Hey there! I’m Mr. Ashton J. Minor, M.Ed., and I’m so excited you ’ ve joined us on this journey. I’m the Founder and Executive Program Director of the Jacob’s Puzzle Foundation, an organization dedicated to advocating for and improving the quality of education for students of color who receive special education services. Did you know that black students make up 16% of those in K-12 receiving these services, while 66% graduate with a high school diploma*? Yet, they often don’t get the same chances for academic and post-secondary success as their peers.
Over my 10+ years in the field, I’ve seen how Black and Brown students with learning challenges are often shown limitations instead of possibilities. As someone who grew up with an undocumented learning disability, I experienced this firsthand—even as a gifted student. It wasn’t until I became an educator and mentor in urban high schools that I realized how much students need educators who reflect their experiences, like me: a Black male educator with both documented and undocumented learning disabilities. We need to show our students what’s possible beyond the world they see every day.
That’s how the Jacob’s Puzzle Foundation was born to bridge the communication gap between families, schools, educational leaders, and students when it comes to academic, personal, career, and IEP/504 goals. We’re here to provide the exposure our students need to thrive and remind them they’re never alone in their journey of growth and discovery.
PURPOSE MISSION
The mission of the Jacob’s Puzzle Foundation is to advocate for, empower, and support students of color with learning, emotional, and reading challenges by providing them with comprehensive exposure to diverse post-secondary pathways. Through evidence-based mentorship programs, interest-aligned internships targeted project-based interventions, and IEP advocacy, the Jacob’s Puzzle Foundation is committed to enhancing equitable access to quality opportunities Our goal is to foster individualized success that extends beyond graduation, ensuring measurable advancements in educational outcomes and long-term career achievement for our students.
The purpose of the Jacob Puzzle Foundation is to create a future where students of color with learning difficulties can thrive without the need for extensive scaffolds and accommodations. By providing culturally relevant resources, interventions, and opportunities to both students and the parents and educators who serve them, we aim to activate critical thinking skills and foster post-secondary success. Our goal is to empower students through exposure to professionals who reflect their backgrounds, offering representation and expertise in diagnosing and supporting their unique needs. Through this, we envision a world where students are fully equipped to achieve their highest potential.
JACOB’S PUZZLE FOUNDATION
WHY THIS GUIDE?
This guide was created to strengthen the connection between families and organizations by offering resources that help students thrive both academically and personally. While there are many support groups and resources for students with disabilities, families in low-income urban areas often face barriers to accessing them. As a nation, we are making strides in supporting special education and providing the necessary tools for student success. However, some of the legislation designed to help may not be fully implemented in every classroom.
That’s where this guide comes in. It’s designed to offer families additional opportunities to bridge the gap, especially where the school system may fall short due to its own limitations. Students of color with learning disabilities face unique challenges, and breaking down these barriers is crucial for their growth. By offering access to academic resources, career exploration, training, and more, this guide aims to empower families across the country to support their students in meaningful ways
JACOB’S PUZZLE FOUNDATION
COMMUNITY SUPPORT & SERVICES
Our vision is to utilize influential fields in the arts, sports, entertainment, and media industries to reach our targeted youth’s urban communities through multidimensional services that will help positively shape young people and empower the adults around them to become active leaders and contributors.
Our mission is to be an inclusive organization that provide youth with the resources, role models, self-esteem, opportunities and skills to shape them positively PBM integrates the influential fields of the arts, entertainment, and sports into our programming, to attract, engage and motivate adolescents
Through travel, enrichment activities, community service, networking opportunities, social interaction, entrepreneurial guidance and creative exploration – we aim to develop the whole child.
(202) 631-7331
tracypress@powerfulbeyondmeasure-cape.org
www.WeArePowerfulBeyondMeasure.org
Counsel Academy is dedicated to providing live online STE(A)M focused educational services, customized to the learning styles of each student (Grades 3-12) irrespective of their needs and challenges. We believe in a head start and planning in STEM education and related careers, with a strong focus on the development of communication/ writing skills and test preparation. Our goal, along with our strong network of collaborators, is to develop into a onestop resource for all educational needs of the children.
The District of Columbia Center for Independent Living (DCCIL), Inc. is a 501 (c) (3) established in 1981 as a community-based, consumer-controlled, cross-disability center designed to promote independent lifestyles for persons with significant disabilities in the District of Columbia.
DCCIL serves people with various disabilities and continues to help individuals live independently in their homes by providing training on safety techniques for cooking, travel, budgeting, and household maintenance. In addition, peer counseling and advocacy are provided to assist people in achieving their personal goals. This includes youth/transition.
DC Center for Independent Living also offer services in:
www.dccil.org/contact-us/
S.O.A.R. Educational Services empowers families to transform "Chaos to Collaboration℠" in their special education journey, equipping them with the tools and strategies to champion their child's success within an inclusive, stigma-free learning environment. S.O.A.R. Educational Services envision a world where every child thrives, reaching their full potential in inclusive communities free from stigma, fostered by seamless collaboration between families and educators, and ensuring culturally responsive advocacy that celebrates the unique strengths and needs of each child.
Our Mission Advocates for Justice and Education seeks to empower families, youth, and the community to be effective advocates to ensure that children and youth, particularly those who have special needs, receive access to appropriate education and health services.
Our Values Accountability: We promote school and agency accountability to ensure that all children, youth, and families receive proper services and support. Accessibility: We ensure accessibility to all families and the community at large. Commitment to Children and Families: We are committed to the success of all children, youth, and families.
Who We Serve We serve families of Early Intervention-Aged Children (birth- age 3), School-Aged Children (ages 4 – 12) and Transition-Aged Youth (ages 13 – 26)
AJE implements a multi-strategy approach to carry out our mission One-on-one assistance to immediately address a family’s issue and to identify systemic problems; Training to educate families, youth (and the community who works with families) about their rights to increase their knowledge and their capacity to self-advocate, to be peer advocates in support of each other, and engage in collective action; and Systemic Advocacy in partnership with families and other stakeholder partners to bring about systemic changes through power building, community education, policy, legislation, and litigation. Our services are free to DC families, youth, and the community.
