Becoming an Employment First Agency

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Employment First Missouri: One Question That Changes Everything

When supporting someone with a disability, it's easy to begin with the services we provide, the programs we operate, or the jobs that are currently available. While those are important considerations, Employment First invites us to start somewhere else.

"What would a good life look like for this person?"

That simple question shifts the conversation. Instead of fitting someone into existing services, we begin exploring their interests, strengths, relationships, preferences, and long-term goals. Employment becomes more than just finding a job; it becomes one part of building a meaningful life in the community.

This week, challenge yourself and your team to pause before asking, "What can we offer?" Instead, ask, "What does this person want for their future, and how can we help them get there?"

The answers may lead to new experiences, different community connections, additional skill building, or employment opportunities that wouldn't have been considered otherwise. Even when the path isn't immediately clear, beginning with the person's vision helps ensure that planning is guided by possibility rather than availability. Sometimes a single question changes the entire direction of planning.

If you are interested in connecting with peers who share an Employment First mission, contact our Employment First team, who can help connect you.

Professional Development Opportunity: Technology in Employment Community of Practice

We are excited to announce that the Technology in Employment Community of Practice is now open to employment service providers and support coordinators across Missouri. This community of practice is a collaborative effort between Missouri Assistive Technology, the Division of Developmental Disabilities, and Employment First Missouri. Meetings will be held via Zoom on the first Thursday of each month from 1:00pm to 2:00pm. Participation id free of charge.

The community of practice will focus on two key areas:

• Technology Solutions in Employment: Explore technology tools and strategies that support individuals throughout every stage of employment services, including workplace success and job retention.
• Building Organizational Capacity: Learn practical approaches for increasing your organization's use of technology and supporting staff in developing confidence and competence with technology. This track may be especially valuable for leaders, managers, and supervisors responsible for staff development and service quality.

Register here and join us for these upcoming sessions:

• September 3rd, 2026 1pm to 2pm

  Technology in Employment Community of Practice: Getting Started

• October 1st, 2026 1pm to 2pm

  Building Capacity for Technology: An Introduction

For questions or accommodation requests, please email [email protected]

Additional ways to connect with ICI

Did you know that in addition to Employment First Missouri, there are additional ways for Missouri providers to engage with ICI staff? Should you have staff that would like to certify as a DSP, please reach out to J. Gibbs [email protected] with the MO-TaP program to find out more on how you and your staff can get involved and registered. ICI has also, in partnership with Missouri VR, developed a Customized Employment path within VR. The initial rollout of this program has started within the Kansas City area and will soon move to other regions across the state. For more information on the Customized Employment, please reach out to either Madeline Webster [email protected] or Erin Dennis at [email protected] for more information.

Empowering Lifelong Employment: Tailored Strategies for Older Workers with IDD 2.0

Did you miss the webinar "Empowering Lifelong Employment: Tailored Strategies for Older Workers with IDD 1.0" held on August 5th? You are still welcome to join us for the 2.0 session in December!

Empowering Lifelong Employment: Tailored Strategies for Older Workers with IDD 2.0

December 2nd, 2026 from 1pm to 2:30pm CST - Register Here

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.

Amy Gessert Appointed New Project Director for Employment First Missouri

Amy Gessert has been appointed the new Project Director for Employment First Missouri, taking over for David Hoff, who has retired. Employment First Missouri is a training and technical assistance center working to advance community employment for individuals with developmental disabilities, funded by DMH, and operated by ICI. Amy joined ICI in 2022, and has worked on employment-related training and technical assistance efforts in Minnesota and Hawaii, along with other efforts to advance employment for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Before joining ICI, Amy was an Advocacy Specialist for Missouri Protection and Advocacy Services, in leadership positions with disability service providers in Missouri, and served as Executive Director for the Greater Maryville Chamber of Commerce. You can reach Amy at [email protected].

Registration for the 2026 APSE Missouri Annual Employment Summit is Open!

The 2026 APSE Missouri Annual Employment Summit is taking place July 23–24, 2026, at the Courtyard by Marriott in Columbia, Missouri!

This year’s 2-day summit will bring together leaders, advocates, professionals, and job seekers from across the state who are committed to advancing competitive, integrated employment for people with disabilities. Over two powerful days, we’ll share best practices, innovative strategies, and inspiring success stories that are driving inclusive employment forward.

What to Expect:

• Dynamic keynote speakers
• Engaging breakout sessions
• Networking with peers and experts
• Tools and resources to strengthen your work

Whether you’re a provider, policymaker, self-advocate, family member, or employer, this summit is for you. Let’s come together to learn, connect, and keep pushing toward a future where employment is for everyone. Follow this link to register or learn more.

Employment Resource: Missouri Job Centers

Missouri Job Centers can be a great resource for assisting individuals with their employment needs, in conjunction with services being received from the Division of Developmental Disabilities and service providers. Job Center services include job search workshops, connections with employers and local sector initiatives, training and education, and access to local labor market data to better understand hiring trends. Outreach to your local Job Center, to discuss how to partner with them, and how you can support individuals in using Job Center's services.

Employment Resource: Job Accommodation Network

Have you ever been working with an individual and trying to identify accommodations that will enable them to perform job tasks for employment success? The Job Accommodation Network (JAN) is a federally funded resource that has extensive resources on job accommodations, and a variety of related issues, including disclosure and the Americans with Disabilities Act. The JAN website contains a large database of accommodations as well as a wide variety of articles on accommodation related topics. JAN staff are also available to answer specific questions from people with disabilities, service providers, and employers.