Washington State · 501(c)(3) Nonprofit
Empowering Every Step Forward
Real skills. Real mentors. Real plans for the future.
Students Served
Programs
Partner Sites
Verified program numbers, updated as our work grows. See the full picture on Our Impact.
Our Mission
Standing Tall Collective helps neurodivergent and neurotypical youth and young adults build real skills, find real mentors, and create real plans for their futures. We work alongside students, families, and communities, not above them.
Our Programs
Pre-Employment Transition ServicesAdvocacy, Readiness, Independence, Skills & Empowerment
Pre-employment training mapped to Washington's five Pre-ETS categories, job-readiness skills, and self-advocacy development for young people and adults with disabilities preparing for employment, postsecondary education, and greater independence.
Peer Mentorship · Relaunching Late 2027Peer Assistance through Transition and Healing
Peer mentorship for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities, pairing participants with mentors who share lived experience as they move from institutional or highly supported environments toward greater community participation and independence. Relaunching in late 2027.
Outdoor Leadership · Relaunching 2027Leadership, Environment, Adventure, and Purpose
A six-week outdoor recreation and leadership program for youth ages 12 to 18, with a particular focus on Black boys and young men eligible for special education services. Relaunching and expanding in 2027.
What Makes Us Different
Our programs are built alongside the students, families, and communities we serve, not designed at a distance and handed down.
Mentors and peer advocates with relevant lived experience are central to how we work, not an add-on.
We track real progress toward real goals, and we're honest about what's working and what's still developing.
Writing, art, storytelling, and voice run through everything we do, not just a single workshop.
Whether you give, mentor, or partner with us, you’re helping build skills, mentorship, and plans that last.
