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2026 National APSE Board of Directors At-Large Candidate

CLICK to meet all the nominees before the election ends on March 15.

Please 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:

As a returning APSE Board member and CEO of an IDD provider organization, my involvement in promoting competitive, integrated employment (CIE) in my state has been both long-standing and hands-on. For more than two decades, my work has focused on advancing Employment First principles through direct service delivery, systems advocacy, and policy engagement. I lead an organization that provides supported employment and customized employment exclusively in integrated community settings, and we have intentionally aligned our services, staff training, and partnerships with the goal of increasing access to meaningful, paid work at or above minimum wage for people with disabilities. Beyond my organization, I have been actively involved in statewide Employment First initiatives, provider transformation efforts, and cross-system collaborations with vocational rehabilitation, education, and workforce partners to reduce reliance on segregated services and expand CIE capacity across the state. My passion for competitive, integrated employment is rooted in a deep belief that work is a cornerstone of dignity, self-determination, and full community inclusion. Employment is not simply a service outcome; it is a civil right and a powerful driver of economic independence, social connection, and personal identity. I have seen firsthand how customized, strengths-based employment can transform lives when people with disabilities are truly known, valued, and supported to contribute in ways that matter to them and to their employers. I am especially motivated to challenge low expectations, systemic barriers, and outdated service models that limit opportunity. Through my leadership with APSE and my work as a provider, I remain committed to advancing policies and practices that ensure people with disabilities have equitable access to real jobs, real wages, and real careers in their communities.

What best represents your position/lived experience?

Family Member of a Person with a Disability; Service Provider or Manager

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?

I bring a combination of executive leadership, financial stewardship, systems-level knowledge, and lived experience in provider transformation that directly supports APSE’s financial health and its mission to advance employment and self-sufficiency for all people with disabilities. As a CEO of an IDD provider organization, I am responsible for organizational sustainability in a complex and often underfunded service environment. This includes budgeting, revenue diversification, contract management, and long-term strategic planning. I have led efforts to shift resources away from segregated models toward competitive, integrated employment, while maintaining fiscal responsibility and compliance with state and federal requirements. This experience allows me to contribute a practical, results-driven perspective to APSE’s financial decision-making, ensuring mission alignment while strengthening reserves, revenue streams, and organizational stability. I also have an associates degree in Accounting, Associates in Computer Information Systems, and a Bachelor’s in Organizational Leadership with a minor in Healthcare Administration. My knowledge of Medicaid waivers, Vocational Rehabilitation funding, workforce systems, and Employment First policy implementation equips me to help APSE identify strategic partnerships, sponsorships, training opportunities, and fee-for-service models that both advance the mission and generate sustainable revenue. I also bring experience in board governance, including fiduciary oversight, strategic planning, and risk management, with a clear understanding of the board’s role in supporting staff leadership while ensuring accountability and transparency.

How do you think serving on the National APSE Board will help you grow as a leader in the Employment First Movement?

Serving on the National APSE Board will strengthen my growth as a leader in the Employment First Movement by expanding my perspective, sharpening my strategic leadership skills, and deepening my impact at both the national and state levels.

Biography

Kristy Dominy is a nationally recognized leader in the Employment First movement with more than 20 years of experience advancing competitive, integrated employment for people with disabilities. She serves as the CEO of an IDD provider organization focused on supported and customized employment in integrated community settings. Kristy is a certified Positive Behavior Support Trainer and Person-Centered Thinking Trainer and is deeply engaged in systems change, provider transformation, and policy advocacy. She currently serves as Treasurer for the national APSE Board and the Georgia Learning Community, is an active member of the SPADD Board, and brings a strong commitment to equity, self-sufficiency, and meaningful employment outcomes for all people with disabilities.