Employment First
APSE Podcast: COVID-19, APSE, and Employment
This podcast is a recording of the APSE NDEAM event from Thursday, October 14th. Listen in to hear from Julie Christensen, APSE’s Executive Director and Director of Policy & Advocacy, plus John Butterworth (ICI UMass Boston) and Brian Shepley with Source America. Talking all things disability employment, what COVID-19’s impact has been on the job market, and how providers of employment supports are adjusting as we look forward.
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…
Angela (Ohio) – NDEAM2021
Meet Angela Pinson, with Buckeye Community Services in Ohio! She’s a Certified Employment Support Professional™ and works directly with people with disabilities. Listen to a podcast with Angela and National APSE’s Kari Tietjen.
Nicholas (Ohio) – NDEAM2021
Meet Nicholas (Ohio)! “I am grateful to be going to work this morning. I enjoy going to work and I am always in uniform.” Nicholas is a receiving clerk, responsible…
APSE Conversations with the National Board: Cindy Burns
Meet the APSE National Board of Directors and their newest members. Cindy Burns joins the podcast from the state of Georgia. Cindy shares her background in this field, how she grew up and how that impacted her career, and highlights the successes of the last several decades. Cindy is the incoming delegate for the Southeast region, serving chapters in Kentucky, Tennessee, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Alabama, and Florida.
MN APSE Podcast: If You Believe It You Can Achieve It
Listen in to the MN APSE podcast episode!
Self-advocate Riss Leitzke joins host Chris Davies to talk about their experience overcoming dual-sensory loss and landing a dream job at Wilderness Inquiry. The podcast is interpreted in ASL by Emily Engel.
APSE Conversations: Brittany Edwards-Sharpe with New Mexico
Brittany Edwards-Sharpe is on the podcast to talk about what training and support have looked like for employment support professionals in the state of New Mexico! Over the last few years, New Mexico has committed to providing training to professionals and Brittany has supported professionals in New Mexico to be trained through the College of Employment Services and go through training and certification to earn their CESP. Listen in to hear more from this conversation, focused on employment and the professionals working in this field.
APSE Conversations: David King and Kate Travis Talking Employment
Meet David King in Ohio and Kate Travis in Connecticut. Both are Certified Employment Support Professionals™ (CESPs), and lead teams focused on employment supports. In this conversation, David and Kate are joined by National APSE’s Kari Tietjen to talk about leading employment teams, what makes quality employment support professionals, and how they use CESP to supplement their staff development.
MN APSE Podcast: If You Believe It You Can Achieve It
Listen in to the MN APSE podcast episode!
Long-time APSE contributor and one of the pillars of customized employment in the state, Bob Niemiec joins host Chris Davies to talk about the early days of supported employment, the birth of MN APSE and what’s left to be done today.
APSE Conversations: CESP With Nikki Chartier, CO
Meet Nikki Chartier of Pueblo Diversified Industries (PDI) in Pueblo, CO in this podcast episode with Kari Tietjen (National APSE’s Certification Director). Nikki leads an employment team supporting individuals with disabilities to find and keep jobs in the community. In this episode, Nikki and Kari talk about the importance of job fit and the considerations of finding a job. Plus, having employment staff that are knowledgeable and trained are essential to the success of Employment First. Hear about Nikki’s team (all CESP certified!) and how they are trained.
APSE Conversations: CESP With Emily Harris, OR
Today’s podcast features National APSE’s Kari Tietjen (Certification Director) and Emily Harris, CESP of Oregon. Emily works with WISE to provide training and consultation to help employment for people with disabilities. Learn more at www.gowise.org Emily also shares upcoming events with Oregon APSE, so listen for that! Emily has worked with the Council during the transition from paper-based exams and shares her fond memories of proctoring the CESP. Emily also works to Co-Chair the Recertification Committee and provides updates of what the Committee has done to support mentoring as well as trainers with a Pre-Approval process!
APSE Conversations: CESP With Renee Cencer, MI
Today’s podcast features National APSE’s Kari Tietjen (Certification Director) and Renee Cencer, CESP of Michigan. Renee shares how she learned about the Certified Employment Support Professional™ credential, and the role it has played in her own professional development. Renee has been a volunteer with CESP and serves as one of the folks available to answer questions about the credential. Join the Q&A Wednesday, learn more about the CESP, ask questions, and feel confident that you know how to earn and keep your credential.