Welcome to the Employment First Webinar Series
Allison Wohl Host Executive Director of APSE Presenters David Mank Indiana Institute on Disability and Community Indiana University Derek Nord Institute on Community Integration University of Minnesota David Hoff Institute on Community Inclusion University of Massachusetts
The Road to Employment First E mployment First
Evolving Mission: Thirty Years • A safe place for people to go during the day. • A place for people to go to learn daily living skills. • A place for people to go to prepare for work. • A place for people to go to work with others who have disabilities. • Support for people to work in the community. • Support for people with disabilities to choose and prosper in community jobs.
Employment • From impossible to possible ….. • From possible to beneficial ….. • From beneficial to allowed ….. • From allowed to preferred ….. • From preferred to expected …..
The Current Landscape
The Enforcer
“Any darn fool can make something complicated; it takes genius to achieve simplicity.” - Woody Guthrie
Employment First: What Is It? General theme: Employment in the community is the first/primary service option for individuals with disabilities APSE Statement on Employment First Employment in the general workforce is the first and preferred outcome in the provision of publicly funded services for all working age citizens with disabilities, regardless of level of disability .
• Employment First Movement now in 45+ States • 30+ States with an Official Policy
Employment First 45+ states have some type of “ Employment First” movement 2015 About 2/3 of efforts are directed by state policy units or are legislatively based About 1/3 of efforts are grassroots based – i.e., outsiders working to influence state policy and practice At least 30 states have official Employment First legislation and/or polices
14 have passed legislation 30 States with Policies: The remaining 16 are A Closer Look Executive Orders, policy directives, etc. 16 state polices are cross- disability ◦ Remainder ID/DD
Clear state policy: EMPLOYMENT Employment as FIRST FIRST: PRIORITY Broadly focused on ALL aspects of system: funding, data, quality assurance, polices and procedures, training/staff development, procurement, service providers, etc. May begin in grassroots, but ultimately must be adopted and implemented by the system
" Ne ve r mistake ac tivity for ac hie ve me nt. " - John Wooden
Time for a Poll
Discussion: Employment First Where are we at? Where are we going? What’s getting in our way ?
Disability Right Core Values are Constant • Innate strengths and capacity. • Disability does not need fixing. • Separate is never equal. • Life in the community is paramount.
“ When somebody say it’s not about the money, it’s about the money. ” - H.L. Mencken
“ If you c an ’ t me asur e it, I ’ m not inte r e ste d. ” • Laurence J. Peter
# of individuals in Wages Hours competitive integrated employment vs. alternatives Dollars spent on Support Hours integrated employment vs. alternatives Cost per placement Business vs. Funding Sources provider payroll
Making Data system in System place that tracks Accountable outcomes : providers, system, across systems Publicly available employment “report card” ◦ System and individual provider
“ A ship in harbor is safe --- but that is not what ships are built for. ” John A. Shedd
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