People With Disabilities
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People With Disabilities
HSHT
Welcome to the Connecticut HS/HT Web Site.
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. Site sponsored by the CT Department of Labor. Developed by CT Department of Administrative Services and the High School High Tech students and their mentors.
TOPICS:
 | What is High School/High Tech |
| Why High School/High Tech |
| High School/High Tech Includes |
| Who benefits from HS/HT Programs |
| Support for HS/HT Programs |
| HS/HT Programs Evidence-Based Design Features |
Advisory Counsel | HS/HT Partners | Resources | Sites and Programs | Upcoming Events | Video
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 functions. 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 after the school day. |
STATE
|
There are 70,000 youth in CT
Special Education Programs |
|
In the next 6 years, 20,000 youth
with disabilities will be graduating |
NATIONAL
|
There is a higher drop-out rate
for youth with disabilities not completing high school vs general population
| ||||
|
Lower rates of college enrollment
| ||||
|
70% of Youth with disabilities
nationwide are unemployed 2 years after graduation | ||||
|
Only 16% of working age adults
with disabilities have jobs -
own a business | ||||
|
People with disabilities are
nearly 3 time more likely than people without disabilities to be living in
households with total incomes of $15K ore less
|
Source:
Council of State Administrators of VR
These statistics can be reversed ~
research has shown the solution
High School/High Tech Includes
| Setting high expectations for all youth |
| Focusing in the asset 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 |
Support For High School/High Tech programs
Office of Disability Employment Policy (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:
http://www.ncwd-youth.info/resources_&_Publications/hsht_manual.html
High School/High Tech Programs Are Organized Around Four Evidence-Based Design Features
Preparatory Experiences
| Career interest and vocational assessments |
| Work readiness skills |
Connecting Activities
| Tutoring |
| Mentoring |
| Assistive technology |
| Transportation and other employment support services |
Work-based Experiences
| Site visits and tours |
| Job shadowing |
| Internships |
| Entrepreneurship |
Youth Development and Leadership
| Personal leadership development |
| Organizational leadership and interpersonal skills development |
| Supportive adult mentoring |
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 contact:
Suzanne Liqureman
Ct Department of Labor
Programs & Services Coordinator
Lead Disability Program Navigator
Phone: (203) 907-4319 Email: suzanne.liquerman@ct.gov
HS/HT Web site:
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.
SI.3.2004
Published by the Connecticut Department of Labor, Project Management Office
