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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:

My commitment to competitive integrated employment began not as a policy position, but as a lived experience alongside the individuals I have supported. Early in my career, I worked directly with people with disabilities who wanted the same things most of us want—to earn a paycheck, to be part of a team, to feel valued, and to contribute to their communities. I quickly saw that when expectations were high and supports were individualized, people succeeded in ways that often surprised others—but never surprised them. One of the most impactful lessons I have learned is that employment changes lives. I have watched individuals gain confidence after their first paycheck, develop new social networks with coworkers, and set higher goals for themselves once they realized what was possible. Those experiences shaped my belief that competitive integrated employment is not simply an option—it should be the expectation. Over time, my role evolved from direct support to broader advocacy and systems collaboration. I began working more closely with employers, workforce partners, and rehabilitation professionals to build opportunities in typical community workplaces where individuals earn competitive wages and work alongside peers without disabilities. I have helped address employer concerns, provided education on accommodations, and advocated for customized approaches that align business needs with individual strengths. What fuels my passion is seeing barriers replaced with opportunities. Too often, individuals with disabilities have been steered toward segregated settings or underestimated in their potential. I believe strongly in shifting the conversation from limitations to capabilities. When we presume competence and invest in meaningful supports, individuals not only succeed—they thrive. Competitive integrated employment represents dignity, equity, and belonging. It reflects a belief that people with disabilities are essential members of our workforce and community. I am passionate about promoting policies and practices that raise expectations, expand partnerships, and ensure that employment services are person-centered and outcome-focused. For me, this work is deeply personal. I have seen how a job can transform self-image, family dynamics, and long-term independence. I remain committed to advancing competitive integrated employment across our state so that every individual has the opportunity to pursue meaningful work, earn fair wages, and be fully included in community life.

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 practical leadership experience, and frontline knowledge of employment services that will contribute to strengthening and growing the financial health of APSE while advancing its mission. Through my work in employment services, I have developed a strong understanding of funding structures, including Medicaid waiver services, vocational rehabilitation partnerships, workforce development initiatives, and braided funding models. I understand how policy decisions directly affect provider sustainability and outcomes for individuals with disabilities. This systems-level perspective allows me to think strategically about revenue diversification, membership engagement, and aligning financial growth with mission-driven outcomes. I also bring experience in program development and community partnership building. I have worked collaboratively with employers, state agencies, and community stakeholders to expand competitive integrated employment opportunities. These partnerships are critical not only for advancing Employment First principles, but also for increasing visibility, membership growth, sponsorship opportunities, and conference engagement—key components of organizational financial stability. Additionally, my lived experience working closely with job seekers with disabilities and employment professionals’ grounds my leadership in real-world impact. I understand the challenges providers face, including workforce shortages, reimbursement pressures, and evolving compliance expectations. This insight allows me to advocate for resources, training, and policy initiatives that both strengthen provider capacity and reinforce APSE’s value to its members.

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 would be a transformative opportunity for me to grow as a leader within the Employment First Movement. Throughout my work in employment services, I have seen firsthand the life-changing impact that competitive, integrated employment can have for individuals with disabilities. However, I also recognize that advancing Employment First requires strong, collaborative leadership at the national level. By serving on the National APSE Board, I would deepen my understanding of national policy trends, systems change strategies, and emerging best practices across states. Exposure to diverse perspectives from leaders, self-advocates, families, and providers would strengthen my ability to think strategically beyond local implementation and contribute to broader systemic change. I believe leadership in the Employment First Movement requires both vision and humility—the willingness to listen, learn, and adapt while staying firmly grounded in the belief that all people can work and contribute meaningfully to their communities. Board service would also challenge me to refine my skills in governance, advocacy, and collaborative decision-making. Engaging in national discussions about policy reform, workforce development, and equitable access to employment would expand my capacity to influence change not only within my own organization and state, but across the country. I am especially interested in strengthening partnerships that align funding, policy, and provider practices with true competitive integrated employment outcomes. Ultimately, serving on the National APSE Board would allow me to grow as a principled, strategic, and inclusive leader—one who is committed to advancing Employment First not just as a policy priority, but as a civil rights imperative.

Biography

Barbara Judah: Barbara Judah has worked in the non-profit sector for 30 years and for the past 20 years has worked directly with persons with physical, cognitive, and mental health disabilities. She has been employed at Linking Employment, Abilities and Potential (LEAP) since 2007 where she has worked in several different capacities. Barbara has served as the agency’s Disability Navigator where she helped individuals with disabilities understand the complex rules surrounding entitlement programs and assisted them in navigating the challenges associated with seeking employment. She went on to obtain her certification from Cornell University’s School of Industrial and Labor Relations’ Employment and Disability Institute and earned credentials in Work Incentives and Transition Aged Youth Benefits Planning. These certifications ensured that Barbara meets the standards necessary to enable her to assist consumers in navigating the complex system of public benefits and work incentives. Barbara currently serves as the Director of the Benefits and Employment Services Program at LEAP.