For families like the Schusteds, Rise is more than a program – it’s peace of mind.

Cole Schusted has attended programs at Rise Coon Rapids for three years. His mom, Shannon shared her perspectives on his experiences with Rise so far, and the impacts Rise has had on their family.

How did your family learn about Rise? 

“We learned about Rise when our son was in the Transition Program with District 11. I was doing a lot of research about what services were available to him and Rise came up multiple times in my search. Our case manager mentioned it, my son’s Transition Team mentioned it and we also found it online.”

What have your family and Cole experienced so far with Rise? 

“Rise has been wonderful for Cole and our family. It has allowed him to keep a routine of going to some form of treatment/programming in his adult years. He has been able to grow his social, vocational, behavior management and daily living skills. We wanted to find a fun, safe and reputable place for our son to continue to build on the skills we had spent years building. Rise has been the perfect place!”

Did you have any hesitations at first?

“Our only hesitation was about how our son would transition to a new program/day treatment. Throughout the intake process, we were confident in our choice to send Cole to Rise but we weren’t sure how he would adapt to the change in routine. We worked with Rise to support Cole and prepare him for the transition and it went really well! We got to tour a few times and I worked with his team to make visual aids and social stories to prepare him. It all worked out great!”

What have you observed as Cole’s favorite things being part of Rise Coon Rapids? 

“Cole is very social and loves to meet new staff and peers. He enjoys meeting people, going on outings in the community and taking part in Rise events. I think his favorite days are outing days! He also thrived in the work support program and loves going to work.”

What impact has having Rise’s programs & services had for your family?

“Rise has been a tremendous thing for our family. As parents, we were deeply concerned about what adulthood and life after transition school looked like for Cole. We wanted to keep the momentum and progress going that we/Cole have worked so hard to build. Rise allows Cole to socialize, grow his skills, gain independence and have something to look forward to each day!”

What would you like people to know about Rise?

“As a parent of a vulnerable special needs adult, it is critically important to find a program that fits your loved ones needs. We have found that in Rise. We wanted an environment that was safe, respectful, structured and fun for our son. Everyone who has worked with our son, or has gotten to know him, has been wonderful. You can tell the Rise staff truly cares about their person’s served and strives to provide a safe and supportive and fun environment for clients to thrive!”

We thank Shannon for her testimonial, sharing the Schusteds’ experiences with Rise.

As we approach the season of giving, we invite you to be part of this story and stories just like the Schusteds’. Your generosity can help more families find the support they need – and more people like Cole discover what’s possible.

Follow the links below to review the ways you can support Rise.

GIVE TO RISE  |  OTHER WAYS TO GIVE