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Developing Business Relationships - Unemployment rates, although lower than at the beginning of 2010 in most large metropolitan areas, remains very high. This meant employment specialists needed to engage in organizational marketing and career search. This duplicate function is known as developing corporate relationships and business linkages for building strong future business partnerships. If relationships are carefully built, then partnerships will be developed with the business community.
This approach can make the difference between success and failure in the career search process. Generally, the mistake that many employment specialists make during this process is to focus exclusively on contacting employers for the sole purpose of obtaining a job. Although the ultimate goal is to assist persons with significant disabilities in obtaining employment and building careers, solely pursuing jobs is shortsighted. Read about VCU's Employment Specialists
VCU Autism Center for Excellence
Webcast
Date: 2/14/2012, 3:30 pm Eastern
In My Own Words. My Life with Asperger's Syndrome
Roseanne will present her own personal experiences as an adult woman with Asperger's Syndrome. This webcast will provide an interview with Roseanne giving her the opportunity to talk candidly about her diagnosis, her strengths and personal challenges.
In her own words, Roseanne will outline issues and concerns surrounding obtaining and maintaining employment as a person who struggles with the social world. Additionally, she will discuss supports and services she has found beneficial throughout her lifetime.
Register for this webcast or Register for the Series. Group rates available. * Note: This training is free to Virginia participants.
KTER Center
Technical Brief - Strategies for Reemploying Dislocated Workers with Disabilities
Technical Briefs provide brief summaries of relevant employment research. This first brief describes a June 2011 study to identify strategies for reemploying people with disabilities who lost their jobs due to the economic downturn in 2007-2009 known as "the Great Recession."
Download Strategies for Reemploying Dislocated Workers with Disabilities (PDF version or Word version)
SEDL has established the Center on Knowledge Translation for Employment Research (KTER) in partnership with Virginia Commonwealth University. The KTER Center is funded by The National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research (NIDRR) Project Number: H133A100026
The Center on Transition to Employment for Youth with Disabilities Issue Brief
Do promising vocational interventions benefit at-risk youth?
The postsecondary employment outcomes reported for youth with disabilities in the National Longitudinal Transition Study-2 (NLTS2) (Newman, Wagner, Cameto & Knocy, 2009; Wagner, et al., 2005), the National Council on Disability (2008), and numerous others indicate persisting gaps in post high school employment outcomes for students with disabilities compared to their peers.
The gaps are particularly apparent when comparing the outcomes of youth with disabilities from minority backgrounds to other youth (Newman et al., 2009). Read the Issue Brief
The Center for Transition to Employment is a Disability Rehabilitation Research Project sponsored by The National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research, U.S. Department of Education. The Center is operated by TransCen, Inc. in partnership with Virginia Commonwealth University.
Register for Feb & March Online Courses!
Foundations of ASD: National Autism Online Training Series Feb 13 - Mar 19
Autism Spectrum Disorders are considered to be a lifelong neurological developmental disability which share many characteristics. With the number of individuals diagnosed with autism on the rise, there is a strong probability everyone will encounter someone with ASD either at work or daily life. This course will provide participants with an understanding of the primary characteristics of ASD, which include impairments in communication and social development and the presence of repetitive patterns of behavior. Secondary characteristics, including sensory processing differences and motor deficits will also be explored. The course will discuss the impact ASD has on the person as well as the family unit. The course will also provide an overview of learning styles, the history, cause, and early signs of ASD. Cost: $125 per individual, $500 for 5 individuals. Find out more & Register
Into Adulthood: Transition to Work for Individuals with Autism Feb 27 - Apr 10
More than ever, individuals with autism spectrum disorders are participating in the mainstream of school, work, and the community. Careful transition planning from secondary education is critical for young people with autism spectrum disorders to be successful; however, there is limited information on this topic. This course will provide the participant with an in-depth understanding of the concepts related to positive transition planning for youth with autism. The issues, challenges, and strategies that are involved with helping young people with autism participate to the fullest degree in society will be examined. Cost: $275
Textbook: $23.07
Total: $298.07. Find out more & Register
Customized Supported Self-Employment Mar 5 - May 14
This online course is being offered by VCU-RRTC in collaboration with Griffin-Hammis, Associates. Discussion groups will be led by nationally known experts in self-employment from Griffin-Hammis and Associates. The success rate of small business is surprisingly high, despite widely accepted folklore to the contrary. The U.S. Small Business Administration reports that over 79% of small businesses are still operating after the initial eight years. And, the long term trend in employment is smaller firms. Self employment and small business are a defining characteristic of America's economic landscape, and present a tremendous opportunity for those most challenged by the competitive labor market. Cost: $250 per individual, $1000 for 5 individuals. Find out more & Register
Job Development Mar 19 - Apr 16
Job development is the "process of locating and creating work opportunities for individuals with disabilities". This is achieved by earning an opportunity to engage an employer and from there hopefully moving on to earning a commitment to meet, interview, and hire a specific job seeker. This course covers specific principles associated with job development via online lectures and readings and then requires the learner to take action on his or her behalf to further develop a particular skill. Participants also reflect upon what he or she learned from both the online content and field based experiential activity by sharing personal insights with other course members. Cost: $125. Find out more & Register
Customized Employment Mar 26 - Apr 23
Customized employment is a process for individualizing the employment relationship between a job seeker and an employer in ways that meet the needs of both. It is based on a match between the unique strengths, needs, and interests of the job candidate with a disability, and the identified business needs of the employer or the self-employment business chosen by the candidate. Customized employment uses a flexible blend of strategies, services, supports, and funds to facilitate employment outcomes for job seekers with complex needs through negotiated employment relationships. Cost: $85. Find out more & Register
Annual State of the Science Conference
Race, Ethnicity, and Disability: State of the Science Conference March 1 and 2
VCU Project Empowerment, funded by the National Institute of Disability and Rehabilitation Research (NIDRR), invites you to attend Race, Ethnicity, and Disabilities: State of the Science Conference. Mark your calendar for this conference that will bring expert researchers and educators to present about the state of the science of disability research involving racial and ethnic minorities on March 1 and 2, 2012 at Crystal Gateway Marriott in Arlington, VA.
For more information and Online Registration | Brochure | Registration Deadline is Feb 15.
APSE 2012 National Conference - June 27-29, Pre-Conference Day - June 26, Crystal Gateway Marriott, Arlington, VA
More Information & Online Registration - Early Bird Registration Rates end on Mar 30
The 23rd Annual Conference theme says it all - Employment First: A Capitol Idea! And now is the time to focus our energies on ensuring all people with disabilities have meaningful opportunities to bring their talents to the workplace. The conference will open with Temple Grandin, author, professor at Colorado State University College of Agricultural Sciences, and international speaker on the topic of autism and employment. Dr. Grandin, named one of TIME magazine's "100 Most Influential People in the World" in 2010, will present "Learning Skills and Obtaining Employment for People with Autism and Asperger's Syndrome."
