-Zachary S.

Zach joined Ability1st’s Youth Services when he was in high school, where he took part in High School High Tech. Having been diagnosed with ADHD and Autism, he had a passion for advocacy but struggled to find a medium to discuss and share ideas about disability rights and activism. Through High School High Tech, he was given a place to share ideas about what it’s like to have a disability, how to overcome some independent living barriers, and how to grow as a leader.

Upon graduation, Zach was invited to participate in our young adult transition program, Youth Transition. While at first he didn’t think he needed to learn anything else, he joined Youth Transition and began working on individualized independent living training, education and career planning, and advocacy training. Zach has now been working with Ability1st’s Youth Services for 5 years, 2 in High School High Tech and 3 in Youth Transition. Zach has grown as a leader, an advocate, a student, and a future graphic designer. Zach now serves on Youth Committees for Florida SILC and APRIL, works at Chick-fil-A, and is about to transition from TCC to FSU to pursue a degree in Communications.

Zach’s story with Ability1st is similar to all of our consumers in Youth Services— potential realized. We believe that young adults with disabilities (high school, college, and young professionals alike) have just as real potential for achieving independent life as the rest of their peers. Through mentorship, discussions, activities, field trips, and lessons, Youth Services aims to help all of our consumers, much like Zach, to reach their full potential.