Alana Cueto is Happy to Stay

Alana Cueto began her internship at VisionCorps during the school year. The 19-year-old student, who graduated from Elizabethtown High School in 2024, participated in Intermediate Unit (IU) 13’s School to Work program. She was placed on the Enterprise Group (EG) manufacturing line at VisionCorps for six months.

Alana has retinitis pigmentosa, or RP, a genetic eye condition that can cause progressive vision loss. She moved to this area with her family from northern New Jersey in 2021. She received support services in vision rehabilitation and orientation and mobility training through IU 13, before her job placement at VisionCorps.

“I worked two days a week from January through May,” said Alana. “I really liked spending time working, and I met new friends.”

Alana had a job trainer who helped acquaint her with the job requirements and she learned about different jobs on the line. Her main job is packing the helmet pads used by troops inside their combat helmets.

“I love this job. I like the friends and co-workers I met.

“It is great to make friends with other people who are vision impaired,” said Alana. “I’m learning to have confidence in myself.”

In June, Alana returned to VisionCorps to work again in the EG.

When she’s not working, Alana enjoys spending time with her family and friends. She also likes acting and hopes to pursue new roles, building on her resume of acting in three productions, all musicals. They include The Little Mermaid, Adaddin, and Suessical.

She enjoys spending time at the pool over the summer and hopes to vacation at the beach in Ocean City, MD.

With her six-week summer internship at an end, Alana  will return to her school to work program in the fall. She will continue to explore future work options.

“I’m hoping to land a full-time job soon,” she said.

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