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

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The STANDARD: 10.6, June 2024
In this issue of RAISE The Standard, we will explore what it takes to help youth with disabilities manage differences of viewpoint in the workplace and find the resources and practices to maximize their career potential.
Archived Webinars
Society says “ADULT”, we say “they are still our children”: The challenges for secondary transition age youth with mental illness and their families – August 21
The point in time when a youth reaches the legal age of consent begins a period known as “Secondary Transition Age Youth” – frequently referred to as a “black hole” in terms of services. This presentation will provide an overview of the most common challenges family members and other caregivers face when the child with mental illness in their care reaches the age that they can legally make treatment and other decisions for themselves – including the decision to leave the caregiver out of the process entirely. There will be tools and other resources shared that can be helpful to those currently navigating the process as well as those who are preparing to navigate the journey.
Date: Monday, August 21st, 2023
Time: 2pm ET
Presenter:
Teri Brister, PhD, LPC
Chief Program Officer
National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI)
ASL interpretation & Spanish interpretation will be offered!
El momento en que un joven alcanza la edad de consentimiento legal comienza un período conocido como “Joven en edad de transición”, a menudo asociado al término “agujero negro” en términos de servicios. Esta presentación brindará una descripción general de los desafíos más comunes que enfrentan los miembros de la familia y otros cuidadores cuando el joven con enfermedad mental bajo su cuidado alcanza la edad en la que legalmente puede tomar decisiones acerca de administrar su propio tratamiento y decisiones de otro tipo, incluida la decisión de dejar al cuidador fuera del proceso por completo. Se compartirán herramientas y otros recursos que pueden ser útiles para aquellos que actualmente navegan por el proceso, así como para los que se están preparando para entrar en esta nueva fase.
Fecha: lunes 21 de agosto de 2023
Hora: 2pm ET
Presentado por:
Teri Brister, PhD, LPC
Chief Program Officer
National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI)
Se ofrecerá interpretación al español y ASL (lenguaje de señas americano)
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August 14, 2024
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.
Why Financial Education Matters Webinar- March 20
Will saving jeopardize benefits? How will employment impact benefits? ABLE account or Special Needs Trust? What is Supported Decision-Making? How to protect against identity theft?
Please join us for an informative webinar presented by Pennsylvania Assistive Technology Foundation (PATF) on March 20, 2023, at 2:00 p.m. ET.
Recognizing that financial education is the foundation for independent living, everyone needs financial skills to make informed decisions about money. In this webinar, we will address fundamental building blocks and the unique financial education needs of students with disabilities. We will explore PATF’s Cents and Sensibility: A Money Management Guide and the Educator Companion Manual and how these guides can help you make financial education engaging and fun. We will also take a tour of PATF’s online financial education resource, StudyMoney.us and its interactive content, activities, and resources.
Date: Monday, March 20, 2023
Time: 2pm ET
ASL interpretation & Spanish interpretation will be offered!
Smart Home Technology: Leading to Independence Webinar- Jan 23
This webinar will introduce the power of Smart Home technology. Assistive technology does not need to be specialized or costly to be life-changing for students with disabilities and their families. In fact, generic, off-the-shelf, smart home devices can make it possible to live with greater independence, autonomy, safety, security, and joy!
Please join us for a “Smart Homes” webinar presented by Pennsylvania Assistive Technology Foundation (PATF) on Monday, January 23, 2023, at 2:00 pm. The webinar will walk through PATF’s new publication (English/Spanish) and corresponding Smart Homes website. It will provide you with the information you’ll need to help your community explore the most current smart home technology, create a framework to choose technology, and how to build a team to support this technology.
It will provide you with the information you’ll need to help students, families, and teachers learn about smart home devices, create a framework to match goals with devices, learn how to build a team to support this technology, and find additional resources. This guide is available to download.
New Date: Monday, Jan 23, 2023
Time: 2pm ET
ASL interpretation & Spanish interpretation will be offered!