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.

In this webcast, the presenters will discuss how community rehabilitation providers (CRPs) can address business needs and create satisfied customers. Mr. Green will share networking techniques to develop business friendly programs. Viewers also will hear from Layne Thome with Home Depot, a large business that is committed to the recruitment of nontraditional workers including people with disabilities. Layne will share some do’s and don’ts of networking directly with 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 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 success. This includes the willingness and ability of her provider to support turning her passion for puppets into a business.

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. In this webcast, they will identify 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.

Network (JAN). He also serves as the Project Coordinator for the partnership between WVU’s International Center for Disability Information (ICDI) and the Center for Personal Assistance Services (PAS) at UC, San Francisco. In this webcast, Lou will explain the differences between Personal Assistive Services (PAS) at home and in the workplace. He will give a summary of 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.

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.