Many high school seniors send out college applications or consider work options after graduating high school. Many may have worked during the summers throughout their high school years or after school gaining work experience. Unfortunately for many disabled high school seniors who are transitioning out of school, employment may not be as easy to obtain. Lack of work experience is one factor that figures into why many disabled youth have difficulty finding employment.

The Marriott Foundation for People with Disabilities is an organization that noticed the great need for transition support for disabled youth. In 1989, The Marriott Foundation created a program called Bridges from School to Work. Bridges focuses on disabled youth who are about to transition out of school and links them with potential employers. Bridges ensures that both the employer and employee have their needs met. Disabled youth are gaining the work experience they need and employers are gaining hard-working employees. This program began in Montgomery County in Maryland. Due to its success, the Bridges program now operates in six other major cities including Chicago, San Francisco, Washington D.C., Los Angeles, Atlanta and Philadelphia. According to their statistics, the Foundation serves over 1,000 disabled youth per year and has an 89% success rate keeping their program graduates employed.

Another program working closely with transitioning disabled youth is The Career Exploration Program in Ithaca, NY. The Career Exploration Program gives disabled youth ages 16-21 the opportunity to obtain internships in the community. One of the biggest supporters of this program is Cornell University. Cornell University's Departments of Grounds, Campus Life Facilities and Dining Services provide several 10-week unpaid internships to Career Exploration Program participants during the school year. Besides gaining work experience, the interns are provided with a portfolio that includes detailed evaluations of their job performance. Most of the program's graduates complete approximately 4 internships during the course of the program. Many receive job offers after completing their internships.

www.marriottfoundation.org

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