Restructuring jobs to meet the employer's needs and the employee's interests and abilities remains a valuable part of every job developer's toolbox. Often overlooked, however, is the importance of providers restructuring their own employees' jobs to make a specific job placement a reality and to encourage a culture that believes in the art of the possible. During this presentation, Mr. Meehan will talk about his organization's experiences and some universal principles of both types of job restructuring. He will also discuss a basic but powerful approach to job negotiations.

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To maximize resources for the customers with whom we work we need to "Think outside of the box" regarding blending funding, utilizing generic services, and tapping into other community options. It is also beneficial to think about using existing provider funding more creatively. This webcast will discuss specific situations where this has been done.

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Shifting resources and emphasis from facility-based and non-work services to integrated employment is a complex process that requires changes in values, strategies, policy, and personnel. This webcast will highlight lessons learned from the 15 organizations participating in the T-TAP project about implementing an organizational transformation. Topics to be addressed include developing leadership support, communicating goals and expectations, transforming staff roles and responsibilities, allocating resources, and the importance of implementing change one person at a time.

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This presentation will cover the financial planning including budgeting and funding strategies that allows a person with a severe disability to live a full, integrated life in the community. In so doing, the person can continue to be eligible for the benefit streams to which he/she is entitled, while working full time with benefits and living independently.

Joe's daughter, Nancy, has autism. At age 19, Nancy's profile for possible employment was: IQ: < 20, non-verbal, severe behavior problems, functioning level - bottom 10% of individuals with autism. At age 31, Nancy's life consists of : working 40 hours per week at union scale with benefits, owns her own car, goes on vacations, lives with 3 other women, and pays taxes. Joe can tell you how this happened for his daughter and how others can do it too!

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The President's New Freedom Commission on Mental Health endorses evidence-based supported employment as a way to assist people with serious mental illness lead productive work lives. This presentation focuses on individualized job supports and ways to develop the employer relationship.

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The President's New Freedom Commission on Mental Health endorses evidence-based supported employment as a way to assist people with serious mental illness lead productive work lives. This presentation focuses on individualized job supports and ways to develop the employer relationship.

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TAs rehabilitation professionals approach business on behalf of consumer "would-be" hires, or as consumers self advocate for employment opportunities, the issue of disability must be addressed. This webcast approaches the topic of Disclosure of Disability from 2 different perspectives. The first will be more of a legalistic focus, i.e. what can and cannot be disclosed or discussed, in light of the Americans with Disabilities Act. The second will address the disclosure issue from a "best technique" perspective, i.e. once the decision to disclose has been made, what's the best way to do so.

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Gary Shaheen is the Director of Employment Program Development for Advocates for Human Potential. He currently serves as Project Manager for the USDOL Office of Disability Employment Policy/HUD Chronic Homelessness Employment Technical Assistance Center (CHETA), and provides technical assistance to states under the CMHS Projects for Assistance in Transition from Homelessness (PATH) Program.

In this webcast, Gary will discuss current approaches to help people with disabilities who are homeless re-enter the mainstream workforce. He will cover the common obstacles to accessing and maintaining employment and will discuss strategies for overcoming these barriers. He will explain the importance of developing cross-systems collaborations in supporting consumers' employment efforts.

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In this webcast, Lou will explain the differences between Personal Assistive Services (PAS) at home and in the workplace. He will summarize the legislative history of PAS, and discuss workplace issues surrounding the use of PAS from the perspective of an employer, employee with a disability, and rehabilitation professional.

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Don Lavin is Vice President at Rise, Inc., a private, non-profit, employment service provider for youth and adults with significant disabilities in MN. Melinda Shamp is a Mental Health Resource Professional at Rise, Inc. Rise is one of the providers in T-TAP's Community Rehabilitation Programs (CRPs) leadership network. This group of providers are recognized for either having converted their programs from 14 c certificates or have made substantial gains in doing so. In this webcast, Don and Melinda identified how organizational leadership, mission-driven performance objectives, staff training, and customized service strategies can lead to improved customized employment outcomes and wages for youth and adults with significant disabilities.

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Dusty Dutton's business, "Dusty's Puppets", provides puppet shows for local events, the YMCA, Head Start, and birthday parties. Dusty is a 29 year old Californian with Down syndrome, diabetes, and limited vision. Her parents, Donna and Dale, have been very supportive of her inclusion as she has grown up, left the education system, and moved on to supported living, employment, and business opportunities. Dale has focused his efforts on learning about the systems that will continue to facilitate Dusty's success as an adult. Donna has been assisting on the "artistic" side of puppetry, and with life in general. In this webcast, Dusty and her parents share their experiences of learning about the systems that are leading to Dusty's success as an independent adult. This includes the willingness and ability of Dusty's provider to support turning her passion for puppets into a lucrative business. Dusty's business hours vary so she requires support and coordination from several program services. The family will talks about how they have successfully pulled this all together.

