Shapiro Administration Highlights Success of L&I Summer Academy Program Preparing Students with Disabilities for Life After High School Graduation

Today, L&I Secretary Nancy A. Walker met with 18 students attending the Summer Academy for Students who are Deaf and Hard of Hearing. Last week, she visited 18 students participating in the Summer Academy for Students who are Blind and Visually Impaired. Both programs are offered at no cost to students or families through federal Pre-Employment Transition Services (Pre-ETS) funding.

“These summer academies provide students with disabilities an immersive experience on a college campus where they can socialize with peers and develop the practical skills needed for a successful transition to college and the workforce,” said Secretary Walker. “Every student faces unique challenges, and we know students with disabilities often benefit from additional support. Governor Josh Shapiro and First Lady Lori Shapiro are dedicated to ensuring all students have the opportunities and assistance they need to succeed.”

Governor Shapiro’s proposed 2026-27 budget calls for an additional $1 million investment in OVR, which helps people of all ages with disabilities find employment through personalized services such as vocational counseling and guidance, goal setting, training, and job placement. Each year, OVR engages with more than 76,000 students and adults with disabilities across all programs. Last year, nearly 18,000 students with disabilities received Pre-ETS, and OVR placed more than 6,400 individuals into competitive integrated employment.

Students participating in OVR’s Summer Academies experience authentic college living, including dormitory accommodations, dining hall meals, and team-building activities. The curriculum covers mobility training, requesting accommodations, assistive technology use, emotional and social development, career planning, and adaptive sports. Personalized reports provided to students and families outline individual strengths and areas for further growth. Students attending the Deaf and Hard of Hearing Summer Academy have an opportunity to utilize captioning and interpreting services which provide them with full communication access.

The academies also offer career development opportunities to college students who have an interest in working in disability-related fields by employing them as Resident Assistants (RAs). New this year at the Blind and Visually Impaired Academy, several RAs were college students who are deaf or hard of hearing. Many former RAs have successfully transitioned into careers with OVR and L&I.

Governor Shapiro is committed to investing in the Commonwealth’s workforce and creating real opportunities for all Pennsylvanians. In addition to increasing state funding in OVR by $1 million, his 2026-27 budget proposal also includes:

• An additional $18 million for vo-tech, career and technical education (CTE), and apprenticeship programs; 
• $7 million for Schools-to-Work pathways; and 
• $6.3 million for Industry Partnership grants. 

For more information on the Pennsylvania Department of Labor & Industry, please visit the website or follow L&I on Instagram, Facebook, X, and LinkedIn. 

Note: The Pennsylvania Vocational Rehabilitation program receives 78.7 percent of its funding through a grant from the U.S. Department of Education. For federal fiscal year 2025, the total amount of federal grant funds awarded was $163,789,270. The remaining 21.3 percent of the costs ($44,329,243) were funded by state appropriations or another non-federal allowable source.

# # #