- December 13, 2025
As a result of a partnership with The Able Trust, FUTURES Foundation is expanding a career and postsecondary education exploration program for students with disabilities in eighth to twelfth grade.
The Consortium of Florida Education Foundations, FUTURES Foundation and the Volusia County School's ESE Department will all support the program, called Futures in Focus. This is an expansion of Project SEARCH, which is for students between the ages of 18-21 who are transitioning from high school and deferred their diplomas. The goal is for students to find competitive employment, according to the school district.
"Our vision is to connect and build capacity to primary caregivers and students in Volusia County to agencies that provide services to help people with disabilities prepare for, secure, and maintain employment by offering individualized support like career counseling, training, assistive technology, and job placement assistance," a press release stated.
Students will benefit from campus and employer visits, career-readiness workshops and connections with the Florida Department of Educational Vocational Rehabilitation, according to a press release.
“FUTURES is proud to partner with the Consortium of Florida Education Foundations to provide funding that directly benefits Volusia County Schools," said Shimene Shepard, FUTURES Foundation Executive Director. "Grants like Futures in Focus allow us to connect students and families with meaningful experiences and resources that prepare them for success beyond high school,”
Volusia County Schools Superintendent Carmen Balgobin said that through Futures in Focus, "we are opening doors that many students never imagined possible."
"These experiences, from college tours to career-readiness workshops, are not just activities but life-changing moments," Balgobin said in the press release. "We are proud to stand beside our students as they discover their strengths, build confidence, and take bold steps toward a future of independence and achievement."
