A Message from Executive Director Michelle Norman

Dear Friends and Supporters,

It’s hard to believe we are close to ending another incredible year of growth and impact with Partners in PROMISE.

Where did the time go? Many of you have been with us from the very beginning when we were only a team of four military and veteran spouses, passionate about supporting our military families with special needs.

The early hard work has paid off. Our team has grown to 10 members with a reach of over 3,200 followers while offering a robust selection of special education programming and resources driven by our research data. Most importantly, we have positively impacted the lives of thousands of military and veteran families along the way.

As we prepare for the New Year, we want to take a moment to reflect on 2023 specifically and our vision moving into 2024.

Updates from 2023

Survey findings from our Annual Military Special Education Survey, conducted in partnership with The Ohio State University, were released this spring with reports focused on Military Special Education Students and IEPs, and Adults in the Exceptional Family Member Program. Our team participated in dozens of outreach events across the U.S. that gave us opportunities to discuss our survey findings with military families and leaders. Additionally, two more reports will be released next year:

Understanding the Knowledge & Experience of Educators Working with Military Children with Special Needs
Military Homeschooling and Special Education

The survey findings also gave us critical insights into our families’ lived experiences and where they need the most help in special education and the Exceptional Family Member Program (EFMP). It became clear that parents continue to struggle with the complexities of special education law, regulations, and what their child’s rights are. The data also show there are large knowledge gaps regarding what resources, services, and supports are available for military families with special needs.

Partners in PROMISE’s 2024 Vision

In 2024, we are focusing on closing that gap for military families and helping them better navigate their special education journey. With a strategy of outreach and resources aimed at supporting our most vulnerable families, we plan to:

Spotlight exceptional military family stories to bring awareness to the military and civilian community of their challenges and potential solutions.
Conduct regional Special Needs Binders Training workshops in EFMP-centric locations. These organizational binders are another important tool in their toolbox that will follow these families from a diagnosis of a special need through post-secondary transitions and beyond.
Provide accurate legal special education content for military families through our on-demand customer journey website content.
Offer 1:1 Special Education consultations for military families in need to get them back on their feet.
Rebrand our podcast to bring special education content and support to the military families in the special needs community.

We Know Because We Live It

This vision is personal for me. My husband and I have traveled on this journey. With the appropriate services and support in place, we always believed that our daughter had the cognitive ability to graduate with a standard high school diploma.

After many years of advocating for our daughter’s education, she graduated with two standard high school diplomas this past June! We couldn’t be more proud, but getting there was an arduous and traumatic path.

My daughter continues on her journey, looking for employment that will meet her unique needs. It has been a year of transition for all of us. We will continue to give her the tools and support she needs to become her own best advocate toward her goal of becoming a productive, independent member of society.

I am so thankful for the entire team at Partners in PROMISE that has helped so many others on similar difficult paths. Our team includes military and veteran spouses who truly understand the challenges military families face and are fully committed to our mission. I cannot say enough about the dedication, experience, and selflessness of these volunteers who pour their hearts and minds into this work. We know what it takes to navigate the special education journey successfully and we are excited to share the knowledge with our community.

It takes a village and we couldn’t do it without you! Thank you to our wonderful partners, donors, and sponsors who believe in our mission to support military children with disabilities! Our organization can’t grow without your support. Individual and corporate donations help us to sustain the level of advocacy needed to forge long-lasting impacts in both the military and disability communities. To help us continue our mission and support more military families, please donate here.

Thank you all for helping us make a difference in exceptional military children’s lives. Have a wonderful rest of the Holiday season and wishing you a bright and prosperous New Year!