Promoting Science, Engineering and Technology Careers for Students with Disabilities.HISTORY: High School-High Tech is a national program that started over two decades ago in California to address concerns that not enough students, especially those with disabilities, were being prepared for careers in technology focused industries. Business executives and other local leaders wanted to reach out to students in the early stages of their education to expose them to skills and knowledge necessary to enter the workforce in technology, science and engineering. In 1986 the President's Committee on the Employment of People with Disabilities adopted the program. Today there are 22 states with HS/HT Programs. WHAT IS HIGH SCHOOL-HIGH TECH: High School-High Tech is a community based partnership of parents, educators, rehabilitation professionals and business representatives. Its purpose is to encourage students with disabilities to explore career opportunities in the fields of science, engineering and technology. THE GOALS OF HIGH SCHOOL-HIGH PROGRAM ARE:
Ms. Liquerman is employed by the State of Connecticut, Department of Administrative Services as the Americans with Disabilities Act Coordinator, Disability Employment Program Manager and High School-High Tech State Director. Prior to her position with the State she served for three years as an AMERICORPS/VISTA Volunteer at the Center for Independent Living of Southwestern CT focusing on access, employment & disability issues, she was a former restaurant owner in CT and hotel manager in Maryland . In 1990 Suzanne was appointed to the "Presidents Committee on Employment of People with Disabilities". She served on the Disability Employee Concerns Sub-Committee and was a liaison to the President's Labor and Employer Committees. During her ten-year tenure on the President’s Committee, she was a member of the National Product Teams for Youth Leadership, Business Leadership Network and High School-High Tech. Connecticut has incorporated all three National Programs to further Employment of People with Disabilities. In October, 2002, the Department of Administrative Serves was one of two states awarded a $218,000.00 Infrastructure Grant to Develop a State Wide High School/High Tech Program that maximizes resources within the state to increase the development of HS-HT. One of the objectives of the grant is to develop a replicatable model for national publication and for other states to follow. Suzanne has twenty plus years of experience working on disability issues. As an individual with a disability and being the parent of a young adult with a severe learning disability, she understands firsthand the frustrations and challenges individuals and family members face. Suzanne successfully transitioned from Social Security Disability Income to full-time competitive employment Ms. Liquerman has trained and consulted extensively throughout Connecticut the United States in both public and private sectors on the ADA, Disability Awareness and Employment. To her credit, she has provided training for many large businesses such as; General Electric Company, United Technologies, Pfizer Global Research & Development, Pitney Bowes, GTE, Pepperidge President's Farms, New England Health Care Assembly, President’s Committee Labor Summit, NIDARR, New England Rehabilitation Association, etc.Current Activities Include: - Advisory Board Member of the New England ADA Disability & Business Technical Assistance Center - National Technical Assistance Panel for Disability Issues - CT Youth Leadership Forum for High School Students with Disabilities - Board of Directors and Forum Staff - CT Business Leadership Network - Board of Directors - Americans with Disabilities Act Coalition of Connecticut - Past President - Disability Resource Center (Independent Living Center SW CT) - Board of Directors
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