TAMPA, Fla. — After graduating from high school, most students are faced with two choices: continue their education or get a job.
But for young people with disabilities, simply graduating from high school doesn’t necessarily mean they’re ready to enter the workforce.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the unemployment rate for people aged 20-24 without disabilities is 6.4%. But for those with some sort of disability, it’s nearly double at 11.8%.
One program at the Focus Academy in Hillsborough County is working to close the gap by providing a transition program for its students.
“Those years after high school are really important for students with disabilities, because even though you have your high school diploma, you may not quite be ready for the next step,” said Focus Academy’s Heather Rodriguez. “So having those few years to learn how to be a good employee, about timeliness, about working with other people, about following multi-step directions, those can be critical skills in landing a job and keeping a job.”
