The PASSAGEWAY Project (Program To Assist Secondary Students in Achieving Gainful Employment for West Alabama Youth) sought to increase the academic, social, and job skills of high-risk and dropout special education students. A cooperative program of the University of West Alabama, public schools, businesses, and social service agencies, the project used the resources of the university's College of Education and Division of Technology to develop an alternative program that accomplished several objectives. The program identified and recruited youth with disabilities who were at high risk of dropping out or who had recently dropped out in six west Alabama counties; provided functional literacy training to identified youth; developed and implemented employment training for youth aged 16 and above; provided individual youth and their families with counseling focused on specific outcomes; increased student participation through alternative scheduling and distance learning; and developed business partnerships culminating in employment opportunities for students with disabilities. This paper also discusses the criteria for student identification, program staff and their professional qualifications, the role of school personnel and industry liaisons, availability of various resources to the program, program activities, and 3-year outcomes. (SV)