The 2021 Conference is offering recordings of the the breakout sessions to all paid attendees through February 28, 2022.
A general certificate of training hours (CEU) will be provided. Please complete the form and enter the code word provided for each session to receive credit. (CRC credit not approved for recorded viewings.) Certificates will be emailed the first week of March. https://forms.office.com/g/daR9U8pSbv
Below you will find the Session information and links to the recorded presentation and slides/handouts provided.
2021 Conference Sessions:
Building Business Relationships is Easy!
Deb Russell, Deb Russell, Inc.
Become a part of the business community – rather than defining ourselves as part of a separate community. Integration relieves tension and a need to “convince” an employer to hire the candidate. Use simple ways to develop and maintain relationships and status within the business community allowing you to grow and leverage your network. The exponential opportunity for maintaining a simple network throughout the year can significantly shrink the amount of effort needed for each placement. This session will provide the formula behind why network development is so crucial and truly a time-saver and practical tips, scripts and other tools.
Handouts:
Developing Relationships with Employers is as Easy as 1 2 3 Sample Contact Sheet
Developing Relationships is as Easy as 1 2 3 Easy Guide to Introducing Yourself
Developing Relationships is as Easy as 1 2 3 Scripts
Just Tessa Things
Tessa Wilkerson, Mclean County Schools
Hello everyone! My name is Tessa Wilkerson. During this presentation, I will be discussing obstacles that I have had to overcome throughout my life and how I have not let these obstacles, or my disability define who I am. I live with a form of muscular dystrophy called Spinal Muscular Atrophy type 2. Thanks to OVR, I was able to go to college, earn my bachelor’s degree in social work, buy my own vehicle, get a job helping others with disabilities, move to a full time position with my local school district, and much more. Even though I have a disability, I am not my disability!
Trans Inclusive Workplace 101
Noa August, Queer Kentucky
This presentation provides information on why trans-inclusivity matters from a human and business perspective, grounded in the latest research. We will cover basic terms and definitions that you need to know as a trans-inclusive employer, such as gender identity, gender expression. We will discuss intersectionality, and the ways in which sexism and white supremacy are inextricably linked with transphobia. And finally, we will go over best practices for making your company/org trans-inclusive, on the structural/administrative as well as the human/cultural level. This will include a discussion of implicit bias and microaggressions: what they are and how to avoid them.
Lead with Emotional Intelligence
Lindsay Satterfield, Satterfield & Company
This session explores emotional intelligence and provides simple techniques for strengthening it. Research in the last 20+ years points to the finding that when it comes to personal and professional success, emotional intelligence has an outsized impact. Emotional Intelligence is the ability to recognize, understand and productively manage one’s emotions; and recognize, understand, and productively influence and work with the emotions of others to achieve a specific goal or outcome. To lead and have an impact, strong emotional intelligence is essential. It’s needed for all the things leaders do: motivate, inspire, influence, and engage others. Ms. Satterfield will reference this workbook during the presentation.
Handout:
Lead with Emotional Intelligence WORKBOOK.
Adriene’s Story: Getting to the Comfort Zone
Adriene Gibson, IPS supported employee/PIER Recover Community Center; Beth Lewis, Mental Health America; Tom Spicer, PIER Recovery Community Center; Mindy Sponseller, Mental Health America
This session will be about Adriene’s experience with the IPS program, the people who helped her get to where she is today, and how it has affected her life.
Employment Support Strategies for Individuals with the Most Significant Disabilities
Rob Kimmel, Boggs Center on Developmental Disabilities – Rutgers University
Supported Employment (SE) providers have the honor and challenge of working with individuals with disabilities, connecting them with jobs that allow them to unleash their full potential. This population comes in all shapes and sizes, with unique needs and strengths. Sometimes these needs, especially those with the most significant disabilities, call into question for even the best SE providers if there is a way to move forward. This session will focus specifically on those with the most significant disabilities, their unique challenges, and providing concrete tools for SE providers to properly support those with the utmost need as they pursue and obtain competitive, integrated employment.
Handouts:
Functional Employment Exploration Tool – FEET
Decision Tree Protocol
Confronting Ableism in Disability & Employment Services
Alli Strong-Marin, Lifeworks Services, Inc.
This session will lead participants through a discussion on how ableism unintentionally permeates disability and employment services. Many providers of disability services are not required to learn about ableism, intersectionality, disability history, or disability identity/culture. Historic exclusion has resulted in minimal exposure and experience living and working alongside people with disabilities equitably. Because of this gap in lived experience and/or acquired knowledge, we need to make intentional efforts to re-examine the systems we uphold and operate within. This session intends to address this gap and create dialogue for those who care about advancing disability equity in employment and in our communities.
Job Planning Meetings: Helping Chart the Course for Employment
Zac Sappenfield, Down Syndrome Louisville
The job planning meeting is an essential element of job development. This meeting helps one to plan the initial visits one does with a worker when looking for employment. We will be covering the mechanics of holding a meeting and reviewing a few real-life examples.
Parenting with Significant Disabilities: The Next Frontier for Providing Supports
Davie Matheis, Center for Accessible Living; Jason Jones, UK-HDI; Morgan Hughes; Carrissa Johnson, Center for Accessible Living; Ivanova Smith; Lindsay Brillhart
The foundation for this session is the book, “A Celebration of Family: Stories of Parents with Disabilities,” recently published by the Center for Accessible Living and the Avocado Press. The book contains 30 stories of families in which one or both parents have disabilities. This session will focus on how four of the parents featured in the book used natural and paid supports to become successful parents. Background on how the book came to be will be provided. Bias and discrimination against parents with disabilities will also be discussed.