2026 Transition Impact Awards

Every meaningful outcome begins with people who believe in potential. The Transition Impact Awards, presented by AVI Human Services, recognize the states and provider agencies that are making a measurable difference through high-quality Pre-Employment Transition Services. Using data from the Transition Readiness Toolkit, these awards celebrate organizations that are helping participants build the knowledge, skills, and confidence needed for successful transitions to adulthood.

Each year, the Transition Impact Awards recognize excellence across multiple service areas, highlighting providers that deliver exceptional outcomes, create meaningful growth for participants, and demonstrate sustained commitment to improving transition services. Behind every data point is a participant who has gained new skills, discovered new possibilities, and taken another step toward greater independence.

While the awards are informed by data collected through the Transition Readiness Toolkit, the recognition belongs to the dedicated professionals who use those insights to strengthen their services and support participants every day. Most importantly, these awards celebrate the progress of the young people whose growth and achievements make every recognition possible.

Congratulations to our 2026 Transition Impact Award winners! Explore this year’s honorees below.

Most Transformative Provider by Service

This award honors providers that have demonstrated exceptional impact by achieving the highest average growth in participant Transition Readiness scores within each service area. These organizations are setting the standard for effective, data-informed services that empower participants to reach their full potential.

Uplift Award

The Uplift Award recognizes providers who achieve meaningful growth with participants who begin with the greatest support needs. These providers have demonstrated exceptional progress among participants whose initial Transition Readiness scores were 25 or below on the 0–100 scale.

Fast & Effective Award

The Fast & Effective Award recognizes providers that are achieving meaningful participant growth in less time. These organizations demonstrate above-average improvements in Transition Readiness scores while completing services in shorter-than-average timeframes, reflecting both efficiency and impact.

Top Performing State by Service

Every success story recognized through the Transition Impact Awards began with a commitment to measuring progress and using that information to improve outcomes. The Transition Readiness Toolkit gives providers, organizations, and state leaders the insights they need to make that possible.

For participants, the Toolkit helps identify strengths, measure growth, and ensure services are responsive to individual needs and goals. Providers can see what’s working, adjust instruction, and personalize supports based on real-time data rather than assumptions.

At the organizational level, leaders gain a clearer understanding of which programs and service areas are driving the greatest impact. These insights make it possible to recognize high-performing teams, share successful strategies across providers, and strengthen services through continuous improvement.

State agencies benefit from an even broader view. By identifying trends across providers and recognizing exceptional outcomes, states can promote best practices, encourage collaboration, and make informed decisions that elevate transition services statewide.

When data is used to guide, not just to measure, it becomes a powerful tool for growth. The Transition Readiness Toolkit helps transform individual successes into shared knowledge, ensuring that effective practices can be replicated and expanded so more young people have the opportunity to achieve meaningful, lasting outcomes.

*Methodology note: Evaluations completed using the Observer response option were excluded from award calculations. While Observer data provides valuable information at the individual provider level, these responses varied substantially from independently completed and assisted evaluations. Because the Transition Impact Awards rely on comparisons across providers to identify best practices, Observer responses were excluded to support more consistent comparisons.