Providing technical assistance to support youth and young adults with disabilities and their Families during Secondary-Transition

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About Us

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 shift 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 Regions.

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NEW: IEP Transition Toolkit

Access ready-to-use videos and accessible worksheets designed to build student voice, self-advocacy, and leadership within the IEP and transition planning process.

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Newsletters

The STANDARD: 11.7, July 2025

In this issue of RAISE The Standard, we will explore why jobs in the environmental sector are a great fit for students with disabilities, and how they can make the world a better place through their career.

Archived Webinars

The challenges for secondary-transition age youth with mental illness and their families – Part 2 NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness)

Part 2 will involve walking participants through how to use the tools shared on our Part 1 webinar. Additionally, new resources will be shared with participants that have been developed by NAMI’s Youth and Young Adults team to help provide additional support and information for families.

Date: Monday, July 15th, 2024
Time: 2pm ET

ASL and English-Spanish interpretation will be provided.

Upcoming 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.

9th Annual RAISE Summit- May 16th- Charlotte, NC- PAYCHECKS not PITY!

The National RAISE Center will be hosting its 9th Summit in Charlotte, NC. It will be a time for leadership development, networking and team building.

Location: Hilton Charlotte University Place, Charlotte, NC.
Date: Tuesday, May 16th, 2023 at 9am – 1pm ET

This summit will focus on developing and strengthening relationships with key partners to improve transition outcomes. The sessions will include:

– A Young Adult Showcase
– MPACT Presentation “Walking the Walk: Recommendations for Experience-Focused Transition Programming”
– RSA Parent Centers spotlight

Travel and hotel is at your own expense. We are only covering lunch at the summit.

Supporting Families to Focus on Student Self-Determination- April 24

Self-determination is the ability for an individual to make their own decisions and guide the path of their lives. Youth and young adults with disabilities often lack opportunities to develop and practice being self-determined. This session will provide family training and advocacy professionals with strategies and tools that assist parents and caregivers in building key self-determination skills in their youth. The Essential Elements of Self Determination will be highlighted and useful goal setting and supported decision making tools shared. Family involvement and student self-determination can coexist. By helping families see the value in self-determination we can support students to build confidence and take charge of their futures.

Presenters:
Sean Roy, Sean, Chief Innovation and Training Officer for TransCen Inc.

Dr. John McNaught, Principal Investigator for I’m Determined

Date: Monday, April 24th, 2023
Time: 2pm ET

ASL interpretation & Spanish interpretation will be offered!