PACER’s National Parent Center on Transition and Employment launches innovative website

Free resources help young adults with disabilities meet their goals after high school

Minneapolis: PACER’s National Parent Center on Transition and Employment (NPCTE) has launched an innovative website to provide interactive learning opportunities, an extensive resource library, compelling videos, and inspirational success stories to address the needs of families across the country.

For families of youth with disabilities, the transition from high school to employment, postsecondary education, and life in the community presents a variety of challenges. PACER’s new website offers a wealth of information and videos on topics such as transition planning, legal rights, work-based learning, career accommodations, higher education, and financial aid. Additionally, the Center provides technical assistance and training for professionals, and in-person and online workshops for parents of youth with disabilities.

One of the newest videos featured on the website shares the inspirational story of Sam Graves, who was just 3 years old when his parents first brought him to PACER’s Simon Technology Center (STC). Sam has cerebral palsy and that visit was the beginning of a wonderful relationship with PACER. It provided Sam with access to new assistive technology.

The assistance and support PACER provided to Sam and his parents, Kathy and Hazen Graves, over 20 years has helped Sam to succeed in school, at home, and in the community. It also helped him co-found the baseball blog “Two Men On.”

“It’s all aimed at helping parents and young adults with disabilities see the bright future ahead,” Kathy Graves saysof the website. “As the parent of a young adult with cerebral palsy, I know firsthand how difficult it can be to find clear, accurate information on employment and transition.”

“PACER has been helping families of youth with disabilities through the transition process for many years,” adds PACER’s Executive Director Paula Goldberg. “This innovative website offers even more free resources that families can easily access no matter where they live. We believe it is going to make a very positive difference for young adults with disabilities and their families.”
To learn more about the National Parent Center on Transition and Employment, and to see the video featuring Sam Graves, visit PACER.org/transition or call 952-838-9000. These resources are made possible in part through funding from the Richard M. Schulze Family Foundation.

PACER Center is a parent center for families of children and young adults with any disability. PACER provides individual assistance, workshops, publications, and other resources to help families make decisions about education and other services for their child or young adult with disabilities. For information, visit PACER.org.

[livemarket market_name="KONK Life LiveMarket" limit=3 category=“” show_signup=0 show_more=0]