Community Partnership

We partner with communities in Wisconsin to improve transition planning for youth with disabilities. We have partnerships with several Wisconsin communities:

Aptiv – La Crosse

Grant County – Boscobel & Potosi School Districts

My Path – Oconomowoc & Waukesha

Rock County – University of Wisconsin-Whitewater – seeking new leadership

Focus on Equity

Our partner communities face extra barriers to accessing services due to:

  • Bias, racism, or ableism
  • Language and cultural needs that are not met by service providers
  • Supports or care providers that are too far away or costly
  • Extra challenges to success after high school (e.g. transitioning from the foster system, lacking social or financial support)

We work together to find ways to overcome barriers for youth with disabilities in partner communities. Project support is available through August 2024.

Join Now!

We are recruiting new community partners

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Printable Recruitment Flyer

Contact Nicole Brys for more information

Partner Activities

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We use the Communities of Solutions approach to help partners make meaningful change in their communities.

Community partners bring together a variety of stakeholders to:

  1. Set a specific goal to improve transition planning for youth with disabilities in their community
  2. Take action over 100 days to make progress on their goal
  3. Develop a plan to integrate healthcare, education, and employment planning in the youth transition process

By being a part of the project, community partners strengthen local partnerships and increase equity in access to services in their communities.

Become a Community Partner

Partnership is open to all organizations and groups in communities that face extra barriers to accessing services. This includes school districts, County Communities on Transition, non-profit and faith-based organizations, health care providers, tribal councils, and community associations (among others).

Qualities of Ideal Communities Partners

Strong Interest and Intent

  • Interested in improving transition planning for youth with disabilities
  • Value the integration of healthcare, educational, and employment supports and services in planning processes
  • Want to engage more people with disabilities and family members to lead and guide improvement efforts

Established Partnerships

  • Experience collaborating with a variety of stakeholders
  • Existing or potential relationships across many sectors related to youth transition
  • Trusting relationships with 12-26 year old people with disabilities and/or their families

Commitment and Capacity

  • Ability to build a small, diverse group that is committed to improving transition for those struggling the most. This group should include someone who provides direct assistance to youth and families in the transition process
  • Have support from organizational leadership to devote staff time work on collaborative transition improvement efforts
  • Can identify someone to work with Waisman Center project leadership team to organize and implement community activities

Interested? Contact Nicole Brys for more information