What Happens After High School?
For many students, life after high school is filled with exciting opportunities. But for students with disabilities, the path forward can feel uncertain and isolating. That’s why we created Empowerment Lab—a program designed to help every young person discover their potential, build skills, and connect with their community.
Empowerment Lab includes three key elements:
EXPLORATION
We start with a kick-off meeting for families followed by eight weekly sessions in small groups of six. Sessions are held at high schools or community-based learning sites, using a hands-on, technology-rich curriculum grounded in research from Temple University.
Students explore their talents, passions, and career interests through interactive, engaging, Occupational Therapy-based activities designed to support multiple ways of learning, from visual and hands-on experiences to social interaction and reflection. Families play a vital role, offering insights into strengths that may not shine in the classroom. Volunteerism is emphasized as a pathway to skill-building, professional networking, and future employment opportunities.
DIGITAL PORTFOLIO CREATION
We gather insights from students, families, and school staff to create dynamic digital portfolios showcasing each student’s unique strengths through photography, videography, and storytelling.
At the end of each series, students celebrate their accomplishments with a certificate ceremony and a “reveal” of their portfolios to family members, friends and community employers. Portfolios then become powerful tools for self-advocacy, job applications, and career readiness.
VISIT OUR MOST RECENT PORTFOLIOS BELOW ↓
RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT
After the series, we create personalized lists of volunteer sites, employers, and community connections tailored to each student’s career goals. These resources are built to match diverse learning strengths and preferred work environments, ensuring students have opportunities where they can thrive.
Students use their digital portfolios to demonstrate skills and strengths, helping them connect with meaningful employment pathways, internships, and volunteer experiences that bridge the gap between high school and the workplace. Each student receives a set of business cards with QR codes linking back to their portfolio hosted on our website, making it easy to share who they are and how they are looking to contribute to their community.
