Worksupport.com e-NewsletterInformation, resources and research about work and disability issues
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Webcast
Date: March 13, 2012, 3:30pm Eastern
Making the Most of Students' High Focus, Obsession, and Interest Areas -
Presenter: Kathy Morris
When students with cognitive disorders, such as autism, Asperger's, or other developmental disorders obsess on a particular topic to the point that it appears to interfere with learning and socialization skills, parents or educators may become frustrated and want the "obsessions" extinguished. In this webcast, many practical strategies will be presented that the educator or parent can implement to provide a way to "meet the need so that the behavior extinguishes itself", or in many cases, can be limited. Kathy will demonstrate that this can be accomplished by using a natural source, a student's high interest area, whether it is used to increase desirable behavior or to motivate him to complete his academic work successfully. Kathy will review practical strategies for encompassing student interests in positive and productive ways.
Register for this webcast or Register for the Series. Group rates available. Cost: $50. * Note: This training is free to Virginia participants.
The Center on Transition to Employment for Youth with Disabilities Issue Brief
Evaluating the Implementation and Outcomes of Secondary Supported Employment Programs for Students with Intellectual or Developmental Disabilities
Supported employment increasingly has become understood by professionals, parents, employers, and individuals with disabilities as a valuable way to provide essential support for jobseekers with disabilities who have never worked before or who are considered as not having the potential to succeed (e.g., Luecking, 2009; Wehman, Inge, Revell & Brooke, 2007). This approach focuses on the use of a trained employment specialist working collaboratively with the business to enhance the training and productivity of the worker with a disability. This brief will outline a study involving school-based supported employment programs in Virginia to generate new knowledge regarding the effectiveness of these programs as an employment-focused transition practice for youth with intellectual or other developmental disabilities. What we know
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.
APSE 2012 National Conference - June 27-29, Pre-Conference Day - June 26, Crystal Gateway Marriott, Arlington, VA
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. Early Bird Registration Rates end on March 30!!
More Information & Online Registration
March & April Online Courses!
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
Supported Employment for Individuals with Traumatic Brain Injury Apr 2 - Apr 30, 2012
Early demonstration projects back in the late 1980's and 90's paved the way for using a supported employment approach for someone who has sustained traumatic brain injury (TBI). Although the principles and values associated with the individual approach to supported employment remain consistent, there are some different considerations an employment specialist should take into account when serving a person with a TBI. This course will offer participants an overview of TBI and the supported employment literature suggestions on specific strategies to use to get to know the job seeker, look at possible workplace supports with an emphasis on compensatory memory strategies and some insight into ways to provide pro-active job retention services. Cost: $125. Find out more & Register
KTER Center - Workshop for NIDRR and RSA Grantees
Barriers and Supports for Research Use,
April 28, 2012
SEDL's Center on Knowledge Translation for Employment Research (KTER) is hosting a workshop on "Barriers and Supports for Research Use" from 8:30 AM–1:00 PM on Saturday, April 28, 2012 at the Hilton Alexandria Old Town, 1767 King Street, Alexandria, VA.
Invited participants are grantees of NIDRR and RSA focusing on employment research. There is no charge to attend, but space is limited to 24 participants. This interactive workshop will present strategies for overcoming obstacles as well as ways to promote the use of high quality research information to support employment of people with disabilities.
Find out more information about the workshop and its presenters
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
