RAISE Them To New Heights

by Kevin Fritz

When Nancy and Darren Shaffer of Altamonte Springs began looking at post high-school options for their son Ben, who lives with autism, a program called RAISE was recommended to them.

RAISE (Recognizing Abilities & Inclusion of Special Employees) is a program offered through Shalom Orlando that helps adults with disabilities secure employment. Shalom Orlando is the center of Jewish life in Central Florida, but you don’t have to be Jewish to participate in RAISE.

“We knew college wasn’t for Ben,” says Nancy. “But we wanted to find something for him to do, and we wanted to strengthen his social skills.”

Designed to build an inclusive workforce through paid employment and social skills training, RAISE collaborates with area businesses and organizations to temporarily place employees, while working toward assisting those employees in finding more permanent jobs within the community. The 9-to-12-month program, which begins in the fall, holds an annual graduation in May for participants as they begin to transition from training to the working world.

“RAISE provides employees with work experience and one-on-one job coach support combined with social skills training, in order to prepare its participants to find meaningful employment in our community,” says Rachel Slavkin, RAISE inclusion director. 

As a RAISE employee, Ben, now 22, worked mostly at The Sharing Center’s food pantry in Longwood. He also spent time working at a local gym. After graduating from RAISE in 2024, he landed a position with FASTSIGNS handling light clerical work and stocking merchandise, a job he still holds. 

“I enjoyed the RAISE program,” he says. “I didn’t have a job before RAISE, and they taught me things like being on time and how to be on a job interview.”

Partnerships are Paramount 

The Sharing Center began to partner with RAISE in 2023, and since then, RAISE employees have logged 450 hours there. 

“It has been fantastic,” adds Nancy. “RAISE partners are giving these adults with special needs a chance.”

“RAISE employees are integral members of our team here at The Sharing Center, and having them on campus means so much to everyone involved,” says Becky Galic, The Sharing Center’s volunteer coordinator. “The RAISE employees receive invaluable experience, our staff loves working with them, and together we’re serving our neighbors in need. It’s an incredible program.”

Last year, RAISE graduated 23-year-old Brooke McKay, who lives with autism and is now working as a teaching assistant at Avalon

School in the STEM lab and math department. An alumna of the Orlando private school, Brooke didn’t realize she had a knack and love for teaching until she worked with toddlers at The Roth Family JCC as part of RAISE. 

Like Nancy, Brooke’s mother, Richelle McKay, was searching for an outlet for Brooke after high school.

“RAISE does an amazing job,” she says. “They take baby steps. Brooke has definitely grown from her high anxiety about getting a job. This job at Avalon gives her a purpose. How blessed I feel.”

RAISE was founded in 2012 by Loren London, a longtime board member of Shalom Orlando. RAISE honors the life and legacy of Loren’s brother Barry, who faced employment and social skills challenges.

A Proven Success

Consideration for RAISE enrollment begins in January. By the beginning of the fall semester, a new cohort of 16 RAISE employees starts working at one of 18 area locations that have partnered with RAISE. 

RAISE pays for the employees, who in turn volunteer for the organization or business. RAISE also provides a job coach to assist employees in learning and fulfilling their tasks during workdays. The employees work two days a week for three hours. As part of the program, the participants also have a weekly social skills for employment class.

“RAISE has a 94 percent success rate of its graduates moving forward in their lives,” says Rachel, “either securing employment, moving on to independent living, or obtaining a postsecondary degree or certification.”

If you, or someone in your life, could benefit from RAISE, visit ShalomOrlando.org/raise to apply.  

Area organizations and businesses willing to partner with RAISE are a vital aspect of the program. If interested in partnering with RAISE, or volunteering as a job coach, email Rachel.Slavkin@shalomorlando.org. 

“We are making a difference in the lives of people with disabilities,” says Rachel. “They want to work and can do the work if just given the opportunity.”