Youth Experience the Real World of Work

Katherine sorting audio tapes at the Talking Book Library

Six high school students got a taste of summer employment through the Carroll Center’s Real World of Work Experience. Commissioner Janet Labreck of the Massachusetts Commission for the Blind presided over graduation on August 8th. This marked the eighth-year of a successful program offering high school students summer jobs, supported skill development training, after-hour recreation activities, significant maturation and personal growth, and many friends and fond memories to last a lifetime.

• Katherine from Massachusetts inspected books and did informational interviews at the Braille and Talking Book Library. She independently travelled to her job using public transportation.
• Steven from Connecticut was a productive worker who enjoyed traveling on his own to his job at a local hospital.
• Kaitlin, from Rhode Island, had a difficult time saying good bye to all the friends she made at her jobsite.
• Gina, from Massachusetts, learned how to advocate for herself on the job and used the bus all the time even in the rain.
• Carey, from Massachusetts, conquered her struggle with street crossings and received glowing job reviews from her supervisor and co-workers at the YMCA.
• Shaun, from New Hampshire, sweated part of his summer working in the fields at the farm, but enjoyed all the vegetables he got to eat!

A healthy social life was enjoyed by all students as they formed close relationships and enjoyed field trips to Fenway Park, museums, golfing and beaches! Self-Defense, dancing, Fencing, canoeing, and many more group activities rounded up the summer. At the end of the program the students reported they had more confidence, and self-esteem in their abilities to be productive contributors to their employers