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2023 National APSE Board Nominee: Steve Towler, NY
2023 National APSE Board of Directors At-Large Candidate
The area(s) that best represents your current position/experience:
Service Provider or Manager
Describe your history/nature of involvement/interest in promoting competitive integrated employment in your state. Additionally, explain why you are passionate about competitive, integrated employment for people with disabilities (no more than 500 words):
After completing graduate school, I became employed with a community-based organization that supported people with significant behavioral health issues. I was a member of the vocational team, developing Transitional Employment opportunities and operating what was called the Target Jobs Project in Essex County, NJ. Both programs were very successful, and I saw the life-changing opportunities that were evident by the opportunity for people to work in the community. Seeing people becoming so much more independent, self-sufficient, and having improved life satisfaction was wonderful. Three years later, I moved to a new job opportunity in NYC, and was hired to develop one of the first Supported Employment Programs in NYC. I am currently the VP for Programs and Business Development at AHRC NYC Chapter (NYSARC, Inc.). I have over 35 years of experience developing Employment and Training Programs for people with disabilities and at-risk youth. I have developed a top-notch employment service for individuals with disabilities and at-risk NYC youth. The Employment and Business Services (EBS) department helps over 2,000 people a year, and the Supported Employment Services provided are regarded as the best in NYS. EBS offers high-quality services for all the people we assist to obtain and maintain employment in the community. AHRC operates the following employment programs; NYSID (NYS Industries for the Disabled), OPWDD (Office for People with Developmental Disabilities), OMH (Office of Mental Health), DYCD (New York City Department of Youth and Community Development), DOHMH (New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene), Source America and ACCES-VR (Adult Career and Continuing Education Services – Vocational Rehabilitation). As you can see, EBS funding is quite diversified which allows us to maximize opportunities for people. EBS is extremely innovative and has also developed 2 affirmative enterprises over the last decade to help even more people become employed. EBS operates Hudson River Services (Janitorial, Landscaping and Messenger) and ShredAbility a secure document destruction business. We have developed into one of the largest providers of services in NYS under the NYSID umbrella. I have also developed and managed numerous JTPA/WIA/WIOA Youth training programs in NYC over my tenure. These programs utilize integrated education and training designed to assist both individuals with and without disabilities to prepare for and obtain rewarding careers in a variety of fields. Employment has a “life-changing” potential for all that become employed. Helping people move from being dependent on so many others, and moving forward to becoming more independent, self-sufficient, and tax-paying citizens is what drives me forward each and every day.
What relevance does/should APSE and its chapters/members have in national and state conversations regarding equity, diversity, and inclusion (no more than 350 words)?
The role of APSE in city/state and federal conversations needs to be elevated across our nation. The belief that people with disabilities, can and should be working in the community is not universally supported by government. The appropriate supports and funding required needs to be increased significantly to maximize the opportunities that exist in our world today. Conversations at the city, state and federal levels must continue, and the importance of equity, diversity and inclusion be recognized. The issues of DEI are always important and often complex. I believe there is an opportunity to build on these conversations and connect the APSE mission. In addition, I am a registered lobbyist in NYS and often meet with city and state public officials. I see this as a natural extension of my work, to also advocate more regularity on behalf of APSE as well. On the business side, we have developed numerous corporate partnerships which have led to many life-changing opportunities for the people we support.
What skills, knowledge or lived experience do you have that will contribute to strengthening and growing the financial health of APSE and promoting its mission to advance employment and self-sufficiency for all people with disabilities (no more than 350 words)?
I have over 35 years of experience leading, managing, and funding a wide array of employment services using government, foundation, and private funding. Our employment unit has a budget of over 60 million annually, and I have extensive experience developing, funding, and leading creative programs. I have worked very closely with the NYC Schools, and other Community Stakeholders to assist in developing very creative pathways from school to work for individuals transitioning out of the NYC school system. Our most recent development is operating 6 Project Search Programs throughout NYC, supporting over 60 high school students with I/DD each year to prepare for and obtain employment. I am also extremely active with a variety of trade associations that work to assist our industry. The following is a list of associations and boards I have been active with, and at times held leadership roles. – Board of Directors for NYSRA/NY Alliance for Inclusion and Innovation (2010-Present) – Steering Committee of NYS MIG (Medicaid Infrastructure Grant) (2008-2012) – Bronx DD Council Adult Day Service Committee Chair (1995-Present) – Co-Chair of IAC’s Adult Day Services Committee (1994-2014 & 2022- Present) – Member of NYS OPWDD Supported Employment Taskforce (2010) – NYSID Board of Directors (2004-2010 & 2017 – Present) – NYSID Board Chairperson (2011-2013) – Past Present of the Coalition of Mainstream Employment Programs (1996-2000) – President of the Coalition of Mainstream Employment Program (1990-1995)
Biography
Steve is currently the VP for Programs and Business Development at AHRC NYC Chapter (NYSARC, Inc.). He has over 35 years of experience developing Employment and Training Programs for people with disabilities and at-risk youth. He currently has a Master’s Degree in Psychology from CUNY. Steve directs programs throughout all 5 boroughs of New York City, and has primary responsibility for Employment and Business Services, and Camping and Recreation Services and is a registered lobbyist in NYS for the organization. Steve has developed a top-notch employment service for individuals with disabilities and at-risk NYC youth. The Employment and Business Services (EBS) department helps over 2,000 people a year prepare for, maintain, and obtain community-based employment. Our Supported Employment Services are highly regarded as the best in NYS. EBS offers high quality services for all the people we assist to obtain and maintain employment in the community. AHRC operates a multitude of employment programs utilizing all resources available in NYS. For example, NYSID (NYS Industries for the Disabled), OPWDD (Office for People with Developmental Disabilities), OMH (Office of Mental Health), DYCD (New York City Department of Youth and Community Development), DOHMH (New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene), Source America and ACCES-VR (Adult Career and Continuing Education Services – Vocational Rehabilitation). As you can see, EBS funding is quite diversified which allows us to maximize opportunities for people. EBS is extremely innovative and has also developed 2 affirmative enterprises over the last decade to help even more people become employed. EBS operates Hudson River Services (Janitorial, Landscaping and Messenger) and ShredAbility a secure document destruction business. We have developed into one of the largest providers of services in NYS under the NYSID umbrella. He has also developed and managed numerous JTPA/WIA/WIOA Youth training programs in NYC over his tenure. These programs utilize integrated education and training designed to assist both individuals with and without disabilities to prepare for and obtain rewarding careers in a variety of fields. Steve has worked very closely with the NYC Schools, and other Community Stakeholders to assist in developing very creative pathways from school to work to individuals transitioning out of the NYC school system. Our most recent development is operating 6 Project Search Programs throughout NYC, supporting over 60 high school students with I/DD each year to prepare for employment. He is also extremely active with a variety of trade associations that work to assist AHRC. He is the past Chairperson of the Board for NYSID; which is a 200-million-dollar organization that helps non-profit organizations obtain work contracts. He is also serving on the Board of Directors for NY Alliance for Inclusion and Innovation and is the current Co-Chair of the Adult Day and Employment Services Committee for IAC (Interagency Council of NYC). Steve is very active in the business development area as well, where the organization has over 500 different business partners and supports people at well over 1,000 different locations.