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.

Learn about how disability language relates to services provision, and the importance of providing services and supports in a way that is sensitive and responsive. You’ll also learn about the ongoing evolution of language in describing people with disabilities, the difference between person-first and identify-first, and the importance of honoring individual preferences. An introduction to Plain Language will also be provided.

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.

This training breaks down waiver-funded employment services and how they intersect with Vocational Rehabilitation. We will review service definitions, clarify common areas of confusion, and examine how these systems work both independently and braided to provide more holistic, robust services and successful employment outcomes.

Join us for a dynamic exchange of ideas and experiences from across the state. Bring your favorite, most unique success story, and your toughest challenge as we share, learn, and problem-solve together. We will strengthen best practices, spark creative thinking, and explore ways to expand employment opportunities for people with disabilities. The session will also introduce the EFFECT rubric, a first step in being recognized as an Employment First Model Agency, with practical tools you can use right away.

Developing relationships with employers in a rural region can present both unique challenges and opportunities. This training will provide strategies for networking and leveraging relationships including social capital, labor market metrics, customization, and discovering hidden businesses. This training will share best practices in employer engagement resulting in strong job matches.