Learn, Earn, and Prosper
Preparing blind and visually impaired youth for a brighter future by gaining life skills, work experience, and community involvement!
Learn, Earn, and Prosper (LEAP) provides blind or visually impaired youth the opportunity to gain the skills needed to become independent, confident, and productive with the outcome of increased employability.
Learn about LEAP!
Begin your journey to independence!
What is LEAP?
Learn, Earn, and Prosper (LEAP) provides pre-employment transitional services to youth and young adults who are blind or visually impaired. LEAP typically offers residential programs, in which students have lived in college dormitories and practice independent living skills.
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Due to COVID-19, LEAP has successfully transitioned into the virtual world, where we offer platform-based educational workshops, remote work based learning internships, and skill camps!
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Once public health regulations allow, LEAP plans to continue with a hybrid programming model of virtual and residential settings. Youth and young adults who are blind and visually impaired from all over the country can enjoy LEAP and cultivate their professional and personal development.
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Check us out on Instagram!
Who can enroll in LEAP?
Young men and women who are blind or visually impaired ages 14-24 years old.
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We also accept and strongly encourage applications from out of state individuals!
As a LEAPster or LEAP Intern, what type of training will I receive?
You will receive training in pre-employment transitional services:
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- Work based learning
- Workplace readiness training
- Instruction in self advocacy
- Social and emotional development
Programming Opportunities
Learn more about the different programs offered to find out which experience might be best for you!
We are excited to announce that the Summer Virtual Work Based Learning Program will begin on July 5th!
Get paid to work as an App Developer or Marketing Content Developer. See below for more information!
Applications due June 20th
Student Testimonials
Find out what our past LEAPsters have said about their time at LEAP!
Summer 2022 Residential Program
What I enjoyed the most was meeting everybody; they were so nice and helpful. I also enjoyed working with other blind and visually impaired folks. I wasn’t the only one with a disability. It was just a great experience all in all.
I enjoyed being part of the community and sought the support of my peers and friends.
Working at the cafe was very successful because my goals were achieved, and it created an opportunity for a job in the future. I also really enjoyed working with food and customers
The most enjoyable part of my worksite was being able to be outside and getting to know new people
Summer 2022 Virtual Work-Based Learning Program
I got to accomplish a dream I’ve always had to make video games and I’ve finally done it (with the help of others of course)
I really enjoyed having the opportunity to be a leader and cultivate leadership skills. I also really enjoyed learning from and collaborating with the other facilitators.
To be honest, I enjoyed my whole LEAP experience but the one thing I enjoyed the most was making meaningful connections, sharing experiences that I had with an assignment each week within my small group, and being able to lead our last Friday Round Up.
I liked getting to know new people from all around the US, and I really liked learning about video production.
Spring 2023 Virtual Work-Based Learning Program
Something that I enjoyed while doing the spring programming was getting to meet new people and also seeing familiar people too. I liked that I was able to lead two icebreaker questions for my small group check ins. I also liked working as a team this time on creating interview guides to help future LEAPsters when they have to do a job interview one day or apply for a job one day. “
I liked the dine in because I could socialize with people and get to know them. It was fun.
I enjoyed leading my group and also learning how to be a better leader.
Resources




Business Enterprise Program
BEP is a proud partner of LEAP
In 1936 the Randolph-Sheppard Act (20 U.S.C. Section 107 et seq.) established the Randolph-Sheppard Vending Facility Program, more commonly known as the Business Enterprise Program (BEP). Here in Vermont, the Division for the Blind and Visually Impaired (DBVI) is the state licensing agency administering this program. BEP is a self employment program. The federal and state laws governing this program require that candidates are to be legally blind, a U.S. Citizen, and must complete our training program.
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Licensed Operators are trained to run one of DBVI’s food service facilities as self-employed entrepreneurs, keeping 100% of the profits! Our facilities consist of cafe and vending machine operations, located in federal and state building throughout Vermont. Qualified candidates are assigned to facilities as they become available.