For some students, it really is rocket science

LABELLE, Fla. - Aug. 11, 2017 - PRLog -- Ten students with disabilities or disadvantages  from LaBelle and Clewiston will have a good story to tell about what they did on their summer vacation.

Students enrolled in the Able Trust High School High Tech program recently blasted into space in a virtual rocket ride at the Kennedy Space Center. They also watched a historical movie about astronauts and put tiles on a space rocket.

The Able Trust Florida High School High Tech (HSHT) program provides opportunities for students with disabilities and other barriers to explore potential future careers. The program is operated by Goodwill Industries of Southwest Florida and is designed to help students determine their interests and aptitudes, offer job-shadowing and internships, and provide leadership opportunities.  HSHT has been shown to reduce high school dropout rates and increase the overall self-esteem of participating students.

"This trip was a great journey for students to see their potential abilities, not their disabilities," said Barbara Ramos, Goodwill HSHT program coordinator.

The trip to NASA, located near Titusville, FL, was made possible through a generous transportation grant from Suncoast Credit Union.

While there, students also enjoyed space displays where they were allowed to touch and interact within their "Science Space Journey," according to Ramos.

Goodwill Industries of Southwest Florida, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that serves Collier, Lee, Charlotte, Hendry and Glades Counties. The agency's mission is to help people with disabilities and disadvantages by offering life-changing opportunities to achieve independence. Goodwill's programs in Southwest Florida include Pathways to Opportunity and Pathways to Work, Job-Link resource centers, small business training classes, disability-accessible housing, and more.

For more information about Goodwill Industries of Southwest Florida, visit www.goodwillswfl.org.