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Topic: Job training for people with intellectual and developmental disabilitiesSource: H.E.A.R.T. Program – HoustonEvents per Year: Over 100 concession events at venues like Toyota CenterPrograms Available: CVS externship (10 weeks), pharmacy tech (16 weeks), summer internships (ages 15–21)Extras Provided: Transportation to job sites included
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Good first step: Share A family member, neighbor, or teacher who knows someone with a disability looking for work experience
Hey, I found a free job training program in Houston for people with disabilities. It teaches real skills at places like Toyota Center and CVS. Check out H.E.A.R.T. at houstonheart.org
H.E.A.R.T. — which stands for Houston's Employment Abilities and Resources Training — gives people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD) real-world job training right here in Houston. You'll learn hands-on skills, work at well-known venues, and get support getting to and from job sites.
H.E.A.R.T. runs several programs. The Vending and Concessions program trains you in food handling, cashiering, inventory, and cash counting at venues like Toyota Center and Shell Energy Stadium. The HEART-CVS 10-week externship covers customer service, inventory management, and store maintenance at CVS retail locations. A 16-week Pharmacy Technician program teaches prescription processing, medication measurement, and drug identification. For young people ages 15–21, two 4-week summer internship sessions offer job skills, leadership training, and a formal transcript of hours and skills completed. During the school year, H.E.A.R.T. also partners with Houston I.S.D., Channelview I.S.D., and Galena Park I.S.D. to bring work training to students with I/DD. And the Ride with H.E.A.R.T. service means transportation to job sites is taken care of.
Start by visiting the H.E.A.R.T. website to learn which programs are currently enrolling. If you're a student in one of the partnering school districts — Houston I.S.D., Channelview I.S.D., or Galena Park I.S.D. — talk to your special education coordinator about connecting with H.E.A.R.T. for school-year training. If you're a young person between 15 and 21, look into the summer internship sessions. If you support someone with I/DD as a family member or caregiver, reach out directly to ask which program is the best fit and when the next session begins.
No fixed date
Houston area — including Toyota Center, Shell Energy Stadium, the Houston Food Bank, and CVS locations. The H.E.A.R.T. facility is at 535 Portwall St, Houston, TX 77029.
If you or a family member receives services through local school districts or disability support agencies, H.E.A.R.T.'s partnerships with Houston I.S.D., Channelview I.S.D., and Galena Park I.S.D. make it a natural next step for transition planning. The Houston Food Bank location also connects H.E.A.R.T. to the broader network of Houston-area workforce and community resources.
Finding steady work can be hard when you have a disability. H.E.A.R.T. bridges that gap by pairing real job experience with skill-building. Trainees work more than 100 concession events a year, manage over 40 vending machines, and train alongside professionals in retail and pharmacy settings. That kind of hands-on practice builds confidence — and a resume.
