Dear Southwest friends,
Please see below for information on the Monarch RISE program. The application is now open until March 3 for professionals who are blind, deafblind, or have low vision, and also for professionals in the field of visual impairment who support individuals seeking competitive, integrated employment.
I would love for as many people from our community to participate as possible. Please let me know if you have any questions, and share with anyone you think might benefit from this information!
Jenny
Monarch RISE: Resources for Inclusion, Skills, and Employment
Empowered by a recent five-year grant, APH is launching the Monarch RISE: Resources for Inclusion, Skills, and Employment project. Monarch RISE will evaluate the effectiveness of the Monarch in supporting competitive integrated employment and identify targeted improvements for future advancements in technologies that support braille and tactile graphics.
APH will distribute 250 Monarchs to employment and educational professionals; competitively employed blind professionals; and individuals (14+) preparing for or transitioning into competitive integrated employment who are blind or low vision across the United States. Participants selected for Monarch RISE will receive Tech Training, engage in Experience Exchanges with other participants and experts, and benefit from customized CIE support and progress tracking.
Discover more about Monarch RISE on our website or get connected by emailing RISE@aph.org.
Application link for Phase 1 of Monarch RISE: Monarch RISE Application Survey
While all applicant types will be considered and may be selected at any time between spring 2025 and summer 2026, most selections will follow this schedule:
Phase 1 Priority Deadline: March 3, 2025 (Most selections in mid-April 2025)
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Professionals in the Field supporting CIE-seeker
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Professionals who are blind, low vision, or DeafBlind
Phase 2 Priority Deadline: March 2, 2026 (Most selections in April and Summer 2026)
- CIE-Seeking Individuals (including transition-aged students)
Monarch RISE: Resources for Inclusion, Skills, and Employment
In September 2024 APH launched the Monarch, a multi-line braille and graphics tablet, initiating a long-sought revolution in electronic braille technology. Over five years, APH will assess the impact of this innovative braille/graphics technology in significantly enhancing access to achieving and maintaining competitive integrated employment for individuals who are blind, low vision or deafblind. Through Monarch RISE: Resources for Inclusion, Skills, and Employment 250 Monarchs will be distributed to employment and educational professionals and individuals seeking competitive integrated employment across the United States.
The project will be conducted in two phases. The first phase will focus on gathering input regarding the use of the Monarch in competitive integrated employment and educational settings from employment-focused professionals and selected individuals who are blind, low vision or deafblind who will receive Monarchs coupled with training to master the device. In addition to evaluating the use of the Monarch to support competitive integrated employment and higher education, this group will propose targeted improvements to optimize the Monarch for employment-related applications and provide, as appropriate, life-coaching services to individuals served in the second phase of the project.
The second phase will focus on assessing the value of the Monarch’s capabilities in supporting competitive integrated employment and higher education goals for individuals who are blind, low vision or deafblind. These individuals will receive Monarchs coupled with innovative training and support to integrate the Monarch into their vocational or educational pursuits.
Throughout the course of the project, APH will simultaneously develop, test, refine, and launch a new application for the Monarch along with improvements in its existing applications. The new app will take advantage of the Monarch’s braille and graphics capabilities to empower individuals’ efforts to achieve and maintain competitive integrated employment. Feedback from all project participants will be integral to testing and refining the application. It will be available to all Monarch users at no cost.
The RISE project will be built on an iterative process of product distribution, feedback collection, product refinement, ongoing training, and app development to provide support for individuals pursuing competitive integrated employment. The project aims to demonstrate that access to innovative braille and tactile graphics technology will have a significant impact on achievement of and advancement in a variety of competitive and integrated employment opportunities for individuals who are blind, low vision or deafblind.