The Family Resource Group
April 3, 2023
Looking Ahead to Summer 2023
Summer may feel far away but it isn't too early to plan ahead! There are some exciting opportunities coming for summer! If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact me at any time. To be sure that you continue to receive all future updates, or information, directly to your email address, sign up on the Family Resource Group mailing list.
Erin Campion
Family Resource Group Editor
For the Summer
*PLEASE NOTE: There are costs to many summer camps. PaTTAN does not provide tuition assistance for any summer camp. For some of the programs, you may want to reach out to your OVR case manager and see if OVR is able to provide some assistance in covering part of the cost of the program. Also, you may want to check with your local Intermediate Unit (IU) Educational Foundations to see if they offer summer programming or know of ways to find financial support.
How Is ESY Eligibility Determined?
Every student who is eligible for special education has an IEP that describes the programs and services necessary for the student to receive FAPE.
One of the issues discussed and decided upon at the IEP team meeting is whether or not the student requires Extended School Year (ESY) services as part of the student’s special education program. ESY must be considered each year for every student with a disability.
Remember - A determination for the Armstrong Target Group of students must be made by February 28.
For more information on ESY, access the Teachers' Desk Reference: Extended School Year (ESY) and Extended School Year Services in Pennsylvania.
Summer Youth Camps listed with Gallaudet University
"Our Summer Youth Camps are designed for middle and high school students up to the age of 19. Our programs provide exciting summer learning and experiential opportunities against the backdrop of a world-class bilingual environment just minutes away from the U.S. Capitol."
HUNE Youth Conference (Spanish)
Nuestra tercera conferencia virtual de HUNE para los jóvenes con impedimientos, sus familias, y professionales. ¡Mas detalles pronto! El 16 de mayo del 2023 9am-4pm EST
Camp Abilities PA at West Chester University
Camp Abilities PA @WCU (CAPA) is a developmental sports camp for youth ages 7-17 who have vision loss and/or deafblindness during Memorial Day Weekend each May. The purpose of the camp is to empower children to be physically active, improve their overall health and wellness, encourage them to make food choices that support an active lifestyle, and develop their confidence and self-esteem through sport and physical activity. Athletes receive one-on-one instruction during all physical activities and events. Camp Abilities PA is an overnight camp experience that introduces children to a variety of sports, including 5-a-side soccer, cross-country and track running, field events, tandem biking, and swimming, and provides opportunities to participate in goalball, football, golf, lacrosse, frisbee, and beep baseball.
Although we would always love to accept all youth who register, due to our camp perimeters and high intensity of physical activity throughout each day, we accept participants who are free from secondary medical, cognitive, and/or behavioral conditions that affect their full participation in high-intensity sports in cooperative/team settings.
Western PA School for the Deaf Summer Camp June 18-23, register by May 19
"WPSD is thrilled to bring back Summer Camp for deaf and hard-of-hearing students between the ages of12-18 (who have not yet graduated from high school). Online registration will open at www.wpsd.org on April 1st and the deadline for registration is May 19th. A bus will run from Camp Hill on Sunday, June 18th and back to Camp Hill on Friday, June 23rd. The registration cost of $175 includes lodging, meals and all activities. There are a limited number of slots, so be sure to sign up early! For more information, contact Bill Estes at bestes@wpsd.org or Jen Morris at jmorris@wpsd.org"
"If your child has both a vision and hearing loss, your family (parents/guardians, siblings and child with deaf-blindness) may be eligible to attend a weekend learning conference (at little or no cost).
Come experience sharing, caring, and learning together with staff from the Pennsylvania Deaf-Blind Project, PaTTAN, and other families living with deaf-blindness."
Summer Academy for Students who are Deaf/Hard of Hearing
The 2023 DHH Summer Academy for students who are d/hh is now accepting applications. The program will be held on July 16-26, 2023 at Penn State Main Campus. The application and additional information are here, on the flyer attached below, or feel free to contact Russ Goddard, Program Director, Deaf and Hard of Hearing Summer Academy.
Phone: 724-936-5076 | VP: 717.831.0336 | Fax: 724.656.3265 | TTY: 724.656.3252
E-Mail: rgoddard@pa.gov
Camp Hero
"Camp Hero is a camp for children ages 8 through 17 who are deaf and hard of hearing. All forms of communication are supported at Camp HERO. The camp promotes social growth, creativity, self-expression and self-confidence. The campers enjoy activities such as swimming, paddle boating, fishing, rock wall climbing, bonfires, scavenger hunts, crafts, activities associated with the yearly theme, and building friendships that will last a lifetime. Camp HERO is located at the Camp Victory facility in Millville, PA. Please visit http://campvictory.org/ for more information about Camp Victory." MONDAY JUL 31st- FRIDAY AUGUST 4th, 2023 They are also looking for counselors - see below for more information.
