Tuesday, July 17, 2012

 8:00am – 9:15am          Registration & Breakfast Buffet

 9:15am – 9:30am          Welcome

 9:30am – 10:30am         Keynote – “Building an Inclusive Workforce"

Kathleen Martinez, Assistant Secretary, ODEP, US DOL

 10:45am- 12Noon          Managed Care and Vocational Services and Supports

Learn from a panel on how care coordination under managed care will embrace and ensure that people with disabilities are successful in securing and retaining employment.

Gary Lind, Senior Associate Executive Director, NYSARC, Inc

Julie Strenn, Provider Network Director, Community Care Central Wisconsin

Darren Bienvenue, Director of Service Coordination, Community Care Central Wisconsin

12Noon - 1:00pm           Lunch

 1:15pm – 2:30pm         Self Sufficiency Continuum – Understanding Roles and Strategies

This session will discuss the economic self-sufficiency continuum, it’s importance to individuals with a disability as well as the role of work incentives practitioners, case managers, rehab workers or social workers in assisting individuals with a disability to become self-sufficient. Strategies for connecting consumers to financial literacy training and support as well as the importance of forging collaborations with agencies that promote economic self-sufficiency will be discussed.

          Edwin J.  Lopez-Soto, J.D., Cornell ILR, Employment and Disability Institute Extension Faculty

 2:45pm – 4:00pm         Community Engagement and Coordination – The Road to Job Development and Entrepreneurship

A panel session offering insights learned/tools developed through:

• A successful county-wide engagement and coordination effort of mainstream business resources, disability advocates/service providers and aspiring entrepreneurs.
• Expanded vision of job seekers' (and job developers') roles: Engaging job seekers in tapping and developing their own social networks (both through social media and face-to-face networking opportunities)

Helen Edelstein, Director, Vocational Transition Center, Gateway Community Industries, Inc.

Lydia Diaz, Mental Health Systems Specialist, Ulster County Department of Mental Health

Lucille Ruggieri, Vocational Coordinator, Gateway Community Industries, Inc.

Ruthanne Abramovich, VP of Vocational and Housing Services, MHA Westchester

4:00pm – 5:00pm         Employer Roundtable: Perspectives on Hiring People with Disabilities

Join us for an engaging conversation with business owners about the possibilities and challenges of integrating people with disabilities into the NYS workforce.  We will discuss:

• What motivates HR Directors to hire people with disabilities
• Ways that Employment Specialists and Employers can work together
• Typical accommodations requested
• The need for concrete technical skills in the workforce
• Developing an open/honest work environment

 We hope you will add your voice to the conversation.

             Aaron Vieira, LMSW, Assoc. Dir., Center for Rehabilitation & Recovery, The Coalition of 

                Behavioral Health Agencies, Inc.

             Laura M. Francis, Acting Director, National Business & Disability Council (NBDC)

             Laura Golden, Ernst and Young (invited)

             Chris Micka, NY Life (invited)

             Anne Marie Martino, Human Resources Manager, Duane Reade

  Wednesday, July 18, 2012

 7:30am – 8:15am          Registration & Breakfast 

8:15am – 8:30am           Welcome Back

8:30am – 9:30am           Employment and the NYS Olmstead Plan       

Join a facilitated focus group discussion and provide feedback on the draft outline of the New York State Olmstead Plan.  Advocates will have an opportunity to provide input on the draft plan for integrated employment supports and services for people with disabilities across New York State.

                Facilitated by: Members of the Most Integrated Settings Coordinating Council (MISCC)

 9:45am – 10:45am       Concurrent Sessions                     

Session 1: Cross Systems Incentives, data and reporting - NYESS

This session will review how the NYESS system, in joining forces with the NYS DOL OSOS, was designed to offer cross system collaboration. It was created to offer opportunities for job seekers with disabilities to access new and different services and supports and feel that they are part of an inclusive workforce in New York State.

                 John Allen, Special Assistant to the Commissioner, Director - Bureau of Recipient Affairs, NYS OMH

Session 2: Q: What Assessments are Best for Vocational Services? A: ALL Assessments IF You Know What to Use

When supporting individuals seeking employment we have access to a variety of assessments: vocational, cognitive, and behavioral. During this interactive session join us for a discussion and review of the range of these assessments including how to use information to assist in developing jobs to fit your individuals unique strengths, how to glean the most from various assessments, and free/low cost tools for your use.

Diane Woodward, Coordinator of Transition Services at Wildwood School

 11:00am – 12Noon       LUNCH

 12:15pm – 1:15pm       Concurrent Sessions          

Session 3: Asset development and benefit planning

A presentation to include information on financial literacy expectations, insurance, assessment development and benefit myth busting

              Edwin J.  Lopez-Soto, J.D., Cornell ILR, Employment and  Disability Institute Extension Faculty

              Kelly Stengel, NYAPRS

Melinda Burns, CASH Coalition

 Session 4: Regional Economic Development Councils and Workforce Development

Learn how state agencies are working in collaboration to make New York's regions more competitive through Regional Economic Development Councils, agency initiatives, and other ways of working in partnership at the state and local level to ensure a skilled workforce.

    Anthony Joseph, Deputy Director, Bureau of Workforce Innovation, NYS DOL

    Megan Daly, Deputy Director, Regional Economic Development Councils, Empire State Dev. Corp.

 1:30pm – 2:30pm         Concurrent Sessions

 Session 5: Community engagement, staff skill building

There is no question that a core responsibility for citizenship is to be productive and to contribute to the greater good. Yet, people with disabilities are often excused from the expectation of employment. This session counters that exclusion and offers six easy steps to facilitating individualized job development and connection to associational life.

                Carol Blessing, LMSW, Cornell University

Session 6: Reasonable accommodations and adaptive technology

Small business hire during good times and not so good times.  A small company’s workforce typically includes people with disabilities.  This session will share ideas for the small business owner on adaptable and economical means for reasonable accommodations.

               Karen A. Thayer, Executive Director, Southern Adirondack Independent Living Center

 2:30pm – 3:00pm         REPORT OUT and NEXT STEPS

Earn up to 9.75 CRC hours!

Register Now! 

*The event schedule could change. Any changes will be listed here, on the event website & will be available at registration on July 17 & 18