#APSE2026 Pre-Conference Sessions
Announcing APSE's 2025 Pre-Conference Sessions!
Join us on Monday, June 8, 2026.
Afternoon Sessions (1:30-4:30pm CST) - Three Options to Choose From!
NOTE: There will be no morning pre-conference sessions.
Title: Beyond GPT: Using AI for Good to Advance Competitive Integrated Employment
Presenter(s): David Lindell, Heather Janci, Erik Nelson
Description: Big challenges like staffing shortages, complex funding rules, and mounting documentation demands are putting real pressure on employment services. This interactive, three-hour workshop will explore how ethically designed AI tools can offer bigger solutions that strengthen competitive integrated employment rather than replace human judgment. Through real-world examples and stories from people with disabilities and frontline staff, participants will see how AI can support discovery and career planning, job development, benefits conversations, and on-the-job supports. Attendees will leave with concrete questions to ask about AI, practical use cases they can bring back to their teams, and simple frameworks to ensure technology is used in ways that honor Employment First values.
Title: Rewiring the System: Improving CIE Outcomes in an Evolving Landscape
Presenter(s): Drew Karhan, Patricia Henke, Wendy Quarles
Description: Improving employment systems is not just about doing more or "change"—it’s about enhancing and achieving better outcomes. In this interactive session, participants will explore how Improvement Science can accelerate progress toward competitive integrated employment by exploring and redesigning system and organizational practices and policies. Together, we will examine barriers, identify leverage points, and develop practical strategies to strengthen CE/SE implementation across state and local systems.
Title: The Impact of Employment on Health: An Evolving Conversation
Presenter(s): Theresia Kody
Description: Explore key concepts such as Social Drivers of Health, Health Equity, and Health Disparities, emphasizing their relevance to the approach to employment services. Participants will examine systems and their role in addressing individual's health throughout the employment journey, the impact of unemployment on well-being, and strategies to shift toward more empowering, holistic practices.
Thank you to our 2026 Sponsors & Exhibitors
Platinum Level
Silver Level
Bronze Level
Supporter Level
Thank you to our Accessibility Partner!
Host Chapter
Chapter Sponsors
Exhibitors
ABLE Today / Texas ABLE Program
Association of Community Rehabilitation Educators (ACRE)
Association of People Supporting Employment First (APSE)
The Attainment Company
Credentialed Employment Support Professional (CESP) Program
Center on Community Living and Careers, Indiana University
Center on Knowledge Translation for Employment Research
ConnectIDD
Dale Rogers Training Center (DRTC)
DirectCourse / Elsevier
The DMF Shop
Econsys
EmployReward Solutions
iCare Manager
Institute for Community Inclusion, UMass Boston
Kibu
LEAD Center, National Disability Institute
Lifeworks for Autism
MassMutual SpecialCare
Mitratech Circa
National Alliance for Direct Support Professionals (NADSP)
Rehabilitation Council of Texas
Self-Advocates Becoming Empowered (SABE)
SETWorks
TASH
Tech First SHIFT
Therap
University of Missouri-Kansas City, Institute for Human Development (UMKC IHD)
University of North Texas WISE
WISE
YesLMS
Thank you to our 2026 Sponsors & Exhibitors
Silver Level
Bronze Level
Supporter Level
Exhibitors
Abilities of Florida
Association of Community Rehabilitation Educators (ACRE)
Center on Community Living and Careers, Indiana University
Dale Rogers Training Center (DRTC)
National Vocational Rehabilitation Technical Assistance Center