Disability Innovation Fund (DIF)

An initial virtual meeting was conducted on Thursday, December 19, 2024, with the Superintendent of the school district, Eric Spencer; the principal of Española High School, Cynthia Bond; the program manager from the NM PED College and Career Readiness Bureau (CCRB), Melissa DeLaurentis; and CCRB team members Tiffany Walker and Charles Santistevan.

The purpose of the virtual meeting was to conduct introductions and outline the roles and responsibilities of the team members.

During the meeting, initial discussions covered topics such as the implementation of Pathways 2 Careers (P2C) in classrooms, strengthening foundational math skills to prepare students for careers upon graduation, increasing career exploration opportunities, fostering self-advocacy skills, providing professional development opportunities for teachers, and expanding Career Connected Learning (CCL) initiatives for Special Education students.

Following the virtual meeting, an on-site visit was conducted at Española High School by CCRB team member Charles Santistevan, along with Shelly Robinson, a representative from P2C and the designated NM coach.

During the on-site visit, the team met with Janice Patal and Lyne Salero, two teachers at Española High School who will be piloting the integration of P2C within their classrooms.

Both teachers plan to use the P2C platform with their Geometry students, and through these two classrooms, the Disability Innovation Fund is expected to benefit approximately 160 students at the school.

To facilitate the program’s launch, P2C created an Intake Survey for students to complete electronically or on a physical copy. Both English and Spanish versions of the surveys were provided to ensure accessibility for all students. As an incentive for completing the survey, a pizza party has been scheduled for participating students.

An initial virtual meeting was conducted on Thursday, January 30, 2025, to discuss the requirements from the Disability Innovation Fund (DIF) and to determine the roles and responsibilities of the team members. An on-site visit was scheduled to include Sharon West, the principal of Santa Rosa High School, and Nigel Javier, the teacher leading the project implementation.

The on-site visit was conducted by Charles Santistevan, a member of the CCRB team, along with Shelly Robinson, a representative from P2C and the designated NM coach.

During the meeting, initial discussions covered topics such as the implementation of Pathways 2 Careers (P2C) in classrooms, strengthening foundational math skills to prepare students for careers upon graduation, increasing career exploration opportunities, fostering self-advocacy skills, providing professional development opportunities for teachers, and expanding Career Connected Learning (CCL) initiatives for Special Education students.

During the visit, Nigel Javier shared insights on how he is integrating the P2C platform into his classroom. The team also had the opportunity to observe Mr. Javier teaching a P2C lesson to his students.

Youth Intake Surveys were sent to Mr. Javier for distribution to his students, with the option to complete them either electronically or as a hard copy. Both English and Spanish versions of the surveys were provided to ensure accessibility for all students.

Additionally, discussions were held to establish an alternative plan in case the surveys were not completed within the designated timeframe.

February 23, 2026

The New Mexico Public Education Department (NMPED) Disability Innovation Fund (DIF) team, along with the New Mexico coach from Pathways 2 Careers (P2C), conducted a site visit to Coronado High School to deliver an incentive promised to students who completed and returned their Youth Intake Surveys. As part of our commitment, we assured students that if they achieved a 100% return rate, we would provide a pizza party of their choosing. The students rose to the challenge, successfully submitting every survey and even sharing a wish list of the pizzas and additional items they hoped to enjoy.

Our DIF team was thrilled to fulfill this promise, delivering eleven pizzas along with breadsticks, hot wings, and drinks for all students participating in the DIF initiative. The excitement and appreciation from the students made the experience especially rewarding.

During our visit, we also had the opportunity to observe the pilot teacher delivering a lesson that actively integrated the Pathway 2 Careers platform. This classroom observation allowed us to see firsthand how the instructional strategies and digital tools are being woven into daily instruction, as well as how students are engaging with the material.

It was truly a pleasure to celebrate the students’ efforts and to witness their enthusiasm—not only for the incentive, but for the work they are doing within the DIF initiative.