RIT/NTID's Explore Your Future (EYF)
"If you’re looking for a way to help your college-bound deaf and hard-of-hearing high school students make important decisions about life after high school, encourage them to join us at Rochester Institute of Technology this summer for Explore Your Future!
EYF is a five-day, on-campus summer program for college-bound deaf and hard-of-hearing high school students who will enter their junior or senior year in fall 2023.
Students learn how their interests can lead them to a career, and they explore career options in various fields. They participate in EYF with other deaf and hard-of-hearing students from around the country, and it’s a wonderful opportunity for them to meet new friends!
Students who attend EYF receive an application fee waiver to apply to RIT at no cost, and those who enroll at RIT for college will receive a scholarship. That’s right, when they participate in EYF, they can apply to RIT for college at no cost, and they’ll receive a scholarship!
There are two EYF sessions for students to choose from:
Session I: July 8-13, 2023
Session II: July 15-20, 2023
Both sessions offer an opportunity for students to explore career options in the arts, business, computers, engineering, health sciences, science and more.
Students who attend EYF receive an application fee waiver to apply to RIT at no cost, and those who enroll at RIT for college will receive a scholarship. That’s right, when they participate in EYF, they can apply to RIT for college at no cost, and they’ll receive a scholarship!
Students from all over the country will participate in EYF this summer. Check it out, and encourage your students to apply today!
If you have any questions, contact us at 585-475-6700, toll-free in the U.S. and Canada at 1-866-644-6843, by videophone at 585-286-4555, or by email at EYFinfo@rit.edu."
Helen Keller National Center (HKNC)
"We offer three different youth programs at our headquarters in Sands Point, New York. Choose the one that’s right for you and get ready for an incredible summer.
You have a lot of big decisions ahead. Take control of your future at HKNC."
Overbrook TVI Summer Program
"Overbrook School for the Blind presents the Overbrook Transition Vocational Initiative Program, a three-week residential summer program to prepare students who are blind or visually impaired for employment. TVI is presented in partnership with the Pennsylvania Bureau of Blindness and Visual Services (BBVS) within the Department of Labor & Industry’s Office of Vocational Rehabilitation. The Overbrook TVI Summer Program is for Students 16 - 21 years of age with visual impairment. This program runs 3 weeks in July (including weekends)."
RIT/NTID's Health Care Careers Exploration Program
"Deaf or hard-of-hearing high school students who will enter 10th, 11th and 12th grade this Fall 2023 can take advantage of RIT/NTID’s Health Care Careers Exploration Program offered by Rochester Institute of Technology. This program for college-bound students interested in the health care field is July 22 – 27 on the RIT campus in Rochester, New York. During the program, students will:
- Discover which health care careers fit their interests.
- Be part of hands-on demonstrations in biology, physical therapy,
medical laboratory sciences, nursing, nutrition and more. - Become CPR/first-aid certified.
- Make new friends and have fun!
For more information, contact us at 585-475-7695 (voice), 585-286-4555 (videophone), text/FaceTime 585-448-9651 or by email ntidoutreach@rit.edu"
RIT/NTID's Tech Tigers
"Registration for RIT/NTID's TechTigers program for deaf and hard-of-hearing middle school students is open now! TechTigers (formerly TechGirlz and TechBoyz) is a week-long program for deaf or hard-of-hearing students entering grades 7, 8 or 9 in fall 2023.
"TechTigers is July 22 –27, 2023, at RIT/NTID’s campus in Rochester, N.Y.
At TechTigers, students will:
- Learn about chemistry, computers, engineering, science, and more!
- Meet other students like them who are interested in science and technology.
- Use high-tech lab equipment to solve problems.
- Stay in RIT college residence halls.
- Have fun!
Program classes are taught in English and sign language, and the program incorporates National Science Education standards. Parents of the students are invited to the opening and closing activities.
Learn more about TechTigers here. The cost of the program s $700 per student and registration ends May 19, 2023. Limited scholarships are available to qualified students"
The mission of the Pennsylvania Training and Technical Assistance Network (PaTTAN) is to support the efforts and initiatives of the Bureau of Special Education, and to build the capacity of local educational agencies to serve students who receive special education services.