Allison Chase Your Turn
August 20, 2024
As high school seniors across the region begin their last year of education before crossing the graduation stage, The Able Trust is celebrating a milestone of our own—the 30th anniversary of our High School High Tech (HSHT) program for Florida students with all kinds of disabilities.
In 1994, The Able Trust’s first HSHT program launched with six students at a single site in Brevard County. Today, HSHT serves over 1,200 students at 47 locations across Florida to help prepare youth with disabilities to succeed in their next educational and career steps after high school.
HSHT offers a wide range of hands-on activities and experiences to expand students’ educational and career options. From tours of businesses; to college and technical school visits; to mock interviews and Q&A sessions with industry experts, this program opens a world of possibilities many of these students may not have considered.
It is an extraordinary privilege to watch a student’s eyes go wide when introduced to new career paths they never imagined for themselves. The words “I never knew…” have become some of my favorites, as in “I never knew I could be a nurse” or “I never knew a career in manufacturing is well-paying and not always dirty!”
HSHT also helps students with disabilities find a community where they can develop self-confidence and self-advocacy skills, all while experiencing a sense of belonging. This ultimately helps more students remember high school as a positive, rewarding time in their lives.
All these factors play key parts in the success of the program. In fact, 99% of HSHT participants graduate high school, and 54% of those alumni pursue postsecondary education immediately after graduation—nearly double Florida’s 28% rate for all students with disabilities.
As we celebrate the 30th anniversary, our goal is to expand HSHT to serve 5,000 students over the next four years, helping them build toward better career opportunities and higher wages.
None of this would be possible without collaboration. We have the honor of sharing a public-private partnership with the Florida Division of Vocational Rehabilitation, who provide crucial career services both before and after graduation. The efforts of our dedicated HSHT coordinators ensure each participating student’s individual needs are met. Finally, our network of outstanding educational, business, and community partners help make HSHT as well-rounded as it is.
High School High Tech provides the awareness, support, and encouragement necessary to set students with disabilities on the path to career success. It is an honor to play a role in changing these young people’s lives for the better.
We would love for you to join us in this mission. If you’d like to get involved or learn how to become a partner, visit www.abletrust.org/hsht-30th/. Here’s to another 30 years and beyond.
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Allison Chase is the President and CEO of The Able Trust, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit operating as the direct support organization for the Florida Division of Vocational Rehabilitation. Visit www.abletrust.org for more information.