Implementing a Multi-faceted Employment Strategy in WA State

1. Implementing a Multi-faceted Employment Strategy in WA State Cesilee Coulson Washington Initiative for Supported Employment

2. Employment is hard Families don’t see individuals as employable and are concerned about a full day/week of community supports! We don’t have adequate provider capacity/skill in our region Going to VR is (or can be) painful It is not the right time in today’s economy We don’t have the time-other things take priority What Stakeholders Everywhere Say!

3. General Principles and Stages of Employment First • THE EMPLOYMENT CULTURE • ORGANIZING FOR ACTION 3. LEADERSHIP 4. EDUCATION 5. IMPLEMENTATION

4. The Employment Culture • Bold goals attract bold people • Find the believers & start with them • Everyone has a role • Follow the energy • Be Resourceful • Voracious appetite for learning!

5. “ALL MEANS ALL” From impossible to possible ….. From possible to beneficial ….. From beneficial to allowed ….. From allowed to preferred ….. From preferred to expected ….. From expected to required ….. ….. to the same standard as everyone else - The Alderbrook Paper, D. Mank 2007

6. Why employment?What’s the Value of Employment?

7. Benefits of Employment • Health and Safety • Power and Choice • Status and Respect • Integration in the Physical and • Social Life of Your • Community • Relationships • Competence

8. “Employment is the most direct and cost effective way to accrue all of these benefits at once.” -Linda Rolfe, WA State DDD Director

9. Branding State leadership team formation and strategy definition Co-sponsorship of gatherings from DD and DVR Annual surveys and planning A state website A statewide messaging system, comprehensive email list, and monthly messages Gathering (Ellensburg, Alderbrook, Regional Forums) STORYTELLING Phase 1 – Organizing for Action

10. Phase 2 – LEADERSHIP • State Employment First Policy • Employment legislation • Forums for all stakeholders—learn together • Setting clear and bold goals • Holding ourselves accountable • Stakeholder leadership to spread the message • Leadership from every seat and the conversation begins with employment

11. Employment -- LeadershipBe aware of, share, encourage, join, support, and lead OR/WA Policies WA’s Working Age Adult Policy OR’s Employment First Policy WA’s Legislation 2011

12. Phase- 3 Education OR Tools Talking Points Washington Tools www.peopleworking.wikispaces.com www.gowise.org/Wise-Videos Institute for Community Inclusion (ICI) Tools www.realworkstories.org • Webinars and training events www.gowise.org/wise-events • Innovations to learn through experience-- www.gowise.org/Wise-Projects • On-Demand training https://lms.latitudelearning.com/home/asp_main.aspx?scode=wise/

13. People Working

14. WISE Movies

15. EF Talking Points

16. ICI Real Work Stories

17. Phase 4 – IMPLEMENTATION • Created new websites • www.gowise.org • www.liveinclusive.org • www.wiseemployers.com • Four paths to identify where people are on the pathway • App Development –work autonomy • App Recommendations on Facebook on the WISE Assistive and Information Technology page • Following the Employment First movement— • www.employment-first.org • WISE Facebook, Twitter, Linked IN

18. Work Autonomy App • Built around work autonomy and communications.  • Used in smart phone applications and iPad.  • Functions include but are not limited to: • Work schedule (for example the schedule is sequenced using icons) • Production and work tasks • Personal and outside messaging • Voice over • Photo imaging • Type/Voice • Time clock • Camera

20. OR Employment First

21. Spotlight Moving Forward in Seeing Outcomes and Improving Quality WA Outcome Data OR Outcome Data

22. Gowise.org