The emergence of supported employment can be traced back to the work of Marc Gold, who demonstrated over 50 years ago that through breaking job tasks down to individual steps and identifying methods for prompting and supporting an individual to accomplish each step, individuals with significant disabilities can successfully perform a variety of tasks. At this session's completion, you will understand systematic instruction and how it can be applied as needed to teach individuals how to successfully perform various job tasks. Included in this session will be a discussion of learning theories, and how they are applied in supporting individuals to be successfully employed.

Get an overview of employment service tools for each phase of the employment process. Learn how these tools can be used to incorporate best practices into service delivery and how the tools fit into a sample service flow. Attendees will learn how the tools can be used to foster a person-centered approach, strong communication within the support team, address barriers, and allow individual choice and self-determination to drive the employment process.

Life expectancy for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities has significantly increased over the past several decades. Aging issues can impact various life activities, including work. The good news is that we can use creative and critical thinking, along with current tools and best practices to support older workers in maintaining employment and full participation in the community. This training will provide a review of Employment First principles, as well as how to effectively apply techniques to various employment scenarios for older workers.

This training will cover what policies are, why they are important, and specific policies employment programs should consider having in place to ensure consistent quality and effectiveness. We will break down several policies and how they may affect an employment program. At the end of the training, attendees will have information and knowledge to consider and why a provider agency may want to consider their own policies, what policies they may want to review, update, and additional policies to add.

Strategic networking involves setting goals and considering different techniques to expand our personal and professional networks in a meaningful way. Topics include: a) strategies and connection to quality services and best practice, b) matching personalities to methods, c) action plan and mentoring. Exercises will provide attendees with the opportunity to begin a reflective practice to consider past, present, and future networking efforts including time devoted and analysis, with the goal of increasing your social capital which is essential for robust employment services.

Provider agencies are very focused on supporting individuals with disabilities to ensure their success. But what about the staff that provide these services? Too often the needs of the staff are forgotten. This training will walk attendees through ways that they can provide systems of support to staff to ensure their success, as well as include the need for accommodations.

Employment and integration activities should be driven by individual interests, goals, and needs. In this training, you’ll learn the basics of person-centered planning, and how it serves as the basis for the employment and community integration activities pursued by an individual. We’ll also look at how person-centered planning guides exploration and discovery activities that assist individuals in determining their preferences for employment.

Learn about how disability language relates to services provision, and the importance of providing services and supports in a way that is sensitive and responsive. You’ll also learn about the ongoing evolution of language in describing people with disabilities, the difference between person-first and identify-first, and the importance of honoring individual preferences. An introduction to Plain Language will also be provided.

Working for any employer may be difficult especially if you are not aware of what you need to know in order to be promoted. It is also difficult as a supervisor to promote staff if you are not sure if they possess the knowledge necessary to take the next step. This training breaks down the potential knowledge someone may need to have for each level of supervision.

This training will cover the most effective strategies for staff supporting individuals in employment. Ways to foster a fruitful partnership with an employer will be reviewed such as first impressions, learning company values, and adapting methods to match the environment and needs of the individual. You will learn about the critical importance of staff supplementing, not replacing, existing natural supports, the full range of support strategies, and the importance of facilitating belonging in employment and community settings.