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High
School/ High Tech is an enrichment program for high school aged students with disabilities. HS/HT encourages the exploration of science, engineering and technology-related careers. Serving the
Greater Houston Metropolitan area, HS/HT has developed relationships
with many high tech companies, industries, and organizations. From
Houston's world renowned medical center to its ever-growing oil and
natural gas and energy industries, HS/HT has been there placing
students in the middle of excellent learning opportunities.
In
1983, The High School/High Tech Program was created by a task force
of executives from high tech companies and others in Los Angeles.
This task force discovered that: One, there is a need to fill high
tech jobs. Two, persons with disabilities can fill this niche. And
three, few people with disabilities had the education and training
necessary to qualify for these positions. The task force objective
became to reach out to students with disabilities to promote
training in areas of science and technology. Shortly after, the
program was adopted by the President's Committee on Employment of
People with Disabilities. High School/High Tech is now a project
promoted by the U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Disability
Employment Policy. In 1992, United Cerebral Palsy of Prince George's
and Montgomery Counties (UCP-PGMC) started a High School/High Tech
program in collaboration with NASA Goddard Space Flight Center. In
1995, UCP-PGMC was asked by NASA to replicate the project at three
other NASA sites: Ames research Center, Lewis Research Center and
Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center (Houston).
High School/High Tech began operating in the Greater Houston area
during the 1996-1997 school year. Since then, over 900 students from
6 different school districts have participated, and over 120
students have participated in paid summer internships. Currently,
HS/HT is serving over 250 students from 5 area school districts .
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