The Program Includes:

• Hands on STEM Program that includes a wide range of STEM Content, Skills and Fields, taught by Professors, Graduate Students, and Industry Professionals
• Paid STEM Internships in research labs at NC State University, or with government and industry partners
• Workforce and college readiness skills
• Life 101 Skills including, stress management, navigating a college campus, etc.
• Week long summer session, plus Saturday sessions during the school year
• Optional multi-year program
• Field study trips, that are in and out-of-state.
• Case Management, resource support, and transition planning
• Optional certifications in Quality Assurance and Cyber Security
• Annual Reach For the Stars! Be A Star! STEM and Resource Fair for K-12 Students in NC with Disabilities, Family and Friends

Program Details

Catalyst empowers high school students with disabilities to pursue STEM careers through hands-on learning and real-world experiences. Catalyst welcomes rising 9th–12th grade students from public, charter, private, and home schools, MUST BE in regular education or the Occupational Course of Study Program (High School Diploma Track). Funded by Employment and Independence for People with Disabilities (EPID), Catalyst is entirely free for qualified participants, offering a unique opportunity to engage in STEM through interactive labs, engineering design, research, coding, and workforce readiness training. Students explore career pathways, gain advocacy and life skills, and taught by professors, graduate students, and STEM/Industry professionals.

Catalyst thrives through partnerships with NC State, Wake Tech, the NC Museum of Natural Sciences, NASA, the EPA, and leading industry partners like ABB, Enbridge Gas NC, Thermo Fisher, and Lenovo. Participants experience paid internships in research and engineering labs, overnight field study trips to cutting-edge STEM facilities, and direct mentorship from experts. Catalyst alumni are now excelling in STEM fields at universities such as NC State, UNC Chapel Hill, Appalachian State, and Northeastern, pursuing careers in engineering, molecular biology, nursing, mathematics, and beyond—many with prestigious scholarships and awards. Catalyst graduating seniors have 100% college acceptances and 98% pursue STEM fields in college.

If you are interested in this program, please contact Joann Blumenfeld, Program Director, at [email protected] or by phone at (919) 633-3120.

Upcoming Events & Announcements

Catalyst Program: Open House for Rising 9th-12th Grade Students

(For the 2027–2028 School Year)

Are you interested in joining the Catalyst program? Attending an Open House is a required step for application. Both the student and at least one parent/guardian must attend either the virtual or in-person session to learn about program details and the application process.

Session Options

• Virtual Open House: Thursday, January 14, 2027 at 7:00 PM
• In-Person Open House: Saturday, January 16, 2027 at 10:00 AM
  • Location: NC State University

How to Register:

Registration links will be posted on this webpage starting November 2026.

Reach for the Stars! Be a Star! STEM & Resource Fair

A K–12 Event for Students with Disabilities, Families, and Friends

Spark curiosity and celebrate possibility at our inclusive, accessible STEM & Resource Fair! Designed to build knowledge, confidence, and community connection, this event offers hands-on discovery for students of all abilities.

• Date: Saturday, April 10, 2027
• Time: 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM
• Location: NC State University, McKimmon Center,  1101 Gorman Street, Raleigh, NC
• Admission: Drop-in anytime — No registration required!

What to Expect

• 70+ Interactive Stations: Hands-on activities led by professors, graduate students, and STEM professionals highlighting educational and career pathways.
• Community Resource Providers: Connect directly with organizations and experts offering supportive services.
• Speaker Sessions: Presentations on relevant, high-impact topics for families and educators.
• Perks & Giveaways: Free raffle tickets, prizes, bags, and snacks provided throughout the morning.

Group Transportation Funding Available

Funding is available to cover bus transportation for school groups and non-profit organizations wanting to bring students to the fair.

To inquire about bus funding, please contact Joann Blumenfeld at 919-633-3120.

Support Catalyst

• Donate
• Teach Workforce Readiness Skills, STEM Content and Skills, Life 101 Skills
• Internship sites
• Any partnership opportunity

If you are interested in supporting this program, please contact:
Joann Blumenfeld, Director, at [email protected] or by phone at (919) 633-3120. Jessica Yose, Program Coordinator, at [email protected] or by phone (919)-618-0433.

Catalyst in the News

• A Change Program: NC State’s Catalyst program opens up STEM to teens with disabilities
• Perspective | Building an inclusive, innovative STEM workforce
• Catalyst Students visit Puerto Rico, get field experience in STEM
• Catalyst Program Goes to NASA
• N.C. High Schoolers fly to Puerto Rico for hands-on STEM experience
• Creating STEM Opportunties: Catalyst Program in Photos
• Joann Blumenfeld, Catalyst Director, received 2022 Friday Medal from the Friday Institute
• Joann Blumenfeld, Catalyst Director, Named One of Time’s Innovative Teacher of the Year 2022
• NC First Lady, NC Commerce Secretary Visit The Science House (Catalyst)
• Energizing opportunities for students with disabilities in STEM
• Learners, Leaders
• Education Matters with Joann and Governor Cooper
• Nice Video About Catalyst
• Catalyst InvenTeam brings high-level STEM to students with disabilities
• INVENTEAM TEACHER’S SECRET TO SUCCESS: ‘NO EXCUSES!’ AND ‘HIGH EXPECTATIONS’

Catalyst Awards and Accomplishments

• Invited for a Special Program by the US Airforce Academy for a Special Program, Colorado Springs, April 2025
• Excellence in Education Award, Raleigh Mayor’s Committee For Persons with Disabilities, October 2024
• Airwards 23/24 Winner in the Education and Research / Training Category: NC State College of Sciences with our work, “Drones Power Launch for Disabled Students in STEM at NCSU.
• Invited to the International Institute of Tropical Forestry, San Juan, Puerto Rico for a Special Program, April 2024
• Invited to NASA Johnson Space Center, April 2023 for a Special Program.
• Received a National Science Foundation (NSF) Grant For Connecting Students with Autism to Geographic Information Science & Technology, 2021
• Program of Excellence Award, 2021, International Technology and Engineering Educators Association.
• Winners of National 2017 Lemelson-MIT InvenTeam Competition. The students invented a mat that screens for lameness in cows and an App that notifies farmers. This device costs less than $1,000, and the current one on the market is over $100,000. They also won the technical award and were the only in the country with all students with disabilities. All participants presented at MIT and received a $10,000 grant to build their invention, which we hope to patent.
• Winners of National Energy Education Development Project: Special Project Award, 2020
• Invited to the US Patent Office, June 2018 for a special program.
• All graduating Catalyst Seniors have gone on to STEM Educational Pathways in College.
• Letter of Commendation from President Obama
• Invited to NASA Johnson Space Center, April 2023 for a Special Program.