From a young age, Leila Burgess was often quiet and afraid to engage with others despite growing up in a dynamic family. Her mother, Michelle, was concerned when she noticed the toddler watching her lips move when she spoke rather than reacting to the sound of her voice.
“She was about three or four years old, and that’s when we discovered her hearing loss,” said Michelle—a discovery that led to a diagnosis of partial hearing loss in Leila’s left ear, and near-total hearing loss in her right.
With the support of a hearing aid and cochlear implant, as well as years of intentional skill-building at home and in a range of activities from cheerleading to ballet, Leila began developing the independence needed to navigate the personal challenges of living with a disability. Despite her progress, Leila remained hesitant to speak up, advocate for herself, or step into leadership roles.
That self-isolation began to change during her junior year at Everglades High School in Miramar, when she joined the Broward County South High School High Tech program, administered by The Able Trust.
“High School High Tech gave me the tools, support and encouragement I needed to grow,” she said. “The program did more than help me choose a career path—it taught me how to find my voice.”
Through High School High Tech, Leila gained access to structured career exploration and leadership development opportunities specifically designed for students with disabilities. Moreover, she found a supportive environment that challenged her to build confidence, strengthen communication skills, and develop community with her peers.
Farah Hogarth, who serves as the program lead for Broward County South High School High Tech, immediately recognized Leila’s capability in spite of her initial shy nature.
“I knew it was in her,” said Hogarth. “She wasn’t talking too much, and I realized I had to engage her, but even in brief little conversations I saw she had so much potential. It was just a matter of her building up her confidence and seeing that potential for herself.”
High School High Tech did more than help me choose a career path; it taught me how to find my voice.
For Michelle, Leila’s growth thanks to her time in High School High Tech was clear.
“The staff were extremely supportive; they knew the areas where Leila might have some deficit, and they encouraged and motivated her,” said Michelle. “High School High Tech helped a lot with building her confidence and accentuating her leadership skills.”
Leila’s growing advocacy skills for herself and others led to her election as Broward County South’s High School High Tech president during her senior year.
“Leila had to run the meetings after the first two that year,” said Hogarth. “I was like, wow, she is really coming out of her shell because she went for this challenge. And she realized she could be a leader and speak in front of people. She’s amazing.”
Today, Leila is completing her freshman year at Florida A&M University in Tallahassee, where she is pursuing a degree in dentistry. She has already been inducted into the National Society of Black Women in Medicine—selected from a competitive pool of 500 applicants—and will participate in a professional internship this summer in Nebraska.
Leila credits High School High Tech as a pivotal factor in her continued success.
“High School High Tech gave me insight on leadership roles, finding mentors, networking, and just connecting with other kids who have disabilities,” said Leila. “I struggled a lot with speaking in public, but the program helped me learn to advocate for myself and others, and be comfortable when communicating and sharing my story.”
Leila’s journey shows what’s possible when students with disabilities have access to structured, skill-based programs that connect education to real career pathways. High School High Tech benefits communities and economies alike by strengthening Florida’s talent pipeline, equipping more young people to enter high-demand fields with confidence, and building a more prepared workforce.
The Able Trust’s High School High Tech program serves students with disabilities from Miami to Pensacola and all across Florida. Learn more at www.abletrust.org/high-school-high-tech.
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