Are you interested in increasing integrated employment opportunities for people with disabilities? Become part of the movement that helps community members and businesses see that people with disabilities want to gain skills and work.
Employment First is designed to improve our state and improve the working lives of people with disabilities. Our goals are:
- Improve our state economy by helping businesses find talent and meet their needs by hiring people with disabilities.
- Create policies and practices that increase the number of people with disabilities being employed in the community.
- Support employment services to help working-age citizens with disabilities get jobs in the community that pay minimum wage or higher.
molly.cooney@wisconsin.gov
608.266.0266
10th Annual Employment First Conference 2024: May 21st, 2024
Join WI-APSE to network, discover best practices, and leave with practical strategies and tools
Registration:
$125 Early Bird Rate (Ends by 4-5-24)
$175 for Professionals (Ends 5-7-24)
$50 for Person with Disabilities and Family Members
If you have any questions, please contact Beth Lohmann at
beth.lohmann@Milwaukeecountywi.gov
Event Details:
- May 21st, 2024
- Kalahari Resort & Convention Center
1305 Kalahari Dr. Wisconsin Dells, WI 53965
What is Person-Centered Planning and Thinking?
Put simply, Person-Centered Planning (PCP) is a way to support people with disabilities to plan their life and the supports they need. By using person-centered approaches, people with disabilities are in charge of how they want their life to go. There are many tools that can be used to guide this planning.
Check out these presentations and handouts by Jenny Felty, Director of Headwaters, Inc., to learn about person-centered planning and some of the many tools that can be used to put people at the center of their planning.
Session 1 Recording
Person Centered Planning: We’ve all heard the term, but what does it actually mean and how can we do it?
Session 2 Recording
Person Centered Thinking: Building an Organizational Culture that Supports Person Centered Planning
Toolkits for Employment First Grantees
Real Life Stories
People with disabilities are capable of meaningful jobs – PSA (Camp Createability)
Jump! Start Partnership Supporting Employment First (Headwaters, Inc. and Nicolet College)
Employment First with James Edming 2018 (Medford Area Senior High)
Employment First Initiative and Legislation 2018 (Medford Area Senior High)
Giving Hope a Place to Work (Waukesha Independence Network)
Expect, Employ, Empower (Lakeside Curative)
Wisconsin Employment First – Medford Community 2016 (Medford Area Senior High)
Wisconsin Employment First – Overview 2017 (Medford Area High School)
Wisconsin Legislation
In 2017 two important pieces of legislation passed that relate to this national movement.
- The Employment First law (AB 625) prioritizes community employment for people with disabilities and aims to increase the number of people in community integrated jobs who are paid wages comparable to people without disabilities.
- The Partners with Business Bill (AB819)provides a small amount of funding for mini-grants to employment service providers, school districts, and funders to implement the support model. This innovative approach helps businesses learn how to hire and support employees with disabilities using co-worker support.
Other Resources
Wisconsin Resources
Wisconsin Association for People Supporting Employment First (WI APSE) advocates for employment for people with disabilities. Wisconsin APSE is a chapter of National APSE.
Employment Planning modules, created by InControl Wisconsin and WI BPDD, are designed to help people with disabilities and those who support them to think about integrated employment options and supports.
National Resources
National APSE (Association of People Supporting Employment First) is a national organization with an exclusive focus on integrated employment and career advancement opportunities for individuals with disabilities.
The State Employment Leadership Network has put together a comprehensive list of Employment First activities, resources, and perspectives throughout the United States.
Real People, Real Jobs uses videos and written stories to highlight the employment successes of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities who are working in paid jobs in their communities.