College Internship Program Announces Dates and Locations for Summer Sessions
Thursday, December 3, 2009

Experiences available in California, Indiana, Massachusetts and Florida

The College Internship Program (CIP) has announced dates and locations of their four summer programs for teens ages 16-19 with learning differences. The two-week program will be held on the campuses of four highly rated colleges in California, Indiana, Massachusetts and Florida, and is designed to prepare students for the transition from high school to college or careers.

While students will attend classes covering topics such as time management, organizational skills and social thinking, the focus will be on fostering connections and having fun.

“Our summer program is unique as the focus is not purely academic. A big part of college is developing new friendships and having a great experience,” stated Heather Greene, Executive Director of the College Internship Program, which also offers year-round programs for college-age students. “It’s important for teens with learning differences to have the opportunity to build meaningful relationships and learn more about themselves within a supported and inclusive environment.”

Located on the campus of four select colleges, students will learn to navigate independently, attend classes and have access to fitness facilities and campus cafeterias. Teens will take part in recreational outings, life skills instruction and CIP’s specialized curriculum for students with learning differences, providing a compact 2-week pre-college experience. “Person-Centered Planning, a project which focuses on using multimedia to develop goals and reflect one’s personality is an aspect of the curriculum that students particularly enjoy,” stated CIP’s founder, Dr. Michael McManmon. “Many students are leaving home for the first time, getting a taste of both the freedoms and responsibilities a college student encounters and helping to prepare them for their future,” he continued.

In 2009, CIP’s pilot summer session in Berkeley, Calif., attracted students from Alaska, Puerto Rico, Alabama and Indiana. The program will expand in 2010 to four states nationwide. While attending the Berkeley program, students visited Alcatraz Island, Fisherman’s Wharf and Six Flags amusement park, and completed a ropes course among other team-building activities.

Teens will have opportunities to practice new skills in an environment where they can feel successful and develop self-confidence. They will take part in a variety of fun classes and activities within a welcoming community of peers, building skills that they can carry with them into future college or workplace endeavors.

The two-week sessions will be offered at Indiana University at Bloomington and Florida Institute of Technology June 18-July 2, University of California at Berkeley July 2-16 and Westfield State College in Massachusetts July 18-August 1. The program is open to students ages 16-19 with a diagnosis of Asperger’s syndrome, ADHD, nonverbal learning disorder, high- functioning autism, dyslexia or other learning differences. Enrollment is limited. For further information, visit www.cipsummer.com.

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