College Exploration Week Opens Doors to Independence and Higher Education

When Cory arrived at The Chicago Lighthouse for the first day of the Youth Transition Program’s College Exploration Week, he wasn’t sure if he would even apply to college. After four days of visiting colleges and trade schools across Chicagoland, he discovered two majors that excited him, gained a clearer understanding of the accommodations that can support his success in higher education and left with a plan to apply to Northern Illinois University next year. 

College Exploration Week offers students who are blind or visually impaired a chance to explore higher education options with a heavy focus on accessibility. During this free program, participants visited seven colleges and trade schools, meeting with accessibility officers and current students with visual impairments, touring campuses and seeing firsthand the myriad of future possibilities. 

“I wanted to be a veterinarian when I was younger, but once I started losing my vision when I was 15, my teachers told me I wouldn’t be able to do that,” says Cory. “Before going on these college visits, everyone was telling me what I can’t do. Now, everyone is telling me what I can do. It was so great talking to KP [a current nursing student with a visual impairment], and hearing from him that I can become a vet. This trip teaches you that it doesn’t matter what [disability] you have, you can do it with hard work and dedication.”  

Although some students had learned about colleges through their high schools, those experiences did not specifically address campus accessibility. As a result, many students had difficulty imagining themselves on campuses.  

 “I knew that there were some accommodations available, but actually talking to someone who has a visual impairment and is able to pursue the job they want was really cool and helped me see what’s possible,” said Devon. 

Now those possibilities are taking hold. Cory plans to apply to NIU to study veterinary science and audio engineering. Shada is excited to live independently in a dorm while studying psychology, and Devon is confident there are accommodations that can support his dream to pursue a career in welding.  

You can support College Exploration Week and our other education programs supporting children and youth by making a gift today at chicagolighthouse.org/donate.