Shalom Austin RAISE participants share heartfelt personal accounts about their experience in the program. Credit: Andrew Holmes

By Whitney Emmons, M.Ed., CNP

On May 20th, Shalom Austin staff and community members gathered to celebrate the first graduating cohort of RAISE, an employment readiness program for adults with disabilities and/or neurodivergent conditions. RAISE kicked off in October 2025 with a Meet and Greet event where RAISE employees, volunteer job coaches, family members, and work site liaisons met one another and prepared for the program year ahead.

“Almost seven years ago, in late 2019, I had my last day as a senior in high school. I saw graduation not as an achievement but a loss of the services and support circle I had grown to rely on, transitioning into adulthood with an IEP that couldn’t have predicted the effects of COVID.  But the RAISE program has given me the warmth and personal support I’ve been looking for, turning my idea of graduation into the new chapter of opportunity and growth that it should be,” RAISE participant Kai Pincus said.

The crowd cheered for Pincus, just as they did for all four graduates of Shalom Austin’s first RAISE cohort. The warmth and support Pincus described could be felt by all in the room, as Shalom Austin staff and community members came together to celebrate these graduates.

During the seven-month program, RAISE employees worked shifts across multiple job sites and attended weekly lunch & learn sessions, where they developed skills necessary for success in the workforce. Lessons covered a broad range of topics and included taking initiative when all assigned tasks have been completed, reading social cues to know when colleagues are open to socializing and when they aren’t, resume and interview preparation, and self-advocacy in the workplace, along with others.

Each week, RAISE employees worked at two job sites, some within Shalom Austin teams and some with community partners, accompanied by a volunteer job coach at each shift. Initially, job coaches assisted RAISE employees with learning the tasks and responsibilities of their roles, but the core of their support came through the encouragement, soft skills and social skills practice, and supportive relationships that the volunteers provided.

During the graduation ceremony, the graduates were invited on stage to share their experiences with RAISE. Some shared about the new jobs they are embarking on following graduation, or skills they’ve improved through the program such as self-advocacy and initiating conversation. All were beaming with pride.

“I actually started with RAISE as a volunteer job coach, before joining the Shalom Austin staff,” Oona Dicker said. “I saw how meaningful this work was so when I got hired as volunteer manager, I asked if I could continue to be a job coach and join the staff team for RAISE.  I got to continue supporting my RAISE employee and help teach the Lunch and Learns. Through those weekly meetings, it was incredible to see the progress of our employees and see them using the concepts and skills at their job sites.”

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Applications are now open for 2026-2027 cohort of RAISE, which will launch in October 2026. Employee interviews will begin this summer. The RAISE team is also seeking volunteers to serve as job coaches in the second year. Those interested in participating in RAISE, whether as an employee, volunteer job coach, or partnering work site, can visit shalomaustin.org/jfs-raise to complete an interest form or application.