EMPOWERING INDEPENDENCE
RISE Academy empowers neurodivergent young adults with the skills, confidence, and community they need to step boldly into adulthood with pride, purpose, and possibility.
WHY RISE MATTERS
For many neurodivergent young adults, the transition after high school feels uncertain. Traditional paths do not always fit their needs, and many are left without community, structure, or meaningful opportunities.
Isolation becomes common. Confidence fades. Dreams get set aside not because these young adults are not capable, but because the world was not built with them in mind.
Percent of autistic adults that are unemployed or underemployed, not because they lack ability, but because they lack support.
WHAT IS RISE?
Using the proven Learn4Independence curriculum built specifically for transition-age adults, RISE is a two year, post high school transition program designed specifically for neurodivergent young adults.
This curriculum helps students grow in:
- Daily living skills
- Career exploration and readiness
- Financial literacy
- Social and communication skills
- Self advocacy and goal setting
- Community navigation
At RISE, students:
- Build independence
- Strengthen communication
- Prepare for employment
- Find friendships and community
- Learn life skills they use every day
HOW IT WORKS
RISE blends classroom instruction with real-world experience to ensure that what students learn is immediately useful, meaningful, and empowering.
Whether someone wants to learn to cook a meal, prepare for a job interview, navigate new friendships, or live on their own for the first time, RISE provides the tools and encouragement to take those steps with pride. Students leave ready for more independent living, meaningful work, and fuller participation in their communities.
THRIVING TOGETHER
PerspectAbility is a Northwest Arkansas nonprofit creating opportunities, not barriers, for neurodivergent adults. We believe every person deserves a community that celebrates their abilities and supports their dreams.
RISE Academy, the first program of its kind in our region, is just the beginning of our work to build a more inclusive and empowered future for neurodivergent adults.
GET INVOLVED
You can help open doors for neurodivergent adults.
Sponsor a student
Donate
Volunteer
Partner as an employer
Your support builds brighter futures
How do you think this program will help you reach your goals?
The experience and learning things I don’t know or reinforcing skills I do know.
– OLIVIA
How has the program helped you feel more independent?
So I can learn skills to
live on my own.
– LUCAS
Why is this transition program important to
students like you?
Neurodivergent people often don’t mesh well with neurotypical social expectations, and although we can thrive as adults, it may be hard to adapt to an abrupt change, which is why preparation is good.
– MARCY
What would you tell another student if they asked why they should join this program?
It’s important to learn real life skills and a lot of places don’t offer neurodivergent people help like RISE does.