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In this webcast, Howard Green and Layne Thome discuss how community rehabilitation providers (CRPs) can address business needs and create satisfied customers. Mr. Green shares networking techniques to develop business friendly programs. Viewers will also hear from Ms. Thome with Home Depot, a large business that is committed to the recruitment of nontraditional workers including people with disabilities. Ms. Thome shares some do's and don'ts of networking directly with business

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Susan O'Mara is the Project Coordinator & a Technical Assistance Liaison for the VCU-BARC Project Office. In this webcast, Susan will cover the basic principles of work incentives. She will answer the following questions: What happens when a person who has been receiving SSI and Medicaid goes to work? Are there any risks to losing benefits if a person works? What type of things can work incentives pay for that a person may need in order to work? In addition, Susan will discuss working with Benefits Planning, Assistance, and Outreach (BPAO) Benefits Specialists.

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This webcast will address aligning organizational resources to increase customized employment outcomes. John Butterworth, Ph.D., Research & Policy Coordinator for T-TAP, will highlight lessons learned from ten organizations participating in the T-TAP project, and strategies they have used to expand support for full community employment. These ten organizations are receiving individualized training and technical assistance from the T-TAP staff and the CRP Leadership Network to help develop their programs from segregated work and non-work options to competitive employment opportunities in the community. The training and technical assistance they have received includes program planning, marketing, budgeting, staff development, and financial planning.

Barry Maxwell of ARC Industries in Bartlesville OK, one of the participating organizations receiving training and technical assistance from the T-TAP project, will share his organization's strategies and challenges in increasing their customized employment outcomes. ARC Industries has simultaneously implemented change that emphasizes finding quality jobs for one person at a time, while addressing larger organizational goals and direction. Barry will highlight some of those strategies they have used successfully to expand access to quality jobs for people with disabilities such as: improving the job development process; developing internal training and staff development; and realigning the organizational structure to support Customized Employment.

Dr. John Butterworth is the Technical Assistance Coordinator and Research Coordinator for T-TAP at ICI. He has 25 years of experience as a teacher, manager of community-based day and employment services, trainer, and researcher. He has directed projects on school-to-career transition, employment support, and disability policy. He is the Research Director for the Center on Employment and State System (RRTC) and Principal Investigator on the Administration on Development Disabilities grant for long term tracking of employment services to individuals with developmental disabilities. His areas of interest and expertise are: the employment of people with significant disabilities; disability research and policy; natural supports; person-centered planning; school-to-career transition; and agency management.

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One of the major elements to the success of employment services is to create effective partnerships and lasting relationships in the workplace that meet the needs of both the employee and the business. In this session, participants will learn strategies for fading supports, how to identify and cultivate workplace supports, and how effective communication and planning are essential elements of a solid support plan.

Dr. Teresa Grossi has an extensive background in education and employment for individuals with disabilities where she has worked in North Carolina and Ohio as a community-based instructor, transition coordinator, job coach and managed a vocational training program and a supported employment agency. She conducts research, consultation, and training and technical assistance on supported employment and community supports persons with severe disabilities. Dr. Grossi's research area focuses on systems change issues and strategies to facilitate the integration and employment opportunities persons with disabilities.

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In this webcast, David Hammis will discuss using Plan For Achieving Self-Support (PASS) as a small business funding source that directly infuses operating cash into a business cash flow. He will address Impairment-Related Work Expenses (IRWE), Blind Work Expenses (BWE), and using Property Essential to Self Support (PESS) that allow unlimited cash resources in small business accounts not subject to the SSI $2000 personal resources limits. Mr. Hammis will explain how Vocational Rehabilitation and Workforce Investment Act (WIA) funding interact with net earnings from self employment. Lastly, he will cover other critical issues related to self employment such as Medicaid, Section 8, and small business loans.

David Hammis is Sr. Partner at Griffin-Hammis Associates, which specializes in building communities of economic cooperation, creating high performance organizations, and focusing on disability and employment. David serves as an Organizational Consultant for the Rural Institute's Rural Entrepreneurship and Self-Employment Expansion Design Project. In 1996, Dave received the International Association for Persons in Supported Employment Professional of the Year Award for his "Outstanding support and commitment to people with disabilities especially in the areas of Career Development and the use of Social Security Work Incentives.

