Marion County Able Trust

High School/High Tech (HS/HT) Program

Another Success Story

by Emma Eldred

For the first time this year Marion County participated in National Disability Mentoring Day through the Center for Independent Living High School/High Tech Program. I made the announcement last month that we were taking applications to participate in job shadowing and one student named Phillip made the proclamation, “I have always wanted to do this!” and “Can I shadow a graphics design company-that would be so cool”.  I knew that I would do everything I could to help such an eager student pursue his wishes. After much networking I found a company named Clearchannel Outdoor, which designs over 75% of the counties billboards in Marion County, to mentor Phillip. We settled on a day and time and the student called me just about every day the week before to make sure everything was going as planned. He wanted to know everything about the day such as what clothes to wear, how to introduce himself and what to say. After assuring Phillip that he would have a great time, the day for him to report to shadowing came.

Phillip has very low vision and is also SLD, which sometimes makes him feel insecure when meeting new people. The people at Clearchannel made him feel right at home. Debbie, the Public Affairs Coordinator, introduced Phillip to everyone in the company while explaining all of the different departments as they went. This gave Phillip an idea of how the whole company works. Next they made their way to the graphic artS department where Phillip was able to show them what he already knew.  He was allowed to ask questions about what he didn’t know or understand while watching the staff do their work. The people at Clearchannel very much enjoyed mentoring Phillip and expressed enthusiasm to do it again. Phillip also expressed the desire to have his summer internship at Clearchannel Outdoor and because of Marion County HS/HT and Phillip’s participation in National Disability Mentoring Day that just might happen.

(To find out more about HS/HT contact Emma Eldred at the Center for Independent Living - 368-3788)