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Introduction

High School/High Tech (HS/HT) is recognized as one of the most successful strategies for assisting youth with disabilities as they transition from high school to post-school activities, including postsecondary education and employment.  Over the years, HS/HT has evolved from a small program in a few localities that focused on exposing youth with disabilities to technology-related careers to a comprehensive program of transition services.  Through an array of activities identified in the National Collaborative on Workforce and Disability for Youth’s (NCWD/Youth) Guideposts for Success, HS/HT exposes youth with disabilities to careers in science, technology, engineering and math (the STEM careers) and encourage them to pursue postsecondary education to prepare for such careers.

After reviewing over 30 years of research, literature, demonstration projects and promising practices, including the experiences of the early HS/HT programs, NCWD/Youth, in conjunction with the U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP), identified the services and supports outlined in the Guideposts.  Thus, the activities, services and supports identified in the Guideposts are evidence-based and have demonstrated success in improving post-school outcomes for all youth, including youth with disabilities.  These activities, services and supports are divided into five categories:  1) school-based preparatory experiences; 2) career preparation and work-based learning experiences; 3) youth development and leadership; 4) connecting activities; and 5) family involvement and supports.  The Guideposts have become the core constructs of the HS/HT programs around the country and are the foundation of the newly released HS/HT Program Guide.

The HS/HT Program Guide: A Comprehensive Transition Program Promoting Careers in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math for Youth with Disabilities is an updated and much expanded version of the HS/HT Program Manual that was produced in 2003.  As HS/HT has spread to numerous states (e.g., CO, DE, FL, GA, MD, MI, MN, OH, OK, PA, SC and TX), the experiences of these programs and the resultant evolution of the HS/HT program from a locally-administered and implemented program to a state-administered and locally-implemented program have produced a wealth of additional information about the HS/HT program model.  As a result, the newly released HS/HT Program Guide is full of information and materials used by the HS/HT programs throughout the country.  Many thanks to these programs for their willingness to share their experiences, program materials, tips for partnership development, service strategies, activities, curriculum, and success stories, as well as their many examples of systemic change impacting how states and localities approach the provision of transition services.  This information can be used by existing HS/HT programs for program improvement and expansion, and by new and developing programs to guide their implementation efforts.

Download The Complete Guide

Download the entire guide in PDF* (1.39 MB)
Download the entire guide in Word* (1.27 MB)
*Please note: This is a large document, download time will be longer for users with slower connections.

Download Sections

Cover, Table of Contents, Acknowledgements, and Preface
View cover, table of contents, acknowledgements and preface in PDF (193 KB)
View cover, table of contents, acknowledgements and preface in Word (48 KB)

Chapter 1 The History and Evolution of HS/HT
View Chapter 1 in PDF (103 KB)
View Chapter 1 in Word (80 KB)

Chapter 2 School-Based Preparatory Experiences
View Chapter 2 in PDF (235 KB)
View Chapter 2 in Word (120 KB)

Chapter 3 Career Preparation and Work-Based Learning Experiences
View Chapter 3 in PDF (315 KB)
View Chapter 3 in Word (200 KB)

Chapter 4 Youth Development and Leadership
View Chapter 4 in PDF (190 KB)
View Chapter 4 in Word (117 KB)

Chapter 5 Connecting Activities
View Chapter 5 in PDF (221 KB)
View Chapter 5 in Word (120 KB)

Chapter 6 Family Involvement and Supports
View Chapter 6 in PDF (128 KB)
View Chapter 6 in Word (88 KB)

Chapter 7 Launching a HS/HT Program
View Chapter 7 in PDF (279 KB)
View Chapter 7 in Word (170 KB)

Chapter 8 Resources to Sustain a HS/HT Program
View Chapter 8 in PDF (159 KB)
View Chapter 8 in Word (104 KB)

Chapter 9 Managing for Performance Excellence—Program Evaluation and Reporting
View Chapter 9 in PDF (180 KB)
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Chapter 10 Marketing a HS/HT Program
View Chapter 10 in PDF (188 KB)
View Chapter 10 in Word (105 KB)

Chapter 11 HS/HT Glossary of Terms
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Appendix A HS/HT Program Guide References
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View Appendix A in Word (160 KB)

Order the Guide

NCWD/Youth publications can be downloaded for free from this website. Multiple copies can be purchased by contacting the Collaborative at contact@ncwd-youth.info.