January 28, 2026

The New Mexico Public Education Department (NMPED) Disability Innovation Fund (DIF) team, together with the New Mexico coach from Pathways 2 Careers (P2C), conducted a site visit to Chama Middle School and Escalante High School to formally establish the district’s participation as one of the DIF pilot sites. The DIF team met with both administrators and the teachers who will be implementing the Career Exploration component of the initiative. During the visit, the DIF team was able to address questions related to the grant requirements and provided handson technical assistance to support successful implementation. We also had the opportunity to work directly with a cohort of students, guiding them through the platform and observing how the tool functions in a real classroom setting. This interaction offered valuable insight into both teacher and student needs as we continue to support the district in the DIF pilot. This interaction offered valuable, realtime insight into how the platform can be refined to better support the diverse learning needs of all students. Observing students’ engagement and challenges firsthand allowed us to identify opportunities to improve accessibility, enhance usability, and ensure the platform is more inclusive and responsive to a wide range of learners. These site visits and observations directly impact the goals of our initiative and supports continued momentum toward the broader scope outlined under the DIF project. The insights gained allow us to refine our approach, strengthen implementation, and ensure we remain aligned with the outcomes we are striving to achieve through ongoing progress within the DIF initiative.

December 10, 2025

Through the Disability Innovation Fund (DIF) grant, the CTE Statewide Advisory Board was established which included five subcommittees. One of these subcommittees, focused on Students with Disabilities, and included members from the New Mexico Public Education Department (NMPED) DIF team. The group began meeting regularly, setting goals and initiatives, and steadily grew over time.

On the December 10, 2025, meeting, the committee expanded to include representation from key interagency partners which included the Office of Special Education and the New Mexico Division of Vocational Rehabilitation (DVR), along with members from the Centers for Independent Living and representatives from our DIF pilot schools. This marked the first meeting of its kind, bringing together diverse stakeholders to collaborate and address challenges faced by DIF pilot schools as well as from partners within the group.

Discussions during the meeting highlighted several critical issues, including the new graduation requirements impacting special education students across New Mexico, the guidelines shaping pathways for these students, course codes for pathways overseen by NMPED’s College and Career Readiness Bureau, and the types of support recommended for NMPED.

This collaborative effort represents an important step toward strengthening alignment across agencies and ensuring that students with disabilities have equitable access to meaningful career and technical education opportunities from schools across the entire state.

November 2025

Following an initial visit by the New Mexico Public Education Department (NMPED) Disability Innovation Fund (DIF) team, the Albuquerque Sign Language Academy (ASL Academy) was selected to serve as a pilot school partner for the DIF grant. In November, the DIF team, together with the New Mexico coach from Pathways 2 Careers (P2C), conducted a followup site visit to the ASL Academy. The purpose of this visit was to strengthen relationships between the DIF team and the school’s teachers and administrators, who will be responsible for implementing the program.

The ASL Academy was chosen as a partner because of its unique mission to serve primarily Special Education students with a strong emphasis on communication. The school offers an innovative, duallanguage, nonresidential model that is inclusive of all children, respectful of families, and centered on American Sign Language (ASL) as a core component of learning and engagement. Students with multiple disabilities who rely on ASL are supported through individualized programming and therapeutic services outlined in their IEPs.

During the visit, discussions focused on the instructional model to be implemented, technical assistance for teachers as they adopt the platform, and processes for distributing and collecting the Youth Intake Survey. A key objective of this collaboration is to work with the ASL Academy to refine and enhance the P2C platform, ensuring it is more accessible and responsive to the diverse needs of all learners.

October 17, 2025

The New Mexico Public Education Department (NM PED), through its College and Career Readiness Bureau (CCRB) and the Disability Innovation Fund (DIF) team recently participated and presented with Parent University hosted by the Office of Special Education in partnership with New Mexico Early Childhood Education and Care Department as well as the New Mexico Higher Education Department. This dynamic learning initiative was designed to strengthen partnerships between families and schools in support of academic achievement for students with disabilities. The primary audience for this collaborative effort included parents and families raising children with disabilities, with the goal of equipping them with the knowledge, tools, and resources needed to confidently navigate the special education journey.

Built as a partnership for success, the initiative aimed to educate, empower, and elevate both families and student leaders by providing access to comprehensive supports, including services, guidance, and leadership development opportunities. These outcomes were achieved through the engagement of highly qualified presenters and the delivery of robust, accessible resources tailored to the diverse needs of families across the state. These presentations focused on transition planning, social-emotional wellness, and holistic development, with the goal of supporting families to become active and informed participants in their child’s educational journey.

