2016 Employment First Conference
The third annual Employment First Conference: Celebrating Progress was a huge success! This year’s conference celebrated the major achievements in employment policy and practice that have been made, and honored the hard work of advocates, families, providers, state agencies, and schools that have worked tirelessly to increase integrated employment opportunities for individuals with disabilities. A BIG THANK YOU to everyone who attended the conference. There were close to 350 people who participated in the event, including people with disabilities, family members, employment providers, long term care providers and businesses. In addition, there were 20 micro-enterprise owners selling their products, including dog treats, handmade blankets, painting, jewelry and pottery.
The conference day kicked off bright and early on Monday with Ari Ne’eman, the President and co-founder of the Autistic Self Advocacy Network, an advocacy organization run by and for Autistic adults seeking to increase the representation of Autistic people across society. Ari provided a strong message reflecting on important social, cultural and public policy changes that have occurred over the years, and the monumental impact that these changes have had disability rights movement.
During lunch a panel of five Employers talked about the benefits of hiring people with diverse abilities, and shared strategies tips on how to work together to make the job a success for the employer and employee. The businesses included: The Kalahari Resort, Noodles and Company, American Family Insurance, Vita Plus, Murphy Desmond Law Firm, Tractor Supply Company and Taylor Labeled Produces.
The rest of the day was packed with 24 learning sessions on topics such as: CMS HCBS Settings Rule: Change is Expected – An Overview of What’s Happening Nationally, Project SEARCH Kalahari Style; DVR and the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act; New Approaches to Employment: Change Agents, Self-Direction, and Mentorship; Voices for Change: Developing Employment First Ambassadors; Recovery and the Employment Continuum, The Coming of Integrated Managed Care and Statewide MCOs: Opportunities to Expand Integrated Employment Exist – How Can Supported Employment Providers Seize These?; Hands on Tools to Manage Your Money; and Using Technology to Open More Doors for Work Opportunities.
Check out all the amazing conference Power Points, videos, and other resources!
Conference Materials by Session
Keynote: Ari Ne’eman (video)
Session 1: CMS HCBS Settings Rule: Change is Expected – An Overview of What’s Happening Nationally
Power Point
Session 2: Project SEARCH Kalahari Style
Session 3: How Parent Expectations Impact Youth Employment Outcomes
Session 4: Recovery and the Employment Continuum
PowerPoint
Session 5: Building FULL Lives in the Community by Braiding Customized Employment and Individualized Community Integrated Activities
Power Point
Session 6: Project SEARCH – Intern Experiences and Employment Goals
Session 7: Employment First Partners: Creating Change One Community at a Time
Power Point
Session 8: Expanding Employment Opportunities (Three part series)
Worker Inventory
ICI Job Coach Training
Employment Guide
Discovery Options
Disclosure at Workplace
ES Pro Evaluation Tool
Blank TA Form
Session 9: DVR and the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act
Power Point
Session 10: New Approaches to Employment: Change Agents, Self-Direction, and Mentorship
Power Point
Session 11: The Coming of Integrated Managed Care and Statewide MCOs: Opportunities to Expand Integrated Employment Exist – How Can Supported Employment Providers Seize These?
Power Point
Session 12: ABLE and beyond in Wisconsin
Power Point
FAQ and Resources
Session 13: Building FULL Lives in the Community by Braiding Customized Employment and Individualized Community Integrated Activities
Session 14: Real Life Employment Stories
Power Point
Featured Luncheon: Why Hiring People with Diverse Abilities Makes Sense! (Video)
Session 15: Hands on Tools to Manage Your Money
Power Point
Financial Literacy Resources
Session 16: Expanding Employment Opportunities (Three part series – See resources under Session 8)
Session 17: Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA): Creating Opportunities for Collaboration and Coordination
Power Point
DPI WIOA and Contracted Transition Service
WIOA FAQs
Session 18: Expanding the IPS Model – New Research
Session 19: How National Health Plans Operate as Statewide MCOs and How They Are Focused on Advancing Integrated Employment: A Panel of Health Plan Representatives
Power Point 1
Power Point 2
Power Point 3
Session 20: Using Technology to Open More Doors for Work Opportunities
Power Point
Session 21: Achieving Community Employment and Integration
Power Point
Session 22: Wisconsin’s implementation of Home and Community Based Services (HCBS) Final Settings Rule
Session 23: Voices for Change: Developing Employment First Ambassadors
Power Point
Session 24: Expanding Employment Opportunities (Three part series – See resources under Session 8)
Hold the date for our 2017 Employment First Conference being held on Wednesday, April 5 at the Kalahari Resort in Wisconsin Dells!
For questions about the conference, please contact Ann Sievert, WI BPDD at (608) 267-9897 or ann.sievert@wisconsin.gov