Let's Work! PBS for Employment 

Please join us for a training on positive behavior supports in the workplace presented by Shaun Wood and Nicolette Christians. This training is sponsored by Snohomish County, and so providers from Snohomish County will have first priority; all others as capacity allows. 

Positive Behavior Support (PBS) systems are empirically validated approaches to reducing challenging behavior by understanding what they communicate and teach functional skills that meet the same need. To reach the mission of typical employment for all people who experience disabilities, supported employment professionals need to understand the fundamentals of behavior, to develop function-based hypotheses, and deploy creative and smart accommodations and supports in community settings. This hands-on workshop will focus on developing these skills in new and experienced employment consultants.

Come prepared to communicate the challenges you face, and we will work together to figure out strategies for building successful partnerships with families, residential support staff and schools utilizing all resources available for successful transition to employment.

You will leave with some strategies, tools, and techniques to better support your efforts in assisting individuals in reaching their employment goals. 

Transition teachers and DVR counselors are welcome to participate!

Meet the presenters: 

Nicolette’s first experience with developmental differences was as the eldest sibling to a brother with cerebral palsy and intellectual disabilities. Nicolette’s brother was the inspiration for her to pursue a career in working with people with developmental dis abilities, which she has done for the past 22 years. As a former faculty member at both Vanderbilt University and the University of Washington, Nicolette’s work has encompassed direct clinical services in the home, clinic, school, community, and employment setting, as well as consultation to schools, families, employment agencies, and residential providers. Much of Nicolette’s previous experience has focused on designing and facilitating autism-specific workshops for parents and professionals. Nicolette has published in peer-reviewed journals, conducted social skills intervention research and facilitated social skills groups for adolescents and adults with ASD. She is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA-D) and serves as a consultant conducting functional assessments and designing positive support plans for individuals, schools and agencies across the Pacific Northwest. 

Shaun is a community developer who is passionate about social justice and equality of opportunity, and has worked to support people with disabilities since 2002. Since then, he continues to work in schools, people’s homes, and job sites helping to build inclusive communities. Shaun is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) and a certified Employment Specialist. He served in the United States Peace Corps in Bulgaria and surrounding countries, and has both his M.Ed. in Applied Behavior Analysis and his B.A. in Political Science and Human Rights from the University of Washington. Shaun is particularly interested in using ABA, emerging technology, reflective processes, and mentorship to drive employment outcomes.