A basic overview of working with Deaf and Hard of Hearing adults who are using post-secondary programs to transition into employment and a brief overview of the benefits of using a schedule A letter to obtain federal employment.
Learning Outcomes
- Understanding when to encourage clients to obtain an schedule A letter.
- How to encourage students to utilize the Disability Resource Center when working with the university’s Career Centers
- How students should be utilizing the last six months of school to seek employment and develop a plan with their VR counselor to be able to be fully employed by the time they graduate.
This presentation aims to showcase the diverse and life-changing roles of service animals. A panel of service animal handlers and users will highlight various types of service animals, including dogs who guide individuals who are blind or have low vision, dogs for the individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing, service animals for individuals in wheelchairs, those with PTSD, and individuals with autism.
Panelists will include individuals with disabilities, as well as parents. Many will be accompanied by their service animal.
Learning Outcomes
- By the end of the panel, the audience will have a deeper understanding of how service animals improve the lives of people with disabilities.
- By the end of this session, attendees will have a deeper understanding about the level of training and commitment required to make these animals effective helpers.
This presentation will focus on individuals with disabilities who encountered the criminal justice system. It will explore the issues involves and look at some promising programs that are being tried around the country.
Part of the disability policy and advocacy strand, this session will give attendees guidance about how to effectively engage in policy advocacy at the local, state, and federal level.
This 2-part presentation is focused on the fundamentals, and unique attributes, of public policy, legislative proceedings, and agency actions that affect the disability community. Sessions will provide attendees with a deeper understanding of challenges and opportunities within the current public policy environment.
This 2-part presentation is focused on the fundamentals, and unique attributes, of public policy, legislative proceedings, and agency actions that affect the disability community. Sessions will provide attendees with a deeper understanding of challenges and opportunities within the current public policy environment.
Despite advancements in civil rights protections and non-discrimination laws, people with disabilities continued to be employed at much lower rates than their non-disabled peers. This unacceptable practice persists for many reasons, all of which need to end. It is well established that people with disabilities also experience higher rates of poverty. The only route out of poverty is WORK, yet we continue to deny individuals the opportunity for real work at real wages. Let's end this practice now and understand that when everybody works, everybody wins.
Learning Outcomes
- Recognize and accept that employment opportunities are a right for everyone including individuals with significant disabilities.
- Understand multiple strategies/approaches to employment and how to best utilize these to meet employment needs of individuals facing workplace barriers.
- Generate 3 positive statements to support and encourage individuals to seek real jobs at real wages.
Customized Employment is transforming the way individuals with significant disabilities access meaningful work. This session will provide an overview of Arizona’s Customized Employment Pilot, an innovative initiative designed to enhance competitive integrated employment outcomes. Attendees will gain a deeper understanding of the Customized Employment process, including Discovery, job development, and employer engagement. Through real-world examples and insights from the pilot’s implementation, this session will explore how professionals can leverage Customized Employment strategies to create inclusive work opportunities tailored to individual strengths. Join us to learn how Customized Employment is reshaping employment services in Arizona.
Learning Outcomes
- Understand the foundational principles of Customized Employment, including Discovery, job development, and employer engagement.
- Identify key components of Arizona’s Customized Employment Pilot and how it is shaping employment services in the state.
- Learn strategies for implementing CE within their own organizations, including practical tools and lessons learned from pilot implementation.
This session will empower emerging disability advocates with the tools, confidence, and strategies needed to lead in the disability rights movement. By examining the intersection of disability advocacy and social justice, we will emphasize the urgency of advancing equity, access, participation, and rights. Attendees will gain insight into amplifying their voices, mobilizing communities, and driving systemic change. Through practical, actionable strategies, participants will leave prepared to foster leadership in themselves and others, ensuring a lasting impact that moves beyond awareness to meaningful action.
Learning Outcomes
- Participants will discover how to step into leadership roles in disability advocacy, regardless of experience, by adopting social justice principles.
- Participants will gain a deep understanding of the four pillars of social justice (access, participation, and rights etc.) and how these principles shape disability advocacy efforts.
- Participants will learn actionable strategies to develop and foster leadership within themselves and others, enabling them to lead successful advocacy efforts in their communities.
Join us for an insightful presentation on supporting neurodivergent adults in their employment journey. This session is designed for caregivers, family members, and professionals who assist adults with autism and other neurodiversities in finding and maintaining meaningful employment. We'll explore the unique challenges these individuals may face in the workplace and provide practical strategies for success. The presentation will follow the natural progression of the employment process – from effective job searching techniques to interview preparation and workplace success strategies. You'll leave with a deeper understanding of how to support neurodivergent adults throughout their career journey and concrete tools to help them thrive in the workplace.
Learning Outcomes
- Participants will be able to identify at least 3 areas where an employee with autism might struggle in the workplace.
- Participants will be able to explain a minimum of 5 strategies/supports to provide to an employee with autism in the workplace
- Participants will be able to describe supports to provide to a person with autism who is in need of locating a job.
