2023 National APSE: Pre-Conference Offerings

Announcing APSE's Pre-Conference Lineup!
Join us on Monday, June 12, 2023.

Morning Sessions (9am-Noon EST)

Afternoon Sessions (1:30-4:30pm EST)

M1. ADA Pathways: Becoming a Trainer for the ADA and Self-Advocacy Trainer Network - Pt. 1

Presenters: Barry Whaley & Pam Williamson

Description: The ADA and Self-Advocacy Curriculum is designed to be used to provide instruction for individuals with disabilities in a secondary, post-secondary, or other education programs about their rights and responsibilities under the ADA and to foster the development of self-advocacy skills. The Curriculum has been developed with a modular design.

A1. ADA Pathways: Becoming a Trainer for the ADA and Self-Advocacy Trainer Network - Pt. 2

Presenters: Barry Whaley & Pam Williamson

M2. Charting the LifeCourse: Tools to Develop Real World Relationships and Opportunities

Presenter: Jenna Allen, Britta Hough & Celia Schloemer

Description: We all need supportive relationships to succeed and thrive in work and life. This hands-on session will demonstrate how to use selected tools from Charting the LifeCourse to better understand each person's vision for success and to map current and potential opportunities for connection and support. Participants will also learn how these same tools can be used to improve strategic planning and build capacity at organizational and systems levels.

A2. Getting to Yes: Refine Your Employer Presentation Techniques

Presenter: Vicki Ferrara

Description: Are you new to Job Development or might you struggle with overcoming employer objections? If so come and learn strategies to improve your success with employer engagement. Learn about what is important to employers, strategies to prepare for a successful employer meeting, and learn a process for responding to employer objections. Participants will practice the strategy by using the template to develop their own employer presentation plan and project potential objections and craft meaningful responses. Participants will leave with several resources including a presentation template and resources to prepare for common employer objections.

M3. Building Emotional Regulation Skills to Promote Employment Success for Individuals with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities and Mental Health Conditions

Presenter: Adene Karhan

Description: This session will start with a broad overview of the connection between emotional regulation skills and common challenges individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities and/or mental health conditions may have in the workplace. Participants will be invited to share real-life examples of challenges which have arisen, and a variety of strategies and tools will be introduced. The tools and techniques were selected with employment-focused professionals in mind and can be integrated into brief activities during meetings with individuals, recommended as takeaway materials or homework activities for individuals, or built into employment and wellness plans.

A3. Learning Together: Moving from 14(c) Setting to Competitive Integrated Employment

Presenters: SWTCIE State Project Leads; Moderated by Teresa Grossi & Maya Cox

Description: Fourteen states have a grant from the Rehabilitation Services Administration to enhance service delivery and improve competitive integrated employment outcomes for individuals currently working in, or contemplating, 14(c) or sheltered workshop settings. Several states will share their demonstration models and identify the commonalities, differences, and how to work together for the common goal of increasing CIE.

M4. Using Technology to Support Self Employment & Entrepreneurship

Presenters: Soloman Parker & Aarti Sahgal

Description:

Although self-employment is not for everybody, for some people with disabilities it is an option that allows them to creatively use their skills, knowledge and talents, as well as providing a more flexible work schedule. However, agencies supporting entrepreneurs often have little experience with self-employment and many vocational service providers are unfamiliar with what it takes to start and grow a business. The intersection of unprecedented technological advancements and economic opportunity has created opportunities for individuals with disabilities to become entrepreneurs. This session will introduce strategies and technological interventions for an entrepreneur, and will showcase everyday technological business tools in business ownership. Case studies will show how to build an inclusive entrepreneurial ecosystem by bridging the opportunity gaps. The presentation will conclude with attendees being provided scenarios to explore solutions to support an individual with a desire to be a small business owner.

A4. Recognizing and Addressing Unconscious Bias in Employment Service Delivery and Research

Presenter: Charlene Parris, Peter Pike, Doug Alves & Yvonne Keller-Guenther

Description: This session will explore how unconscious/implicit bias impacts the delivery of employment and benefits planning services to individuals with disabilities. In this workshop setting, attendees will have the opportunity to enage in activities designed to identify unconscious/implicit bias. We will use mindfullness activities, self-assessments, small group break-outs, and games to create an engaging and safe space to foster meaningful discussion. The facilitators will draw on current events and their experience with implicit bias while managing a federal research project that is testing an innovative employment first model. Strategies and tools to address unconscious bias will be shared. We will hear perspectives on the topic from people with disabilities via video and live presentation.

A5. Solving the People Puzzle

Presenter: Ryan Aldrich

Description: Non-profit workforce development has unique characteristics and challenges that require special considerations for success. How do you bring in the right people, and more importantly, how do you keep the right people engaged and motivated? Learn how inclusive staff-focused onboarding, training, and development techniques can attract new, diverse talent to support your mission – and how to keep that talent from slipping away. In this highly interactive workshop, theoretical approaches to motivation and best practices will be discussed, from supervision to performance evaluations and beyond. A specific focus on how staff stability and equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) relate to programmatic outcomes will be presented.