Maryland High School / High Tech Program - Overview
EXPERIENCES ARE LIMITED ONLY BY IMAGINATION!
High School/High Tech programs are partnering nationwide to expose young people with disabilities to a wide range of technology careers...from computers to biotechnology...from transportation to weather tracking...from landscape design to healthcare.
High School/High Tech is an Initiative of the Office of Disability Employment Policy, U.S. Department of Labor.
WHAT IS HIGH SCHOOL/HIGH TECH?
High School/High Tech programs help youth with disabilities make better, more informed decisions about their careers...and their futures.
High School/High Tech's mission is to reduce the dropout rate of youth with disabilities, increase their enrollment in college, and improve their participation in employment-related activities.
High School/High Tech programs develop and sustain youth-based partnership building strategies in order to:
- Promote technology-based careers and education for youth, between the ages of 14 and 22, regardless of disability.
- Provide two years of extracurricular program support during and/or after the school day.
HIGH SCHOOL/HIGH TECH INCLUDES
- Setting high expectations for all youth
- Focusing on the assets of youth
- Creating strong and fun-filled peer group opportunities
- Promoting self-determination
- Providing a welcoming and encouraging environment for all youth
WHO BENEFITS FROM HIGH SCHOOL/HIGH TECH PROGRAMS?
- Youth - find and explore new and exciting opportunities and careers in technology
- Parents - watch their children become more independent and productive
- Employers - gain access to a new, viable, and well-trained labor source
- Our Country - gains more citizens contributing to the tax base
HIGH SCHOOL/HIGH TECH PROGRAMS ARE ORGANIZED AROUND FOUR EVIDENCE-BASED DESIGN FEATURES
Preparatory Experiences
- Career interest and vocational assessments
- Work readiness skills
Work-based Experiences
- Site visits and tours
- Job shadowing
- Internships
- Entrepreneurship
Connecting Activities
- Tutoring
- Mentoring
- Assistive technology
- Transportation and other employment support services
Youth Development and Leadership
- Personal leadership development
- Organizational leadership and interpersonal skills development
- Supportive adult mentoring
ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS
- Have a disability
- Graduating with a high school diploma
- Interested in a career in math, science, engineering and technology fields
Contact Us for more information
LINKS AND RESOURCES
High School/High Tech (HS/HT) programs receive assistance through the National Collaborative on Workforce and Disability for Youth, a technical assistance consortium, as well as connections to other programs and state coordinators, through national and state affiliation. Affiliation is a voluntary, no-cost opportunity for localities or states to join a national network of HS/HT sites. For more information visit the HS/HT Web site: www.highschoolhightech.net, or call 877-871-0144 Toll Free
NCWD/Youth
c/o Institute for Educational Leadership
1001 Connecticut Avenue, NW
Suite 310
Washington, D.C. 20036
NCWD/Youth is supported by a cooperative agreement from the office of Disability Employment Policy at the U.S. Department of Labor (E-9-4-1-0070). There are no copyright restrictions on this document. However, please credit the source and support of federal funds when copying all or part of this material.
ODEP:
The Department of Labor's Office of Disability Employment Policy is supporting the expansion of High School/High Tech through state-based demonstration projects. These demonstrations are to assist states, working in partnership with the State Workforce Investment Boards and others, in implementing a statewide High School/High Tech program, integrating the program into other youth services and ensuring sustainability of the High School/High Tech program through state-level management and coordination.
LEGISLATION:
Much has been learned in the past 10 years about what young people need to know and be able to do to make informed decisions about preparing themselves for the adult world. The work of High School/High Tech programs is supported by many pieces of legislation. See the High School/High Tech Program Manual for more information, online at: www.ncwd-youth.info/resources_&_Publications/hsht_manual.html
Funded under a grant/contract supported by the Office of Disability Employment Policy of the U.S. Department of Labor, grant/contract #E-9-4-3-0065, and by Maryland State Department of Education, Division of Rehabilitation Services. The opinions contained in this publication are those of the grantee/contractor and do not necessarily reflect those of the U.S. Department of Labor
Inside Works
LSE conducts itself more as a business than a charity, because of funding and history. Only about 54 percent of its revenue comes from fixed grants or similar allocations by government. Consequently, workers and staff earn a large part of the agency's income by placing workers in jobs, contracting for assembly work, maintaining offsite buildings, mowing lawns and in other ways meeting deadlines and other needs of business.
Contact Us for More Info...For the latest in high tech careers, education and assistive technologies for high school students with disabilities, visit:
