Reimagining Transition for Youth with Disabilities: Inspiration from New Orleans and a Vision for Kansas City
What did we learn while exploring programs in New Orleans for youth with disabilities?
The Transition Academy believes in helping youth with disabilities see beyond obstacles. We design real-world learning experiences for our youth and we’ve seen how powerful these experiences can be. That’s why we’re currently exploring the feasibility of forming a real-world learning school for 18 to 21-year-old students with disabilities in Kansas City Public School’s geographic area.
As part of this discovery process, a small team from The Transition Academy along with community partners (KC Public Schools, Farmer’s House, Job One KC, The Whole Person, Health Forward Foundation, REACH Healthcare Foundation, Prospect Business Association) recently traveled to New Orleans to visit three innovative school models serving youth with disabilities. The trip offered us a unique opportunity to see a variety of approaches in action.
St. Michael’s Special School
St. Michael’s offers a private, tuition-based model serving students from early childhood through young adulthood. Their Upper School functions as a high school, and they also operate the Joy Center, a post-secondary program for adults with disabilities. We were especially inspired by their Exploration Academy, which connects students with internships and career exploration opportunities—many of which are right on campus. We could tell students took a lot of pride in their work and the real-world experience left a strong impression.
Chartwell Center
Chartwell serves individuals from age 3 to 33 through a nonprofit model. Their hands-on, real-world learning approach includes more than 500 community trips each year. Chartwell’s creativity and resourcefulness were evident in their partnerships with local businesses and apprenticeship programs. Their recent merger with Easter Seals strengthened their ability to serve students with more complex needs.
Opportunities Academy
What began as a microschool has grown into a dynamic charter model, serving students ages 18–22 with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Opportunities Academy stood out for its robust work-based learning program, which includes internships in hospitality, retail, and service industries—some even happening on campus through realistic training simulations. We were deeply moved by the school’s “culture of joy,” where students and staff alike begin each day with intention, kindness, and a shared belief in one another. It was clear that Opportunities Academy empowers students not just with skills, but with confidence and purpose.
The Takeaway
Each of these school models showed us what’s possible when you believe in young people and build programming around their strengths and goals.
We saw students exploring careers. We met educators and staff who deeply believe in the potential of every young person. And we were inspired by the culture of kindness, encouragement, and self-advocacy that ran through each model. Across the board, we were reminded: if you believe in students, everything else can be taught.
Focus Groups: Your voice is essential.
As we continue to explore what a similar model could look like in Kansas City, we’re inviting families, educators, and industry partners to share their ideas.
In May, we’ll be hosting focus groups to learn more from our community. We wil ask parents/caregivers, educators and community partners to reflect on what’s working, what’s needed, and how we might co-create something extraordinary for our youth in Kansas City, Missouri’s urban core.
Join the Conversation: Help Build Better Career Pathways for Youth with Disabilities
ALL focus groups will include tacos and great conversation — please join us! Sign up for the appropriate focus group at the links below:
👨👩👧👦 Family members/caregivers supporting a young person with disabilities
Monday, May 5th
5pm - 7pm
Location: Keystone Innovations
Address: 800 E 18th St, Kansas City, MO 64108
Sign up here ➔
🏢 Employers committed to inclusive hiring
Wednesday May 7th
11:30am - 1pm
Location: Keystone Innovations
Address: 800 E 18th St, Kansas City, MO 64108
Sign up here ➔
🎓 Educators preparing students for life after high school
Tuesday, May 6th
3pm - 6pm
Location: Junior League
Address: 9215 Ward Parkway, KCMO 64114
Sign up here ➔