June2017 Monthly News and Updates
Employment First is NOT Employment ONLY- Building Meaningful Days for All
I received feedback from stakeholders regarding the Employment First Frequently Asked Questionsand was asked about better describing how this initiative could impact a person with more significant support needs. Here are some thoughts:
The DDA’s supports and services are designed to be Person Centered in nature. That means they should be based on the unique needs, interests and abilities of each individual person. This includes what is important to someone, as well as what is important for someone to be healthy, happy and safe, and regardless of the level of support needed. In other words: what someone’s day or week looks like can be be different, based on many factors and include a combination of community-based work, and community-based non-work activities.
The DDA has a vision of supporting all people in services to have Meaningful Days. This means moving past the model of cookie-cutter Day Programs, where everyone receives the same supports. Instead, provider agencies are encouraged to provide services that are flexible and meet the person’s needs.
While it is true that many people with more significant support needs (i.e. medical, behavioral, personal care) have often been supported in more segregated group settings (i.e. Day Programs or Sheltered Work Shops), it does not mean that is the only way people can successfully be supported. An important initiative at DDA this year is highlighting what those Meaningful Days look like for people and sharing them for others to see. By sharing these stories, we hope to expand the expectations and perspectives about what is truly possible. See the post below asking for stories!
National Technical Assistance Center on Transition (NTACT) Capacity Building Institute
Maryland, along with 8 other states, is currently receiving intensive technical assistance (TA) to support those states' efforts in improving the state-level coordination of transition services leading to an increase in employment and post-secondary education outcomes for students and youth with disabilities in Maryland. Maryland's team partners include Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE), The University of Maryland, Maryland Department of Disability (MDOD), The Maryland Coalition for Inclusive Education (MDCIE), The Division of Rehabilitation Services (DORS), the Department of Labor Licensing and Regulation (DLLR) and The Developmental Disabilities Administration (DDA).
DDA, along with the other Maryland partners in transition, traveled to Kansas City, Missouri in May to take part in the annual National Technical Assistance Center on Transition's (NTACT) Capacity Building Institute (CBI). A total of 38 states were represented at the CBI and participated in sessions geared toward state-to-state mentoring, sharing and networking. The 4 day conference also built in time for state teams to discuss and plan regarding their own state systems and strategies. Maryland has a strong team, focusing heavily on the development of joint Memorandums of Understanding (MOU) regarding data sharing and flow of services that will streamline transition services for youth with disabilities in Maryland. While many states are working toward MOUs between state education systems and division of rehabilitation agencies, Maryland's work includes a more comprehensive collaborative spanning all the state agencies represented.
Picture:Maryland's team see here recording an interview about the state’s work regarding Transition Services.
(top to bottom, left to right) Staci Jones (DDA), Jade Gingrich (MDOD), Carolynette Scott (DLLR), Amy D'Agoti (UMD), Terah Tessier (DDA), Jill Pierce (DORS), Christy Stuart (MSDE)
Employment First Community of Practice-Kick-off Meeting
“Communities of Practice (CoP) are groups of people who share a concern or a
passion for something they do and who interact regularly to learn how to do it
better.”
On May 31, DDA hosted Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP) Subject Matter Expert, Ces Coulson from Washington State to help us kick off Maryland’s Employment First Community of Practice (CoP). Representatives from providers across the state representing all 4 regions, came together to learn more about what a CoP is and how to create them. Each region left with, identification of regional leadership, action plans on how to move forward and areas of concentration for regional training needs, including: transportation, rural job development and better outreach to employers.
Picture: ODEP SME Ces Coulson, Executive Director of Washington Initiative for Supported Employment (
WISE).
Disability Employment Initiative (DEI)
The DDA is pleased to be partnering with the Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation (DLLR), The Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE), The Behavioral Health Administration (BHA), Division of Rehabilitation Services (DORS), Worksource Montgomery and Anne Arundel Workforce Development Corporation (AWDC) in the Disability Employment Initiative. Desired outcomes of this initiative are to expand the capacity of American Job Centers (AJCs) to improve education, training and employment outcomes for adults with disabilities, including those with significant disabilities.
The target areas for this pilot initiative are the Anne Arundel and Montgomery County AJC locations. DDA providers that will be partnering in these areas include CHI, The Arc of Central Chesapeake, The Arc of Montgomery County, Providence Center, Opportunity Builders Incorporated and Kennedy Institute of Catholic Charities. Staff at the partner AJCs will receive training on Customized Employment, as well as training on how to support people with I/DD and behavioral health needs.
The ABLE Act-NEWS BRIEF
Click HEREto read a brief from The Lead Center on:
The ABLE Act and Employment: Strategies for Maximizing the Effectiveness of the Achieving a Better Life Experience (ABLE) Act as a Tool for Financial Stability and Employment Outcomes of People with Disabilities
Employment First Resources-Updated Links
Click here to go to our updated Employment First Resource page. Do you have a resource you think is worthy of sharing? Let me know at
DDA’s Organizational Transformation Series- Reminder
If you didn’t get a chance to view the first two webinars in our Organizational Transformation Series, both are availablehereon our website.
Register for the rest of the series by going to the DDA training calendar .
July 21, 2017 (10:00am-12:00pm- Webinar #3 (Using self-assessment to build action plans)
August 18, 2017 (10:00am-12:00pm- Webinar #4 (Part two of building action plans)
September 15, 2017 (location: The Meeting House, Columbia, MD) all-day in-person mentoring meeting (bring your action plans)
(Link to Deputy Secretary Simons’ memo about the transformation series here)
Employment First and Community Inclusion Stories
I received a wonderful story from Kimberly Nicholls about her daughter, Kailyn Gibson. Kailyn, now 8 years old, was born a “mico-preemie”, and has had to face countless medical complications, procedures and therapies as well as several disability diagnoses. In Kailyn’s 8 years she has seen a total of 31 different doctors, specialists, therapist, and aides and has received inpatient and outpatient supports and services.
By building community supports through recreation,Kailyn’s family has been able to recreate the same support system she gained during her time receiving intensive medical inpatient services. Kimberly Nicholls explains, “Kailyn is a gold level gymnast with hopes of being a Paralympian. She also has begun taking dance classes at Marcellus Dance Studio where she studies ballet, jazz, tap, hip-hop, and modern. You would barely know Kailyn ever struggled with gross motor skills.”
“Kailyn also plays piano at Bach to Rock music academy Bethesda, MD to address her fine motor skills issues. She has dysgraphia and it is hard for her to write, but she is on grade level, even if the writing is a little sloppy. Ms. Nicholls goes on to say “being involved with the community really helps mydaughterovercome the social issues that can be caused by Autism. She is a very outgoing, confident, and well-spoken individual. I hope herstoryinspires you.”
Even though Kailyn is 8 years old, stories like these are important to tell as it highlights the part community life plays in someone’s life. The friends Kailyn makes today will be her co-workers and community support system in the future. That is what Employment First is all about!
Here is Kailyn!
Looking for Stories
Do you have success stories or promising practices to share related to competitive, integrated employment or community integration? If so, please contact me at
Things we would like to highlight:
- Self-employment
- Use of technical assistance
- Creative supports and services for people with medical or personal care needs
- Stories about community membership
- Creative organizational structures, policies, trainings or service models
Want more information about Employment First?
- Go to DDA’s Employment First Page
- Are you on our Employment First mailing list? If not, sign uphere
- Questions or comments email