New York, NY – June 21, 2022 – The Institute for Career Development (ICD) announced today a partnership with Richmond Hill High School in Queens. The partnership completes the 2022 launch of a new initiative that begins with two New York City high schools and will grow to be citywide to help youth with disabilities transition from school to career. The other school – announced on March 30th – is Discovery High School in The Bronx.

Tens of thousands of students with disabilities leave public high schools every year only to find themselves face to face with a gap where the services they depended upon to finish school had previously been. This new initiative, created by ICD, is designed to bridge this gap by providing services that will enhance college and career opportunities for youth with disabilities.

Through this initiative, the 105-year-old Institute for Career Development will work with high school students with disabilities to prepare them to make the jump to college or vocational training and start their careers. ICD staff members will serve as navigators for individual students to guide them around obstacles and over hurdles as they work toward building the skills needed to launch fulfilling careers.

ICD identified this citywide gap in support for youth with disabilities while working with the nonprofit consulting firm The Bridgespan Group on a new strategic plan and is now shifting its focus to bridge that gap. ICD has similarly adjusted its focus at different intervals in the past, always retaining its commitment to people with disabilities but adapting to contemporary priorities. Most recently it has focused on vocational evaluation, career planning, and job training and placement primarily for adults with disabilities.

“ICD is excited to be working with Richmond Hill High School to launch this much-needed new initiative,” said Diosdado Gica, ICD President of Programs and Operations.

“This new initiative will help students with disabilities to better understand how to advocate for themselves and successfully navigate their way through the complex systems of services and supports available to them after they leave school,” said Joseph T. McDonald, ICD President of Development and Communications. “It offers enormous potential to build the self-confidence, resilience, and agency that they will need to continue overcoming the biases and barriers to employment that they will face as adults.”

“Richmond Hill High School is excited to help launch this new citywide initiative,” said Neil Ganesh, Principal of Richmond Hill High School. “We are pleased that the benefits will start to flow in the Fall to our students. They will receive long-term, holistic support through their high school years and beyond that we expect will result in greater self-determination, better economic mobility, and improved overall well-being.”

For more information or to arrange an interview, contact Henry Miller at hmiller@highimpactpartnering.com.

About ICD
The Institute for Career Development is a New York City-based, not-for-profit, workforce development organization, whose mission is to help people transform their lives through career development and employment. A leader in the field of vocational rehabilitation since its founding in 1917, ICD specializes in serving people with barriers to employment – providing vocational evaluation, career planning services, job skills training programs, internships, and job placement services to youth and adults with disabilities.

About Richmond Hill High School 

Richmond Hill High School’s mission is to promote young adults who are happy, goal-oriented, well-adjusted, and academically prepared to face the challenges of the future and to contribute significantly to societal progress.