The Voice

Oregon Commission for the Blind’s Summer Work Experience Program Celebrates 52 Years of Life-Changing Program for Teens

Youth gain invaluable self-reliance skills, career experience through state program

The Oregon Commission for the Blind (OCB) recently celebrated the conclusion of its 2025 Summer Work Experience Program (SWEP) with two commencement ceremonies marking student successes. SWEP provides blind or low-vision young adults with hands-on professional experience and mentorship, helping students gain confidence, new friendships and valuable life skills for their futures.

SWEP is more than a summer job; it is Oregon’s only dedicated summer work training program for teenagers with vision loss. It’s an important part of participants’ lives and typically their first work experience. For five-to-six weeks, students complete a work placement with a local employer where they learn how to complete everyday entry-level tasks in a supportive environment. Those in Portland have the option to stay at Portland State University in the dorms, where they learn skills like cooking, cleaning, budgeting and navigating across the city independently. With participants across Oregon, SWEP is a critically important program for youth with vision loss.

“It’s profoundly heartening to see the transformations that our SWEP students go through each summer,” said Dacia Johnson, executive director of OCB. “Often, they have never navigated outside their homes on their own without a family member. After their time in SWEP, they gain autonomy and the skills to work as cashiers, preschool classroom support, grocery stocking, customer service, and more.”

The 2025 program saw students working at a wide range of businesses, nonprofits and state agencies, including Grocery Outlet, Oregon Zoo, Portland Montessori School, Oregon Museum of Science and Industry (OMSI), the Oregon Higher Education Coordinating Commission (HECC), Scrap Creative Reuse, Portland Japanese Garden and the YWCA of Greater Portland, among others. Students are often offered permanent positions after SWEP concludes.

Standout experiences from this year’s program include:

• Andrew, who interned at Portland Japanese Garden and was awarded 2025 “SWEPpie” of the year, who worked in both business relations and garden maintenance and management.
• Emily, who interned at HECC and will return in a permanent role. She has gained recognition for her leadership in accessibility and inclusivity practices.
• Maya, who worked at the National Alliance on Mental Health of Central Oregon on grant applications, house therapy and support group coordination.
• Chanel, who interned at OMSI and completed an independent research project to inform a new prototype exhibit design that will be more accessible.