Plan to Placement Cohort Series 

Through a series of six interactive sessions, a cohort of Supported Employment Providers will be able to gather Person-Centered Employment Planning information to assist individuals leaving school in obtaining Competitive Integrated Employment (CIE) that fits their skills and desired needs.

Cohort participants are asked to attend all 6 sessions. Additionally, we will ask that 5 or 6 participants bring a job seeker who they are currently serving to the January sessions. This series is for King County providers.

Participants will be actively building their skills and at the end of this project, will be able to:

• Gather Person-Centered Employment Plan information
• Utilize Person-Centered information for successful job development
• Use job developing techniques to expedite placement for individuals leaving school

*Please note: this series could be cancelled if registration numbers are too low. Registered attendees will be notified by January 7th if this is the case.

Session Dates

• Wednesday, January 12th 10:00am - 12:00pm PST
• Wednesday, January 26th 10:00am - 12:00pm PST
• Wednesday, February 9th 10:00am - 12:00pm PST
• Wednesday, February 23rd 10:00am - 12:00pm PST
• Wednesday, March 9th 10:00am - 12:00pm PST
• Wednesday, March 23rd 10:00am - 12:00pm PST

 Session Outline & Synopsis

The first two sessions of the Plan to Placement Cohort Series will walk participants through a person-centered employment planning process alongside job seekers chosen by participants. The following four sessions will weave in job development techniques for the job seekers who are currently in job development services. During each session, we will reflect on how to apply the techniques to specific steps on behalf of each job seeker. The goal of this process is that job seekers will be close to placement by the end of the series. Participants time in this cohort can be considered part of the job development process.

1/12 Person-Centered Employment Planning Part 1- "My Day" and Gifts & Strengths (with a Job Seeker)

1/26 Person-Centered Employment Planning Part 2- Strategies for Success, Ideas & Brainstorming, Vision for the Future, and How to Get There (with a Job Seeker)

2/09 Job Development Part 1- Marketing Materials & Video Resumes

2/23 Job Development Part 2- Labor Market Research, Community Mapping, Informational Interviewing

3/09 Job Development Part 3- Common Objections, Features & Benefits

3/23 Job Development Part 4- Negotiating with Employers, Proposals

Debra McLean

Debra is passionate about seeing all people obtain employment. She has been intrigued with community building and person centered planning as a way to see individuals with disabilities succeed in jobs that fit them since 1988. She has worked on a number of projects involving people with disabilities and employment. Debra provides training and consultation on employment and person centered planning in Washington and Oregon, and she has taught classes on these topics at Portland State University in the Teacher Education Program and for Highline Community College. She has worked with schools, families, agencies, businesses, and individuals, both in the U.S. and in Australia. Debra holds an MS in Rehabilitation Counseling and Deafness, and she is an enthusiastic walker and family member.

Katherine Titus

Katherine has 18+ years of experience working with individuals who are planning for work. Katherine has worked with individuals, families, Counties, the Developmental Disability Administration, DVR, employers, and schools to promote equity and empowerment in lives, opportunities, and employment for all. Some of the work Katherine is experienced with include facilitating person-centered employment plans, working with service providers and individuals in WA state and North Dakota to expand person Centered Planning practices, training to groups of 40+ on both Person Centered Planning and self-determination. Katherine also works with employers in Spokane who are looking to expand their work force. In addition, Katherine is a part of the event planning team at WISE, working on conferences around the state that provide information to anywhere from 100-1000 people.