not be a barrier to living a full life. A student shared, “Something I'm taking away from this trip is the ability to kayak and do this trip. I didn't know I could! I loved being immersed in such an experience and making so many new friends.”

Upcoming Events

December 1-2, 2021 Sight Tech Global Sight Tech Global is the first global, virtual conference dedicated to fostering discussion among technology pioneers on how rapid advances in AI and related technologies will fundamentally alter the landscape of assistive technology and accessibility. Register for this free event and check out the website!

Learn more about Sight Tech Global

March 5, 2022 Braille Challenge The Braille Challenge is coming back to Northern California in-person at Vista Center San Jose! Braille Institute developed Braille Challenge to motivate students to practice and hone their braille literacy skills, which are essential to academic and employment success. Save the date. Details coming soon!

Braille Challenge Website

Downloadable Flyer

December 2021 Job training opportunities, career fairs and resources Youth of Tomorrow is all about job readiness training, college preparation, independent living and preparing for life after high school. If you’re looking to put some of the skills we’ve been learning all year to use, the new Camp Bloomfield in partnership with Los Angeles’ Wayfinder Family Services is looking for young adults between the ages of 15-21 to become counselors in training and help implement programs at their new location.  Camp Bloomfield is for people with vision loss and their families from age 7 to adulthood. Room and board will be paid for by Wayfinder. To apply, please e-mail your resume to me [email protected] or e-mail [email protected] for more information. Mark will be recruiting counselors in mid-December. Camp will be from June 9 - July 9. Silicon Valley Young Professionals Monthly Mixer Focused on career growth, professional development, meeting (and becoming) who’s who in the valley, and issues of interest to Members under the age of forty, this is the place to be if you are young (or young in spirit), full of energy, and want to change the world. Events of the SVYP are some of the most dynamic, motivational, and FUN in the entire bay area (not to mention, often the largest events of their kind). Register for their Monthly Silicon Valley Young Professionals Mixer More info can be found on the Silicon Valley Chamber of Commerce page Are you looking for a career opportunity or internship? Learn More at www.careereco.com/events/disability

Bookmark this YouTube Channel! APH’s Connect Center is a wonderful resource for people with vision loss and their families. You may even find Vista Center’s Amy Jine speaking during the National Mentoring Transition Conversation! 

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