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Employment facilitation in rural communities is a combination of best employment practices and a lot of ingenuity. Past experience dictates that if the employment consultant accesses only available jobs, the result will often be low paying, seasonal employment, or an unsatisfactory job match.

This program will take a look at employment options and development techniques which have proven effective in communities with a population under 14,000 where very small employers are the rule. Some of the discussion topics will include: the importance of community networking, people first job development, and self employment as the most viable option.

Roger Shelley is an Organizational Consultant with the Rural Institute at the University of Montana. Roger has provided technical assistance and training programs for organizations engaged in supplying supported employment services to people with severe disabilities. Roger has assisted people to become self-employed through a Department of Labor project operated by the Montana Job Training Partnership and the universities in Montana and Wyoming. Roger has written and taught the writing of PASS plans in 12 states and has co-written a training manual outlining Social Security Work Incentives and their application to facilitate employment for people with disabilities.

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Funding organizational change has always been a challenge; however, organizations that truly believe that individuals who have a disability should be an active part of their community have met that challenge. The fact remains that more people enter sheltered workshops/activity centers than employment/community related services. This presentation will discuss strategies to reverse this trend, options for funding organizational change, attract the attention of funding sources and, most importantly, meet the needs of individuals who want to become a part of their community.

Suzanne Hutcheson has been the President/CEO of Tri-County TEC since August 1977. In that capacity, she led the organization through major organizational change from a sheltered workshop/work activity center to a totally community based organization. Suzy currently serves as a member of the APSE National Executive Board, the Treasure Coast Workforce Development Board, Florida APSE Board of Directors, the United Way Volunteer and Community Resource Center Board of Directors, and many others. She has provided numerous trainings and consulting in the areas of supported employment, organizational change, and program development.

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This webcast will discuss supporting individuals with challenging behaviors in the workplace. This will include how to do a functional analysis of behaviors, self management strategies, as well as involving coworkers in providing supports. Case studies from supported employment programs will be used to illustrate the strategies.

Dr. Katherine Inge is the Director of T-TAP and the Director of Instructional Technology at RRTC. Dr. Inge has been with VCU-RRTC since 1982 and holds degrees in occupational therapy, special education, and educational leadership. She has co-authored several books, book chapters, journal articles, newsletters, and other training materials on employment for individuals with significant disabilities. She has extensive experience in designing and delivering training and technical assistance programs to facilitate customized employment outcomes for people with significant disabilities.

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Promoting self-determination and choice is an important aspect of vocational rehabilitation, supported employment and other disability support areas. This live web cast will focus on self-determination's relevance to workplace support and employment issues, and will provide specificity with regard to strategies to promote self-determination, including determining personal preferences, supporting informed career decision making and goal setting, and work related problem solving. This discussion will be augmented by case examples of how such supports can be achieved.

Michael Wehmeyer, Ph.D., is Associate Professor, Department of Special Education and Associate Director, Beach Center on Disability, at the University of Kansas. He is the author of more than 70 articles or book chapters on self-determination and related topics and has authored or edited more than 10 books.

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John Luna is the Director of Vocational Services for Dallas Metrocare Services. Recognized as an exemplary employment program for people with disabilities, Metrocare is noted for implementing customized employment strategies to facilitate community integrated employment for individuals with disabilities. Mr. Luna was selected to be a member of Virginia Commonwealth University's (VCU) and University of Massachusetts Boston's Training and Technical Assistance for Providers (T-TAP) CRP Leadership Network based on his agency's track record of success. John will discuss the services or resources a community rehabilitation program has to offer employers from a business perspective versus a human services perspective. By sharing real-life examples, he will give the framework for developing employer partnerships. He will talk about the importance of marketing and networking with businesses, the Chamber of Commerce, churches, communities, and families.

John Luna is the Director of Career Design & Development Services (Vocational Department of Dallas Metrocare Services). He is a board member and Ambassador of the Great Irving-Las Colinas Chamber and is appointed by the Governor of Texas to the State Council. Mr. Luna has been employed by Dallas Metrocare Services for 31 years. He has practical knowledge in vocational administration, budget, program, and conversion of workshop to supported employment.

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What do parents have to do with success for their adult children with disabilities who are employed in community-integrated employment? Plenty! Parents are key to helping people with disabilities find and keep jobs. They can locate and help to keep track of transportation schedules, medical insurance, and support services instrumental in maintaining and thriving in a community workplace. However, these aren't the most important factors in the successful employment equation. Most important, and often most difficult for parents, is standing back as their children move into adulthood - making their own choices, bouncing back from mistakes, and celebrating their successes. This webcast will share key information about the critical roles for parents from the Parent Educational Advocacy Training Center's NEXT STEPS Transition Series. NEXT STEPS Training Teams include parents, professionals, and individuals with disabilities.

