At this training, you will learn about the basics of Social Security benefits (SSI and SSDI) and how going to work impacts these and other benefits (including Medicaid and Medicare). Also discussed will be various work incentives that can be used to address benefit concerns and help individuals go to work, as well as various resources that are available to assist and guide individuals with benefit issues. The importance of consistent and positive messaging regarding the ability to address benefit issues and become successfully employed will also be covered.

Successful employment outcomes often depend on strong collaboration across support teams. This session highlights practical strategies for employment service providers to partner effectively with residential and community-based day services, with a focus on communication planning, role clarification, and creative problem-solving to address common challenges and improve coordinated support.

This is the follow-up session to 1.0, where we will take a deeper dive into employment and retirement scenarios for older individuals with IDD. We will review key elements and concepts covered in 1.0 including ageism, ableism, and principles of Employment First. By using creative and critical thinking, along with current tools and best practices, we can gain insight into how to support older individuals to maintain full participation in the community.

Concerns about failure often hold people back in employment and community services. In this session, we will challenge the tendency to wait for perfection or “readiness” and instead recognize that mistakes are a natural part of the process. We will reframe failures as valuable opportunities for learning and growth. Key concepts include dignity of risk for both professionals and individuals, zero exclusion, and the power of true inclusion and belonging.

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.