Providing technical assistance to support youth and young adults with disabilities and their Families during Transition
About RAISE
In 2014, SPAN Parent Advocacy Network (SPAN), a parent-led and family-centered non-profit parent training and information center (PTI), was funded by the Rehabilitation Services Administration (RSA) to provide support to Parent Training and Information Centers in helping individuals with disabilities transition into adulthood.
RAISE was funded by a national grant from the U.S. Department of Education Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services (OSERS) to provide technical assistance and support to eight (8) RSA PTIs.

New Resources from RAISE
Transition Alphabet Soup! Find out what these acronyms mean?→
Plain Language Made It Easy
RAISE and PEATC collaborated to develop this resource guide and video in English and Spanish to assist people in making their documents accessible to everyone.
- The Importance of Using Plain Language explains how plain language makes information easier for people to read and to understand. En Espanol *
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Using Plain Language Video explains how using plain language makes it easier for people to understand. En Espanol *
Readable Print
These resource provide information on how to make printed text the most visually accessible.
- Creating Readable Print Materials explains the rules that will make text readable for everyone, including people with reading, language, or visual disabilities and their families.*
- Creating Readable Text is a video shows how to create readable print material *
Stay Up To Date with RAISE
The Standard Newsletter is the official publication from RAISE.
The STANDARD: 8.6, June 2022
In this issue of RAISE The Standard, we unpack some of the issues and complexities of a transition to higher education.
The STANDARD: 8.5, May 2022
May is Mental Health Awareness Month, so RAISE is taking this opportunity to raise awareness about mental health and related issues, including mental-health-friendly workplaces.
The STANDARD: 8.4, April/May 2022
In this issue of RAISE The Standard, we explore the evolving legal and regulatory landscape, as well as the opportunities for youth with disabilities as the global pandemic enters its third year.
Sign up for The Standard Newsletter and other useful RAISE resources and information.
Webinars and Events
RAISE hosts a number of engaging and informative webinars and events through out the year. We invite you to join us for professional development, virtual learning, networking and more.
8th Annual RAISE Summit Building new relationships in our new reality
The National RAISE will be hosting its first in-person Summit since 2019 on June 24 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Join us as we explore new research on important relationships for successful outcomes regarding youth engagement, RSA parent center efforts, and more.
Date: Friday, June 24
Time: 9am-3pm
Lunch will be provided
This summit will focus on developing and strengthening relationships with key partners to improve transition outcomes.
No Assembly Required: Introducing the RAISE Youth Needs Assessment Toolkit – May 16, 2022
Upon completing this webinar, participants will be able to:
1) Describe components of the RAISE Youth Needs Assessment Toolkit
2) Understand how to utilize the toolkit for youth needs assessment activities within their parent center
Date: Monday, May 16, 2022
Time: 2pm ET
The RAISE Blog
From an “insider’s” perspective, our blogs feature articles from Director, Josie Badger and occasional guest bloggers on transition-related issues.
The Mental Health Challenges of Physical Disability, by Anomie Fatale
The Mental Health Challenges of Physical Disability, by Anomie Fatale May is mental health awareness month. Mental health conditions are invisible disabilities. Also, chronic illnesses and visible disabilities result in poor mental health. People have called me...
How mental Health Advocacy Is Important To All, By Sarah Jeanne Browne
“We practice resilience not by ignoring our humanity, but by honoring it.”- Aundi Kolber My Story: I was diagnosed with bipolar 1 disorder December 2015 when I was 25. It was due to my first hospitalization during a manic episode in which I saw...
An Advocating Momma, by Domonique Howell
My name is Domonique Howell, a mother and a disability and family advocate from Philadelphia PA. My passion for advocacy truly began when I conceived my daughter. Unfortunately, during my pregnancy I experienced subpar prenatal care, medical disparities, and...