Results and Innovation in Systems Excellence (RISE) e-Learning Community

 

Open only to federally funded Centers for Independent Living (CILs)

 

APPLICATIONS DUE: Friday, April 24, 2026 by 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time (ET)

 

Apply here

 

Full Application Hyperlink: https://app.smartsheet.com/b/form/019d4a929a1174b7b196a9d6623305fc 

 

About This Community

As trusted disability-led, community-based organizations, CILs play a vital role in advancing competitive, integrated employment (CIE). CILs provide services, supports, and community connections to support jobseekers with disabilities prepare for, obtain, and thrive in the workforce. This action‑oriented learning community will equip CILs with increased knowledge and capacity to develop, sustain, and scale employment programs, while navigating an evolving landscape for funding and partnerships. Participants will build skills in business development and communicating their value/impact to prospective partners by hearing first-hand about approaches and lessons learned from high‑impact CIL peers. The community will explore practical, replicable models to position organizations to scale partnerships and expand capacity to offer sustainable employment services and supports. CILs will also take steps toward a set goal to build or scale their own new partnership or funding stream by participating in facilitated workshops and completing brief pre-work assignments between certain sessions.

Who Should Participate

CIL staff with authority to make decisions about scaling new partnerships or pursuing new funding streams, including, but not limited to, program managers, administrators, or senior leaders.

Objectives

1. Identify opportunities to expand funding streams or partnerships in alignment with the independent living philosophy and core services
2. Explore innovative and proven approaches used by peer CILs to impact CIE outcomes
3. Build skills in business development, including how to communicate value/impact to prospective partners and funders
4. Identify at least one clear action step (i.e., identifying who you will share the pitch with, scheduling a meeting, etc.) you will take based on your participation

Desired Outcomes

1. Increased capacity to scale or replicate promising and/or innovative practices
2. Increased knowledge of strategies to impact disability employment within program goals and authorities
3. Increased knowledge of community/state partners and infrastructure
4. Increased knowledge of community/state business community and strategies to partner with employers or other stakeholders

Facilitators & Guest Speakers:

This community will be facilitated by DETAC Senior Advisor Amy Gonzalez, with support from co-facilitator, Mary-Kate Wells, from the National Council on Independent Living (NCIL).

The community will also feature CIL guest speakers from the following CILs:

1. Session 1: ABLE South Carolina (South Carolina)
2. Session 2: Direct Advocacy and Resource Center (Arizona)
3. Session 3: Lehigh Valley Center for Independent Living (Pennsylvania)
4. Session 4: Independence Inc. (Kansas)

Schedule:

Five 75-minute sessions on Wednesday afternoons 1-2:15 p.m. ET from April – June 2026.

• Session 1: April 29, 2026
• Session 2: May 6, 2026
• Session 3: May 13, 2026
• Session 4: May 20, 2026
• Session 5: June 3, 2026

 

Detailed Session Outline:

 

Session	Date	Details
Session 1	4/29/26	Introduction and welcome Review learning objectives, desired outcomes, and participant expectations Provide background on the community focus Communicating the value of partnering to advance CIE (key research and data points) Review DETAC resources available that will be referenced during the community How to identify opportunities to expand partnerships or programs (including completing a partnership inventory) Featured CIL guest speaker who has been successful in scaling partnerships, programs, and funding, including: How they got started Who was involved What they’ve done to maintain, expand, or evolve over time Outcomes/impact Leaving in action
Session 2	5/6/26	Review homework and discuss key takeaways Strategies for approaching new partners, with considerations for different types of partners (e.g., employers, community organizations, etc.) Featured CIL guest speaker who has been successful in scaling partnerships, including: How they got started Who was involved What they’ve done to maintain, expand, or evolve over time Outcomes/impact Leaving in action
Session 3	5/13/26	Review homework and discuss key takeaways Strategies for identifying and targeting new funding streams to expand employment services and supports Competencies needed to establish new funding streams (e.g., proposal writing) Featured CIL guest speaker who has been successful in generating new funding and innovative partnerships, including: How they got started Who was involved What they’ve done to maintain, expand, or evolve over time Outcomes/impact Leaving in action
Session 4	5/20/26	Review homework and discuss key takeaways Strategies for formalizing agreements with partners Featured CIL guest speaker who has been successful in scaling new partnerships and funding, and who has used MOUs, including: How they got started Who was involved What they’ve done to maintain, expand, or evolve over time Outcomes/impact Pitch workshop: How to communicate your unique value as a CIL to a partner or funding source Open Q&A Leaving in action: Prepare a pitch or concept for a new or expanded partnership or funding stream that advances CIE and fits within your CIL’s capacity
Session 5	6/3/26	Recap key takeaways from sessions 1-4 Participants will present draft pitches for new partners or new funding sources DETAC, NCIL, and peers will provide feedback Leaving in action

 

Additional Details:

• Zoom links will be provided to accepted applicants via email and sent to the contact person(s) listed in the application upon acceptance.
• Closed captioning (via Zoom) will be provided in every session. American Sign Language (ASL) interpretation will be provided in Session 1, and by request thereafter.
• If you require accommodations to participate, please note in the application or send an email to AoDEmploymentTA@gmail.com at least three (3) business days in advance of the session.
• If you experience any issues with the application form, please contact AoDEmploymentTA@gmail.com.

Questions?

Contact AoDEmploymentTA@gmail.com with questions about this e-Learning community.

Subscribe to the DETAC National Community of Practice listserv to receive updates when new RISE communities are announced: http://eepurl.com/hq0D2H.