Ready to Achieve Mentoring Program (RAMP)

Easter Seals Greater Houston's Ready to Achieve Mentoring Program for high school students with disabilities (a partnership with IEL, Institute for Educational Leadership) offers a valuable opportunity for personal growth, skill development, and increased confidence for participants. This program is designed to support students with disabilities by pairing them with mentors who guide them through their academic and social challenges, helping them navigate high school and prepare for life after graduation.

For students with disabilities, high school can present additional hurdles, both academically and socially. These students may face challenges such as limited access to resources, social isolation, or the need for accommodations that can make navigating school life more complex. R.A.M.P works to address these challenges by providing personalized support through mentorship.

The mentors, often community volunteers or local professionals, act as role models, helping students to build their social skills, set goals, and enhance their self-advocacy. The relationships formed through mentoring can significantly improve students' self-esteem and academic performance, leading to a more successful and fulfilling high school experience.

  1. Personalized Support: Students are matched with a mentor who can offer advice, guidance, and encouragement tailored to their specific needs and goals. This personal attention fosters growth and development in areas that are meaningful to the individual student.
  2. Skill Building: Mentors help students develop crucial skills such as time management, communication, and problem-solving. These skills are essential not just for high school, but for life after graduation, whether the student plans to attend college, enter the workforce, or pursue other opportunities.
  3. Increased Confidence: Having a mentor who believes in them and is invested in their success can boost a student’s self-confidence. The mentor’s guidance can help students overcome challenges and take on new opportunities they might have previously shied away from.
  4. Social and Emotional Support: The program also provides students with emotional support, helping them to deal with the stresses and emotional challenges that often come with high school. With the help of their mentors, students can learn to navigate social situations, manage anxiety, and build meaningful relationships with their peers.
  5. Preparation for the Future: The mentoring experience doesn’t just prepare students for high school graduation, but also for life beyond it. Mentors help students set realistic career goals, explore post-secondary options, and develop the skills necessary to succeed in the workforce or higher education.

-Yvonne Kelly, Lead Program Coordinator, High School/High Tech & RAMP, Easter Seals Greater Houston

Thank you to our supporters and donors for making our programs for youth with disabilities possible: The Alcon Foundation, Inc., Baker Hughes Foundation, Blue Cross/Blue Shield Foundation, CareSource Bayou Health, The Coca-Cola Foundation, The George Foundation, IBM, Institute for Educational Leadership, Inc., The Robert and Janice McNair Foundation, The Oriska Foundation, United Way of Greater Houston and Whataburger.