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Employment
Strand
Coordinator: John Butterworth
Reaching
the vision of valued work for all is a collaborative effort that requires
attention to emerging support strategies, organizational change, and
systems change at the state and federal levels. This strand includes
opportunities at each of these levels, profiling the process of
transforming traditional organizations, supporting individuals through
values-based planning, creative supports, and emerging strategies such as
self employment, and state level initiatives for change.
Thursday, November 10, 2005
8:30 am - 10:45 am
The Integrated Vocational Functioning of 47 Workers with Significant
Disabilities: Up to 26 Years
After School Exit
Information
about 49 adults with significant disabilities who have functioned in
integrated work environments for up to twenty six years after exiting
public schools will be presented. A major purpose is to inform parents,
professionals, and taxpayers about the nature, validity and feasibility of
integrated vocational functioning. Hopefully, by documenting what was and
is operational, mistakes can be avoided, opportunities can be generated
and improvements in services and basic life qualities can be realized.
Information about social integration and at least the following will be
shared.
Speakers: Lou Brown, Kim Kessler, Betsy Shiraga
2:00 pm - 3:00 pm
Center for Emerging Leadership: Peer
to Peer Mentoring by and for People with Developmental Disabilities
This
presentation describes a project that provides paid work to young adults
with disabilities to offer outreach to the community and advocacy to
youth.
Speakers: Marjorie Olney
3:15 pm - 5:30 pm
Having A Disability And Finding A Job...Same Old Issues?
The
session will bring to light the many struggles that Deaf individuals who
have a developmental disability experience.
While there are no answers offered in this presentation we will
discuss the obvious and not so obvious obstacles that Deaf people face
when trying to find employment. There
are many programs and organizations that focus on improving communication
and often correcting communication for people with disabilities.
For many people with disabilities, this may mean teaching them sign
language to improve their communication skills.
However, the majority of Deaf people use American Sign Language as
their first language. They are
still denied the opportunity to work where they want in areas of their own
interest because they communicate differently then the general population.
This only becomes more complicated when you add a developmental
disability. Ben Jones will
speak about his own struggles with finding a job as it relates to his
deafness. He will share some
of his own experiences with trying to find a job that he enjoys.
Speakers: Tina Szyperski, Ben Jones
Friday, November 11, 2005
8:30 am - 9:30 am
Vocational Choice Making for Students with Cognitive Disabilities
This
session describes development, validation and practical use of a new
software program entitled Choose and Take Action. The software enables
students with severe cognitive disabilities to develop their own
vocational preference profile through school and community-based choice
making.
Speakers: Lee L. Woods
9:45 am - 10:45 am
Preparing for Competitive Employment Avoiding the Effects of the Three
"Deadly" Accommodations
Competitive
employment is a realistic goal for most people with disabilities. What
skills and qualities are employers looking for?? What three accommodations
are routinely offered in high school and in some college settings, but not
in the workplace?? What Assistive Technologies can help today's high
school students become tomorrow's workforce?? This session will provide
practical, real world answers.
Speakers: Cindi Pichler
11:00 am - 12:00 pm
Moving Towards Customized Employment and Employment Consulting
This presentation examines three aspects of a customized employment and
employment consulting approach to vocational services.
Employment consulting engages businesses as partners in job
support. Person-centered
employer negotiation sets the stage for customized proposals.
And new organizational designs align vocational services to
achieving customized employment outcomes.
Speakers: David Hagner, Michael Callahan, John Butterworth
1:30 - 2:30
Pm
Expanding Integrated Employment: The Process of Organizational Change
This session will provide a forum for organizations committed to expanding
access to integrated employment. A panel will address the experiences of
organizations that are transforming supports and resources to emphasize
community employment and career paths.
Speaker: John Butterworth
2:45 pm - 5:00 pm
You Can't Put A Square Peg In A Round Hole" Finding & Funding
A Pragmatic Path to Supported Employment
See
how a young lade with significant disabilities (Autism), who is non-verbal
and has severe behavior problems, transitioned to working full time at
union scale, while maintaining government benefits and has funding
necessary to maintain a fully integrated community life.
Speakers: Joseph C. Henn, Marilyn L. Henn
Saturday, November 12, 2005 – Poster Session
8:30 am - 10:30 am
Preparing and Securing Competitive Employment:
Project SEARCH Promedica
Project SEARCH Promedica provides a comprehensive approach to
employment, job retention, and career advancement for individuals with significant
disabilities. This session will inform participants of research focusing
on an evaluation of this model program from the employee and
supervisor perspective.
Speakers: Patricia Devlin
Research Evidence for Strategies that Promote
Social Inclusion in Work Settings
This
presentation provides a review of 60 articles focusing on the social
integration of individuals with intellectual disabilities into employment
settings. Studies were
analyzed for type of integration strategy, resulting in seven categories
of strategies that enhance social inclusion.
Speakers: Janis Chadsey
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