For the past nine years, Cherie Takemoto has served as executive director of the Parent Educational Advocacy Training Center (PEATC), Virginia's parent support, training and information center for families of students with disabilities. Much of Takemoto's work at PEATC has focused on building partnerships to address the myriad of problems that families of children with disabilities face - especially families without the knowledge or resources it often takes to build a successful life for our most vulnerable children. Takemoto served on the President's Commission on Excellence in Special Education. She is committed to making sure the President's agenda of "No Child Left Behind" applies, especially to children with disabilities. She is also working to ensure that the final recommendations of the Commission truly work for schools, families and children. Takemoto is a member of Virginia Commonwealth University's (VCU) and University of Massachusetts Boston's Training and Technical Assistance for Providers (T-TAP) CRP Leadership Network. Takemoto has two children: her youngest son, Peter, has disabilities and is entering that important transition stage at age 14.

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This presentation will highlight a model business development program which is designed to increase the hiring, advancement and retention of people with disabilities. The model was developed by the collaboration of business representatives, rehabilitation providers, local corporate leaders, and state vocational rehabilitation professionals. The goal of this private - public partnership model is to provide a business development program that can be replicated in other regions across the country. The model provides the public-sector critical insight into the needs of the business community from the corporate partnerships; and, the private sector will gain valuable information on the employment potential of people with disabilities and resources that will assist with hiring and accommodation issues and concerns.

Dr. Luecking is President of TransCen, a position he has held since 1987 when he was charged by the Board of Directors as the organization's first employee to create improved linkages between schools, service providing agencies, government, business, and families so that youth with disabilities experience improved post-school employment outcomes. He has written, directed and/or overseen federal research and demonstration projects and foundation-funded projects that address school to work transition and employment services for people with disabilities. He is the author of numerous publications on topics related to employment of people with disabilities, business partnerships, school-to-work transition, and career development. He serves on the editorial board of Supported Employment Infolines and regularly contributes to publications targeting practitioners in employment service programs and education.

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Accessible technology in today's business provides solutions to recruiting and retaining the best employees. Learn how to develop an accessible technology plan which includes strategies, needs analysis, purchasing criteria, training, and rollout. Find out what options are available and which technology solutions are right for you and your company. This webcast will explore practical tools and best practices of technology in the workplace to enhance the way everyone in your organization communicates, collaborates, and contributes.

Mylene Podolina currently serves as a Diversity Consultant with Microsoft Corporation. In her role, she is responsible for disability integration programs and youth outreach programs. Prior to her current position at Microsoft, Ms. Padolina worked in the wireless telecommunications industry for over 10 years, first with Ameritech and then with AT&T Wireless Services. She fulfilled roles in staffing/recruitment, college relations, diversity, equal employment opportunity, affirmative action and employee relations. Ms. Padolina has a Bachelors Degree from DePaul University. She has served on various boards including Washington MESA (Math Engineering Science Achievement), Washington State Business Leadership Network, Washington State Task Force on Employment of Adults with Disabilities, Project Equality of Illinois and the National Association of Older Worker Employment Services (NAOWES).

Gary Moulton is the assistive technology relations product manager. Gary is responsible for coordinating Microsoft's marketing efforts with assistive technology manufacturers, and he is the manager of Microsoft's Assistive Technology Vendor Program (MATvp). He is co-author of Accessible Technology in Today's Business: Case Studies for Success (MSPress 2002). Prior to working for Microsoft he was Manager of Disability Solutions at Apple Computer, Inc. Gary was trained as a clinician and has worked for children and adults with disabilities. He taught child growth and development at the undergraduate and graduate level. Gary has his doctorates in education and business administration.

Ellen Meyer is the Sr. Ergonomics Consultant and is involved with all aspects of Microsoft's ergonomics program including 1:1 ergonomics evaluations, web information resources, workplace accommodations that often or sometimes may include assistive technology, and regulatory compliance. Most recently, Ellen has initiated a collaborative partnership with Microsoft's Accessibility Lab and Ergonomics Team to generate a central resource for both customized ergonomics and assistive technology solutions. Prior to her work for Microsoft, Ellen managed the worldwide ergonomics program for Digital Equipment Corporation. She has over 20 years experience as a Certified Occupational Health Nurse, has a Masters in Nursing, and is also a Family Nurse Practitioner.

