Shelly Faust-Jones and Karen Walsh-Emma, co-directors of the Summer Academy Program at Penn State, will host a discussion from 1:30 p.m. to 3 p.m. on Tuesday, July 18 to raise awareness about these unique programs offered on the University Park campus. The discussion, with a question and answer session to follow, will be held in Foster Auditorium, 102 Paterno Library, and will also be available on Mediasite Live at live.libraries.psu.edu. An archived recording of this event will be closed captioned and available following the discussion.

Summer Academy, hosted by Penn State, University Park, offers a multi-week, intensive program focused on enhancing independence skills for students transitioning to postsecondary education. The experience is available at no cost to eligible Pennsylvania students currently enrolled in high school and who anticipate attending a two- or four-year college or technical/trade school after graduation.

This discussion is co-sponsored by the University Libraries’ Accessibility and Diversity Committees in recognition of Global Accessibility Awareness Day.

 Faust-Jones and Walsh-Emma, who work in the Bureau of Blindness and Visual Services within Pennsylvania’s Department of Labor and Industry, will discuss how the Summer Academy Program was conceived; what is involved in putting this program together; what outcomes have been derived from the Summer Academy for the Blind and Visually Impaired in the past few years at University Park; and Penn State’s contributions to the programs.

The full Penn State News article is available to read online. For more information on the July 18 discussion event, or for questions about accommodations or the physical access provided, contact Emily Rimland, at 814-863-2480 or elf113@psu.edu in advance of the event.