Online Seminar - Organizational Change

Beth Durkee is the Director of Developmental Disability Services for Allegan County Community Health in Allegan, Michigan. Allegan County Community Mental Health is an agency serving people with developmental disabilities as well as people with mental illness. In this online seminar, Beth shares her agency's system-change efforts which started in 1987 with a grant from Michigan Rehabilitation Services for supported employment. Listen to Beth Durkee's Organizational Change Seminar

April 18th Webcast - Parent Expectations and Work

Presenters: Dusty Dutton & Her Parents - Donna and Dale
Date/Time: April 18, 2005, 2 - 2:45 PM ET, followed by a live chat session
Dusty Dusty is a 29 year old Californian with disabilities. More importantly, Dusty operates "Dusty's Puppets" and provides puppet shows for local events, the YMCA, Head Start, and birthday parties. Her parents, Donna and Dale, have been supportive of her inclusion as she has left the education system and moved on to supported living, employment, and business opportunities. Dusty and her parents will share their experiences leading to Dusty's successful business "Dusty's Puppets". Find out More and Register Online

Spotlight on T-TAP's CRP Leadership Network

Community Involvement Programs (CIP), a non-profit organization based in Minneapolis, has recently joined T-TAP's CRP Leadership Network! They will be assisting the project in providing technical assistance to agencies who want to increase their customized employment outcomes. CIP has developed a broad array of services and supports for persons with developmental disabilities and their families and also for individuals with mental illness. Their goal is to develop a customized jobs in the community that takes advantage of each individual’s interests, abilities, and personal outcomes. Read more about CIP's Employment Services.

Strategy: Developing Employment Consultant Competencies

Successful implementation of customized employment requires a high level of commitment and skill from staff that provide employment supports on a day-to-day basis. The job title for these employees may include employment consultant, employment specialist, and job developer or job placement specialist. Organizations need to clearly identify and catalog the skills that each position requires. Career Support Systems of Richmond, VA has developed a model to manage both initial orientation and the acquisition of core job competencies. Their model includes an Orientation Checklist and an Employee Competency Checklist. Read more about this Model

JAN's Annual Conference

Join the Job Accommodation Network (JAN) in San Francisco on September 26-27, 2005. JAN's Annual Conference, Empowering Employers to Build an Inclusive Workforce, offers a unique learning opportunity to enhance your organization's ability to accommodate and employ people with disabilities. Interact with JAN staff and national experts during training sessions on accommodation strategies, ADA/legal issues, and innovative employment practices. Visit the 2005 JAN Conference Web site for more details about who should attend, registration fees, and featured speakers. http://conference.jan.wvu.edu/