The Lighthouse for the Blind in New Orleans, Inc.’s has been awarded $10 million to help youth and adults with disabilities prepare for careers in telecommunications, customer service and other technology-driven fields. It’s the second largest federal grant awarded from the U.S. Department of Education Disability Innovation Fund (DIF) Program nationwide. Lighthouse Louisiana is a longstanding nonprofit organization serving New Orleans and Baton Rouge dedicated to empowering individuals with disabilities. The five-year grant will fund Lighthouse Louisiana’s Pathways to Success project, which will provide advanced employment opportunities for people who are blind, visually impaired and who have other disabilities across 30 Louisiana parishes. The focus is on Competitive Integrated Employment—jobs where individuals are compensated at or above minimum wage and comparable to the rate paid to employees without disabilities performing similar duties. The Pathways to Success project plans to establish a training center; develop work-based learning experiences for career exploration; integrate AI and other advanced technologies to enable meaningful employment for individuals with disabilities in customer service roles; and hire training employment specialists to support workforce development in these new roles. “This grant is a tremendous step forward in our mission to create inclusive job opportunities for people with disabilities,” said Dee Budgewater, president and CEO of Lighthouse Louisiana. “With this funding, we can expand access to advanced technologies and support systems that promote competitive integrated employment, helping our community members achieve financial independence.” The U.S. Department of Education awarded $251 million to 27 grantees across the country— in which Lighthouse Louisiana is in that number—who are working to ensure individuals with disabilities have access to in-demand, good-paying jobs of the 21st century. It is the Department’s largest-ever vocational rehabilitation-focused competitive grant. “Today, more than 60 million adults live with a disability—each with unique talents and strengths. In our 21st century economy, we must provide more opportunities for these individuals to achieve their goals for competitive integrated employment, independence, and economic self-sufficiency,” said U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona in the announcement. Lighthouse Louisiana hopes the Pathways to Success project will serve as a model for other organizations across the country. For more information, visit www.lighthouselouisiana.org.