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Customized employment can make employment in typical work settings for typical wages a part of life for all. All people who wish to be employed can become employed. In this webcast, Michael Callahan will discuss the characteristics that provide the necessary supports, representation, resources, and values of customized employment. The following strategies will be covered: job descriptions and responsibilities are negotiated by an applicant or a job developer with an employer; the job description is focused on contributions; employers are presented with proposals; and, applicants voluntarily disclose their disabilities to resolve support and accommodations. Michael will describe how to use the "template strategy" as a customized job description tool.

Michael Callahan is the President, Marc Gold & Associates (MG&A). He has consulted throughout the US, Canada and Europe in the area of employment for the past twenty-one years. MG&A is a network of consultants that provides technical assistance to systems, agencies and families interested in insuring the complete community participation of persons with severe disabilities. Michael has recently joined three other colleagues, Joe Skiba, Norciva Shumpert and Melinda Mast, to form a non-profit organization, Employment for All. EFA is dedicated to assuring full access to employment for all persons with disabilities. He is an editor of a popular "how-to" book on employment for persons with severe disabilities, Getting Employed, Staying Employed and co-author of a recently published book Keys to the Work Place. He has written numerous articles, chapters, manuals and curriculums pertaining to employment.

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Marketing and job development--two concepts but one outcome. Employment success is attributed to several factors, but one of the most important is establishing the credibility of the service business. Regardless of business size, location or purpose, this entails understanding how businesses operate, make decisions, and solve problems. In today's climate, businesses thrive because they respond to change and incorporate creative solutions. The employment specialist's role in understanding the core of the business, its culture, its history and its future, and then communicating how the participant and employment service will add value to the business operation is essential in achieving the employment outcome. This webcast will discuss how to make this happen.

Karen Flippo has 25 years of experience in rehabilitation and disability that spans direct service, project and organizational management, public policy, education and training, research, evaluation, and federal government service. She is the Vice President of the Brain Injury Association of America, a national organization whose purpose is to create a better future for individuals with brain injury through prevention, education, research and advocacy. She is the P.I. on two grants, one on self-employment for individuals with brain injury and the other on assistive technology for individuals with cognitive disabilities.

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This presentation will focus on the key components of conversion including program and fiscal planning, person centered approaches, barriers real and imagined to employment and current economic and political issues. When an organization determines that community based services focusing on employment is the road to follow, a strategic value based planning process emphasizing consumer outcomes based on individual choice, performance based staffing, fiscal accountability and business partnerships must be initiated. In today's economic and political climate, employment options must be explored with new approaches that include integrated funding streams, diversification of resources and a willingness to take reasonable risks.

Suzanne Hutcheson has been the President/CEO of Tri-County TEC since August 1977. In that capacity, she led the organization through major organizational change from a sheltered workshop/work activity center to a totally community based organization. Suzy currently serves as a member of the APSE National Executive Board, the Treasure Coast Workforce Development Board, Florida APSE Board of Directors, the United Way Volunteer and Community Resource Center Board of Directors, and many others. She has provided numerous trainings and consulting in the areas of supported employment, organizational change, and program development.

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Supporting A Person with Difficult Behaviors/Supporting the People Who Care Based on the idea from Jean Clarke that a person's needs are best met by people whose needs are met, this webcast examines strategies for supporting an individual with disabilities and his or her caregivers. Specific topics include: the importance of relationships, and the connection between a person's needs and the needs of his or her caregivers.

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Increasingly, promoting self-determination has become best practice in the fields of special education, rehabilitation, supported employment and other disability-related areas. This live web cast will overview the essentials of self-determination and examine ways to enhance career outcomes for people with disabilities by promoting self-directed problem solving and career goal setting. The presenter will focus on work currently being conducted infusing self-determination into the vocational rehabilitation system in Kansas.

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Lex Frieden is Senior Vice President at TIRR (The Institute for Rehabilitation and Research) in Houston, Texas. TIRR is a comprehensive medical rehabilitation center which provides clinical, educational, and research programs pertaining to spinal cord and brain injuries and other disabling conditions. He is also Director of TIRR's Independent Living Research Utilization Program (ILRU) and Professor of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at Baylor College of Medicine. Mr. Frieden currently serves as President of Rehabilitation International, a federation of 200 national and international organizations and agencies in 90 countries working for the equalization of opportunities for persons with disabilities and their families within society, and for the rehabilitation of people with disabilities.

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Self employment for individuals with disabilities is fast becoming a recognized option for individual with significant disabilities. This web cast introduced some of the critical factors in considering business feasibility, developing financial resources, basic business plan development, and the identification and access to community small business resources. Cary provided information on the use of SSA Work Incentives such as PASS and Property Essential to Self-Employment.

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