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RAISE webinar spotlights seven youth-led transition projects funded by mini grants
Summary
The RAISE Center hosted a webinar where seven parent centers described youth-led projects — videos, handouts and training — that help young people with disabilities plan postsecondary life, employment and transportation. Materials will be posted on the RAISE website and organizers said the grants were small kickoffs to ongoing work.
The RAISE Center convened a virtual webinar to highlight seven mini-grant projects that supported youth with disabilities in creating transition resources such as short films, videos and handouts.
Josie, project director for the RAISE Center, said the grants were intended to spur youth engagement and technical assistance: "They could get support from one of our YETI youth leaders," she said, adding that the awards were modest and intended as a "tiny kickoff" to longer-term work.
Federation for Children with Special Needs described a youth advisory board of about 10 members, ages roughly 20 to 32, that produced recorded testimonies and a transportation-focused webinar. "They decided that they wanted to do their webinar on transportation," said Danielle Daughtry, transition coordinator for the federation.
Impact’s youth group, My Voice, produced a video and materials to promote student-led IEPs; youth participants explained that a student-led IEP lets students "discuss and present your strengths, needs, and goals" at their meetings. Lily Ricketts, Impact’s youth engagement coordinator, said the project also helped young people learn to ask for accommodations and speak up in planning meetings.
Ohio’s project worked with Whitmer High School students in focus groups on transition planning. "When youth voice is heard, real change happens," said Michael Leuer, a youth advocate and YETI member who appeared in the Ohio videos. Amy Freeman, a transition specialist with the Ohio Coalition for the Education of Children with Disabilities, said the work led to more in-person youth events and stronger youth-adult partnerships.
Pathfinder Services of North Dakota described two products: a quick, shareable advocacy tip sheet and a communication webinar. "My role as the adult is to sit back and let them take the lead," said Misty Bully Clementich, Pathfinder’s program director, describing youth-driven content and iterative feedback on design and accessibility.
Nebraska’s PTI presented "In My Shoes," a two-page handout developed by 11 seniors in a life-and-career readiness class that highlights workplace accommodations based on research from the Job Accommodation Network. Presenters said students chose whether to be named or remain anonymous in materials.
Vermont Family Network produced a short film focusing on health, housing and transportation; Christa Siringo, the organization’s transition family consultant, said participants insisted on diverse representation, plain language and audio descriptions to make the product accessible.
Organizers said all videos and materials will be posted to the RAISE Center website and that the webinar recording and PowerPoint would be circulated within days. The group noted the mini grants were small but effective at generating youth engagement and said the next webinar is scheduled for Aug. 18.
Materials and contact information for project leads were shared in the webinar chat and presenters encouraged viewers to use the posted resources for transition planning and advocacy.
