Young students with disabilities in Texas are grabbing their future by the horns this summer, with the return of the Summer Earn and Learn program offering some valuable workplace experience — along with a paycheck. According to the San Antonio Report, individuals between the ages of 16 and 22 are eligible for the five-week internship that's not just about the money; it's a career-launch-training ground.

Here's the reality check: People with disabilities are twice as likely to be unemployed than those without, booking a 7.7% jobless rate compared to the national average of 3.5%, but programs like these aim to buck that trend, placing students in real workplaces where they hone their professional skills, Adrian Lopez, CEO of Workforce Solutions Alamo (WSA), claims these internships can transform lives while shoring up local economies saying "by providing connections to work experiences and career exploration activities that can truly transform their lives while helping to strengthen our local economy," he proclaimed in a statement picked up by the San Antonio Report.

The initiative, a collaborative effort by WSA along with Texas state agencies, imparts students with invaluable on-the-job lessons; these ranged across various roles from customer service to information technology. They earned their keep last summer, to the tune of $240,918 in wages while clocking a cumulative 22,944 hours of work. With WSA footing the bill for participants, local businesses also get to experience the boon of eager and fresh-thinking interns without the financial burden.

The program, running on federal funds through the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act, is a lifeline for those historically kept at arm's length from the job market, and now, WSA is also calling on employers to step up and play host to the interns Lopez underscored the mutual benefit, noting, “Your business can make a positive impact and be an employer that equips and empowers inclusivity,” echoing his sentiments to the San Antonio Report. In an economy where every hand contributes, this program isn't just a good deed — it's smart business.

Residents from a host of Texan counties, including the heart of Bexar and 12 outlying areas, stand to benefit from this initiative. It's a clear signal that WSA and partners are determined to level the playing field for young people with disabilities, inviting them to earn, learn, and prove their metal in the workforce this sunny summer season.