Maryland Employment First Summit 

IMPORTANT NOTICE!  Enrollment has now reached capacity and registration is closed.  Please contact Nedra Warren at nwarren@mdod.state.md.us to request to be added to the waiting list, in the event cancellations are received prior to the Summit.  Thank you for your interest. 

Register Now! 

 

Employment Summit Agenda

 

8:30-9:00 AM     Registration/Continental Breakfast

9:00-9:05 AM    Welcome   George P. Failla, Jr. Deputy Secretary, MD Department of Disabilities

9:05-9:15 AM   Opening Remarks  Patrick Dooley, Director, Developmental Disabilities Administration, Department of Health and Mental Hygiene

 9:15-10:45 AM  Keynote  Allen I. Bergman, “The Employment First Imperative"

Individuals with disabilities are twice as likely as their peers to live below the poverty line, even with federal income support programs such as SSI.  Employment offers the only escape from poverty and ensures individuals with disabilities are integrated into their communities.  Many states, including Maryland, are engaging in systems change to make employment the first service option considered by individuals with disabilities and their families.  

 Allan I. Bergman, President of HIGH IMPACT Mission-based Consulting & Training is a nationally recognized leader in best practices, public policy and finance with over 40 years of experience at the local, state and national levels. He also is the father and stepfather of two adult daughters with disabilities

11:00-12:15  PM          Session I Breakout Options

• Benefits Counseling—Michael Dalto, Work Incentives Project Director, Maryland Department of Disabilities

• Organizational Change Lessons Learned: Debra Luecking, 
  LueMar Consulting,  Laura Tieman, Penn Mar, and others

• Apps and Tools You Can Use:  Jessie Thomas, Benedictine School  and Rebecca Van Gilder, Van Gilder Consulting

12:15-1:00 PM   Parent Employment Video Premiere/Box Lunch

 

1:00-2:15 PM              Session II Breakout Options

• Community Learning Services:   Andre Coates, MD Community Connections, Chally Brown, Arc of Northern Chesapeake, Michael Glanz, Melwood and consumers(invited)

• Seamless Transition:  Debra Luecking and Carroll County panel (invited)

• Conversion from Facility Based Thinking to Person Centered Employment/Community Outcomes

2:30-3:45 PM              Session III Breakout Options

• Making the Sell to Employers:  Jan Stauffer, Arc of Northern Chesapeake, Neill Christopher, Acadia Manufacturing,  Andre Coates, Maryland Community Connections

• Customized Employment:  Rep from Transcen

 

3:55-4:30 PM  Where Do We Go From Here?          Allan I.Bergman

Event sponsored by Maryland Department of Disabilities, the Developmental Disabilities Administration, DHMH and the Division of Rehabilitation Services, MSDE with funds from the Maryland Medicaid Infrastructure Grant