The College and Career Readiness Bureau (CCRB), in collaboration with the Disability Innovation Fund (DIF) team, delivered a comprehensive presentation focused on the transition process for students with disabilities, specifically tailored to support parents and families. The session served as a practical guide to help families prepare for life after high school, offering insights into workforce readiness and paths to independent living. A key component of the presentation was career exploration, showcased through the Pathway2Careers (P2C) platform, which provides students and parents with access to labor market data, career interest tools, as well as real-world job alignment. In addition, the team highlighted the use of the Next Step Plan, a personalized academic and career planning tool embedded within the Level All platform, which helps students set goals, track progress, and make informed decisions about their future.

Together, these resources helped provide guidance to families as they actively engage in their child’s transition journey, ensuring they are equipped with the tools and knowledge needed to support meaningful outcomes beyond high school.

September 11, 2025

The DIF team participated with a site visit at Rust Medical Center located in Rio Rancho, NM. This visit helped the team gain insight into the interns’ final year of high school transition services as they were observed being fully immersed inside of the hospital setting. As part of the program, students were observed rotating through internships in departments such as Outpatient Rehab, Patient Transport, Linens, and Shipping and Receiving, gaining hands-on experience in a variety of workplace settings. It was discussed that all interns were enrolled in services through the NM DVR, which plays a vital, ongoing role in supporting their success.

The discussion furthered our awareness that DVR provided transportation training, uniforms and shoes, as well as a monetary stipend to help cover internship-related expenses while also fostering financial literacy through saving and budgeting skills. It was also brought to our attention that DVR continues to partner closely with various supported employment agencies to identify job leads and support job development for interns as they transition out of Project Search. We also discussed how DVR offers Social Security Benefits training to ensure that interns could pursue employment without negatively impacting their benefits.

Wednesday, August 27, 2025

The New Mexico Public Education Department (NM PED) Disability Innovation Fund (DIF) team recently participated in the virtual “Partners for Employment: FY26 School-to-Work Transition Team Kickoff Meeting.” This valuable opportunity enabled us to connect with a diverse network of partners from across New Mexico.

The meeting brought together special education professionals, state agencies, community-based organizations, post-secondary institutions, and direct service providers—all committed to supporting transition services for students with intellectual and developmental disabilities. It served as a collaborative platform to share resources, strengthen partnerships, and align efforts toward improving outcomes for transitioning youth.

The DIF team had the opportunity to present an overview of our initiative, including its scope of work and key collaborative efforts. We shared highlights from our June 2025 Summer Summit, which featured a keynote address from the Office of Special Education, as well as breakout sessions led by the New Mexico Division of Vocational Rehabilitation (DVR), New Vistas (Center for Independent Living), and educators currently piloting the DIF program.

Our presentation emphasized the ongoing collaboration with internal agencies and introduced a transition component that will be integrated into next year’s conference. We also showcased the NM CTE Advisory Board, established under the current grant, and the P2C platform, which is actively being used across DIF pilot schools.

Overall, the presentation was a great success and marked a meaningful step forward in advancing the DIF initiative.

Wednesday, August 27, 2025

The New Mexico Public Education Department Disability Innovation Fund (NM PED DIF) team recently participated in the virtual “NTACT: C State Capacity Building Event.” Our involvement supported the ongoing collaboration with the New Mexico Division of Vocational Rehabilitation (DVR), reinforcing efforts to strengthen interagency partnerships and advance shared goals. This national convening brought together representatives from 45 states and entities, with 38 interagency state teams presenting updates aligned with their strategic goals and priorities.

During the meeting, NM DVR presented on the topic of “Data Sharing, Alignment of Services, and Data-Based Decision Making.” Their presentation highlighted the formation of a cross-agency committee—including the NM PED DIF team—focused on advancing Indicator 13: Secondary Transition in New Mexico. Key outcomes shared included the committee’s ongoing meetings since May 2025, the development of an updated Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with NM PED to formalize data-sharing practices, and planning for next year’s Summer Summit led by NM PED to include a specific Transition Component in collaboration with the Office of Special Education, DVR, and the Centers for Independent Living.