Community Stories
Recommendations from Certified Employment Support Professionals™
CESP credential holders met in February 2022 and were asked “What do you wish you have known when you started in your role?”
This is what they had to say.
APSE Conversations: Chanel (WA)
Listen in to this podcast between National APSE’s Erica Belois-Pacer and Chanel Keenan, the Intersectionality Consultant for the Seattle Kraken who assists the Seattle Kraken & partnering groups on all things related to disability. From assisting fans with disabilities, employee experiences, and how they can better improve it each season. Pursuing the goal of creating a flourishing and diverse hockey community, from the youth level all the way to our Pro’s.
APSE Conversations: Chrissy (NJ)
Listen in to this podcast between National APSE’s Erica Belois-Pacer and New Jersey Business & Industry Association Chief Government Affairs Officer Chrissy Buteas as they talk about her background in health care and legislative initiatives, plus the workforce shortage and how policymakers are listening to stories told by the people.
MN APSE Podcast: If You Believe It You Can Achieve It
Listen in to the MN APSE podcast episode!
Host Chris Davies talks with self-advocate, trainer and psychologist Bob Wagner (St. Paul. Wagner shares his personal story of disability and getting back to work, talks about the failures of the system over the last forty years and what we can all do to do better.
APSE Conversations: Suad (CA)
Meet Suad Bisogno, Vice President of California APSE (Cal APSE). Suad is the Executive Director of an organization providing employment, and other supports to people with disabilities. In this podcast episode, Suad talks with National APSE’s Kari Tietjen about Cal APSE’s efforts in supporting the 5-year elimination of 14(C) or sub-minimum wage for people with disabilities. Cal APSE has organized to be an efficient chapter, hear how tools like Slack have supported the chapter to be responsive to legislative advocacy, HCBS changes, and Employment First in the state of California!
APSE Conversations: Christine (GA)
Meet Christine Gudgin, President of Georgia APSE and employment support professional with Briggs & Associates. She talks with National APSE’s Erica Belois-Pacer and Kari Tietjen about how she started in…
Lorie and Luis (Arizona) – NDEAM2021
New APSE podcast! Meet Lorie (Arizona)! Lorie Sandaine is an Arizona APSE leader and CESP credential holder. She and moved to Tucson Arizona from Washington state. In this APSE podcast, Lorie and National APSE’s Kari Tietjen speak about AZ APSE, NDEAM, and how Lorie found inspiration from her mother to do this work.
Stirling (Vermont) – NDEAM2021
New APSE podcast! Meet Stirling (Vermont)!
“I’m making a difference for young adults to have an option of going to post-secondary education programs.”
Shannon (Washington) – NDEAM2021
New APSE podcast! Meet Shannon (Washington)! Shannon is new to the field of employment supports, working out of the Northwest Center in Spokane. She has a background in Special Education and shares her experience with having a disability herself impacts her work.
Brianna (Maryland) – NDEAM2021
New APSE podcast! Meet Brianna (Maryland)! She works at Kennedy Krieger in Maryland, and shares her employment story with National APSE’s Erica Belois-Pacer.
Wade (Minnesota) – NDEAM2021
Wade is a business owner in Minnesota, running a handyman business. He speaks on the APSE podcast with National APSE’s Erica Belois-Pacer. He now employes several employees, including four with…
Wendy (California) – NDEAM2021
New APSE podcast! Meet Wendy (California)!
“Employment is the key to independence.” Wendy works with the Helen Keller center and closely with Deaf/Blind individuals to support employment. Listen in to hear more about her experience coming to the United States.
Maricela (New York) – NDEAM2021
Meet Maricela (New York)! Maricela Perez joined the Project SEARCH®️ program at Jewish Senior Life in the fall of 2019. Previously, she had been working with another local community-based employment…
Robert (New Jersey) – NDEAM2021
New APSE podcast! Meet Robert (New Jersey)!
“Employment First matters because everyone should be given the chance to work if they want to be more self-sufficient. It also gives the person who works the respect they deserve from society.”
Frank (Michigan) – NDEAM2021
Meet Frank (Michigan)! Frank works at McDonald’s in Michigan, starting with cleaning and taking out the trash at McDonald’s. Now he is cross-training on the grill and will learn to…