Community of Practice Webinar Series
Lessons Learned from COVID-19’s Impact on Competitive Integrated Employment (CIE)
October 13th, 2021, 3:00 - 4:00 p.m. EDT
The Employment First State Leadership Mentoring Program (EFSLMP) Community of Practice (CoP) Webinar Series is structured to augment the technical assistance areas of primary focus in Employment First systems change (Capacity Building, Provider Transformation, School-to-Work Transition, Employer Engagement, and Policy/Funding Alignment). CoP participants will benefit from national subject matter experts (SMEs) presenting information and resources to support Employment First efforts.
What have we learned from the COVID-19 pandemic that can assist us in the future to increase competitive, integrated employment for people with disabilities? Are there COVID-19 accommodations that should continue post-pandemic? David Mank, PhD, and Rich Toscano, M.Ed. will discuss their findings on COVID-19’s impact on people with disabilities as they relate to competitive integrated employment and emerging innovative practices. These international leaders conducted six group interviews with national and international leaders on the issue, including:
Leaders in Self-Advocacy.
National Supported Employment Leaders.
Leaders on International Mental Health.
National Competitive Integrated Employment Subject Matter Experts.
Leadership of Supported Decision Making Projects.
Individual Placement and Support Providers.
Webinar Objectives:
By attending this webinar you will learn about the:
Long-term and short-term impacts COVID-19 had on employers, providers and workers with disabilities.
Impacts technology had in making the workforce more and less inclusive for people with disabilities during COVID-19.
Strategies that employers and providers should consider post-COVID-19 to maximize CIE for people with disabilities.
***Register for the Webinar Here*** Speaker Bios David Mank David Michael Mank, Ph.D., is professor emeritus at Indiana University. As a writer and researcher, Mank has an extensive background in education and employment for persons with disabilities. He has authored or coauthored dozens of articles and book chapters. His interests also include transition from school to work and community living. Mank is a member of the editorial boards of Research and Practice for Persons with Severe Disabilities (TASH), the Journal of Vocational Rehabilitation and the Journal of Disability Policy Studies. He is past president of the Association of University Centers on Disabilities. He was a founding board member of the Association of People Supporting EmploymentFirst (APSE). Mank served as chair of the Advisory Committee on Increasing Competitive Integrated Employment for Individuals with Disabilities, which was created in the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act. Rich Toscano, M.Ed. – Rehabilitation has over 43 years’ experience promoting System’s Change and Leadership Development on issues related to Employment, Rehabilitation and Recovery. His diverse background blends expertise in local, state & federal administration of employment services; education & training on current best practices in employment & recovery; and promoting an appreciation for the values associated with Respect for the Individual’s Right to Self Determination as it relates to treatment, recovery and meaningful access to career & employment. Most recently, Rich has worked on projects of national significance with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and Tuscaloosa VA Medical Center – Research & Development Office, as a Mentor Trainer & National Program Evaluation Specialist for integrating evidence-based and customized employment practices into the VA’s vocational programs. Employment First Webinars are recorded, and the links are distributed to the listserv within two business days following the webinar. Please share this announcement with your colleagues! If they are not a current subscriber to ODEP's Employment First mailing list, they can register here.