By Joey D’Souza, MA, Senior Vice President, The Able Trust
October is National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM) — a time to celebrate the skills, talents, and contributions that people with disabilities bring to the workforce. At The Able Trust (yes, we are different from ABLE United!), we see every day how opportunity, support, and collaboration can open doors for individuals with disabilities to thrive.
One of the programs closest to my heart is our High School High Tech (HSHT) program. HSHT helps high school students with disabilities explore in-demand and emerging careers, postsecondary options and, most importantly, helps them to see they have a future after high school. We’ve seen students who once doubted their place in the workforce discover their passions, set ambitious goals, and secure internships and jobs that launch meaningful careers.
Melisa Lewis is one of those students. When I first met Melisa, she was a motivated yet shy student. She had a goal, though — to become a nurse. Drawing from her experiences in HSHT, she graduated high school, college and became the nurse she envisioned for herself. And not just a regular nurse — she moved from brain injuries to the NICU and then travel nursing. She is living her passion daily. I am proud of the small part The Able Trust and HSHT played in launching Melisa to independence, success and a brighter future.
But no one organization can do this alone. That’s why we’re so excited to continue our partnership with ABLE United. Together, we are showing students and their families that achieving independence is not only about having the right job skills — it’s also about having the right financial tools. ABLE accounts empower individuals with disabilities to save and plan for their futures while maintaining eligibility for important benefit programs.
This NDEAM, we invite you to join us in celebrating disability employment and in supporting individuals with disabilities as they take bold steps toward independence and success. Together, we can build pathways that lead to brighter futures.
To learn more about The Able Trust’s programs and how you can support pathways to employment for Floridians with disabilities, visit www.abletrust.org.
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