Apply for the Monarch RISE program
Richard Rueda
Hello everyone,
I hope you’re all doing well! I wanted to share an opportunity that may be a great fit for the individuals you support through your work.
Applications for Monarch RISE (linked) are now open.
This Project Cohort is designed for individuals who are blind, deafblind, or have other visual impairments and are seeking competitive integrated employment (CIE) by September 2028, eligible to work in the United States, and are:
- Individuals enrolled in an undergraduate, graduate, or professional/terminal degree student (e.g., law, PhD, MD), or professional certificate program by September 2026, OR
- Individuals who are underemployed at the date of application submission (Plain Language Definition: "Underemployed refers to someone who has a job but isn’t getting enough hours, pay, or use of their skills, so they are still considered to have a need for employment or training services.), OR
- Individuals within the first 2 years of competitive integrated employment after vision loss (from date of application submission)
For clarity, when we say competitive integrated employment, we’re referring to jobs in typical work settings where individuals earn at least minimum wage and work alongside peers and clients without disabilities. This could include roles in business, education, tech, customer service, skilled trades, and more.
We also want to highlight underemployment, which can include individuals who:
- Are working below their skill or education level
- Are in part-time roles but seeking full-time work
- Are in positions with limited growth or advancement opportunities
Monarch RISE is a great opportunity for those looking to build confidence, expand career pathways, and move toward meaningful, sustainable employment.
Again, you can share the application directly with your students or clients here:
https://forms.office.com/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=CPcnAZSSjkmhc2poUynnP45TXtU6mz5Bg2Hb2Ur-r_1UNFZDRk9VRE8xUERDWENPSVcwTFlWTlVIMyQlQCN0PWcu
If someone is unsure whether this program is a good fit, they can learn more here:
https://www.aph.org/meet-monarch/RISE/
Please feel free to pass this along to anyone who might benefit. As always, I appreciate the work you do to support individuals who are blind or low vision in reaching their career goals.
For specific application questions, please email RI...@aph.org.
Best,
Richard Rueda
The contents of this email were developed under grant #H421F240052 from the U.S. Department of Education (Department). The Department does not mandate or prescribe practices, models, or other activities described or discussed in this document. The contents of this email may contain examples of, adaptations of, and links to resources created and maintained by another public or private organization. The Department does not control or guarantee the accuracy, relevance, timeliness, or completeness of this outside information. The content of this email does not necessarily represent the policy of the Department. This publication is not intended to represent the views or policy of or be an endorsement of any views expressed, or materials provided by any Federal agency (EDGAR 75.620).
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Richard Rueda Assistant Director, APH ConnectCenter M: 510.825.4106 1839 Frankfort Ave. Louisville, KY 40206 Email: rru...@aph.org
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