REAL Transition Partners

REAL Transition Partners is jointly managed by SPAN Parent Advocacy Network (NJ), Federation for Children with Special Needs (MA), and New York State Transition Partners (INCLUDEnyc, Parent Network of WNY, Starbridge). Providing information, training and technical assistance, and support to youth and young adults with disabilities and their families.

REAL Transition Partners is a collaboration between 26 Parent Centers: Advocates for Children; AFCAMP; Advocates for Justice & Education; Apoyo a Padres de Niños con Impedimentos; Association for Special Children & Families; Community Inclusion & Disability Alliance; Connecticut Parent Advocacy Center; Delaware Parent Information Center; Disability Rights Center of the Virgin Islands; Federation for Children with Special Needs; Hispanos Unidos para Niños Excepcionales; INCLUDEnyc; INCLUYEnyc Community parent resource center; Long Island Advocacy Center; Mission Empower; Maine Parent Federation; New Hampshire Parent Information Center; PEAL Center; PNWNY (Parent Network of Western New York); Parents’ Place of Maryland; RIPIN (Rhode Island Parent Information Network); Sinergia; SPAN Parent Advocacy Network; Starbridge; United We Stand and; Vermont Family Network;

These Centers serve parents, youth/young adults with disabilities, and professionals. Additionally, Centers work with each state’s Vocational Rehabilitation, Centers for Independent Living, and other adult system partners represented on the project’s 22 member Governing Board.

REAL provides a variety of innovative and responsive services, support, and information that enables youth and young adults with disabilities and their families to:

• access information about the Rehabilitation Act (RA)
• navigate multiple programs and service systems
• actively participate in the development of useful, relevant, and meaningful plans for independence
• collaborate with transition professionals as leaders to help youth impacted by disability achieve their goals

These services:

• are designed with and involve diverse youth/young adults with disabilities and their families
• highlight the region’s strengths and collaborative spirit, and evolve as needs and contexts change
• occur through a regional Community of Practice that enhances participating Parent Center capacity, reach, and partnerships around transition and adult service systems