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Guideposts for Success

The following highlights a few of the activities HSHT programs have used to meet the Guidepost requirements listed above.

Connecting Activities:

• Pasco - Career Day Series Kick-Off - VR Career Camps and Employment - Connected students and their families to VR and other resources. VR came and spoke about the services that they offer. 

• Madison - Mental Health Counselor at the school came and showed the students a power-point on her services and gave them really great information and how to apply for any needed services.

• Leon/Wakulla - Attended the transition fair at Tallahassee State College along with the Madison HSHT program. This activity included visiting exhibitor booths, a tour of the campus and programs and Pre-ETS activities with Ms. Agner. Some of the exhibitor booths included assistive technology and how it can be used in college and employment to provide accommodations and then some students receive orientation and mobility training during the campus tour of their surroundings. The students also worked in groups competing to create the tallest structure using marshmallows and toothpicks, learning the importance of maximizing resources to build a strong foundation.

Family Involvement:

• Flagler - Families are provided with access with updated educational material and community resources through a “resource wall” created for families. 

• Clay/Duval/St. Johns -
• Parents supported HSHT students during the annual Jacksonville Icemen fundraiser. Their involvement helped make the event a success while fostering community and encouragement among students.
• We hosted a Transition Services Parent Night with The Arc Jacksonville’s Advocacy Department and Vocational Rehabilitation. Presentations covered Social Security benefits and post-secondary options, giving families valuable tools for transition planning.

Madison Ends Year with Celebration

The Madison County High School High Tech recently held their end-of-year celebration. With students, parents and local education officials in attendance, the celebration honored Madison’s 2024-25 High School High Tech participants and highlighted the events in which students participated throughout the 2024-25 school year.

“High School High Tech exposes our students with disabilities to educational opportunities and jobs in our community that they never knew existed,” said Jodie Price, Madison County High School High Tech coordinator. “It’s important to us to provide these opportunities for our kids.” To read the complete article, CLICK HERE.

Student Highlights

Celebrating Gratitude and Growth in Polk County presented an opportunity to celebrate student achievement and thank local businesses and community members. Polk County HSHT student Sebastian presented his career exploration opportunities on a tree to represent growth. His favorite job was working at a senior living center because of the people he helped and interacted with.

Victoria from Duval West High School High Tech is interning at the Jacksonville Humane Society to learn about the skills the job will require. Her future employment goal is to become a Veterinary Technician.

A 2024 alumnus of Gulf County HSHT, Aden enlisted in the Navy following graduation. He works as an aviation machinist mate specializing in helicopter mechanics. Aden plans to either go to law school or pursue a career in law enforcement following his military service.

High School High Tech Highlights

Duval County HSHT

HSHT students visited the Duval County Courthouse where they were able to sit in on actual court hearings and talk to a judge.

Broward County HSHT

HSHT students toured the Broward Sheriff's Office Fire Station 102. The students gained insight into the daily lives of firefighters, learned important job skills, and got a hands-on experience as the firefighters demonstrated some of their tools and equipment.

Gulf County HSHT

HSHT students toured the Florida Governor's Mansion and the Florida Capitol during this year's busy Legislative Session, and were able to get a first-person, hands-on lesson in Florida civics.

Jake Pratt Scholarship

The National Down Syndrome Congress’s Jake Pratt Scholarship provides $5,000 grants to students with Down syndrome currently enrolled in inclusive college programs. Scholarships can help cover classes, job training, independent living, or personal enrichment. CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE.

Resources

AT&T Achievery

A free and safe online learning platform created by AT&T to provide K-12 students with engaging and entertaining videos paired with educational activities. CLICK HERE.

NTACT Self Advocacy

Instruction in self-advocacy is one of the five required Pre-Employment Transition Services. To download resources including Guiding Questions, Activities, Progress and Outcome Indicators, CLICK HERE.

Project 10: Transition Education Network

Project 10 is Florida’s statewide IDEA funded state project supporting the secondary transition of youth with disabilities. Project 10 assists school districts in providing transition services and programs to assist youth with disabilities in their transition to adulthood. To learn more, CLICK HERE. 

Florida Center for Students with Unique Abilities

The Florida Center for Students with Unique Abilities at the University of Central Florida serves as the state coordinating center to establish and support quality comprehensive transition and postsecondary programs for students with intellectual disabilities in collaborating with universities, state and technical colleges, with the goal of increasing independent living and competitive integrated employment. For more information, CLICK HERE.

The Able Trust, also known as the Florida Endowment Foundation for Vocational Rehabilitation, is a 501(c)(3) public charity established by the Florida Legislature in 1990 as a direct support organization for the 

Florida Division of Vocational Rehabilitation. The mission of The Able Trust is to advance employment for Floridians with disabilities through engagement, investment, and collaboration.

www.abletrust.org