In this webinar, Dr. Olivia Raynor and Kecia Weller discuss: - What Employment First is and is not - About some of the benefits of working - About the California Employment Consortium for Youth with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (CECY) - What things you can do if you want to work Dr. Olivia Raynor is Director and Kecia Weller is Self Advocacy and Community Liaison at the Tarjan Center at UCLA. Dr. Raynor and Ms. Weller are also members of the Employment First Committee of the State Council on Developmental Disabilities. Dr. Raynor is also the Director of CECY.

1. Welcome to the USC UCEDD Webinar Series
for Individuals with Disabilities & Parents
funded by grant #90DD0695 from
the Administration on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (AIDD)
Administration on Community Living
September 29, 2016

2. Your Moderator
2
Susan Kanegawa
USC UCEDD Family Support Coordinator
skanegawa@chla.usc.edu
www.uscucedd.org
The USC University Center of Excellence in Developmental Disabilities at Children’s Hospital
Los Angeles (USC UCEDD) is one of 68 UCEDDs funded to promote systemic change,
advocacy, and capacity building in states on behalf of individuals with, or at risk for,
developmental, behavioral and/or special health care needs, and their families.
The USC UCEDD Webinar series is designed to educate the community about current policy
issues which impact the lives of people we serve and their families. Our primary audience is
individuals with special needs and their families. At this time, our webinars are in English only.
We are exploring methods to make this series available in other languages in the future.
2

3. Structure and Logistics
3
Take notes Type your questions
Download
slides
Watch and
Share
Take
Survey
During the Webinar
After the Webinar
Give your opinion
3

4. Poll:
Can you hear Susan, Olivia and Kecia?
•4
Let us know in the chat box if we need
to speak louder.
4

5. “I Got Hired!”
Increasing Employment of Youth and Adults
with Developmental Disabilities
Olivia Raynor, Ph.D. and Kecia Weller
U.C.L.A. Tarjan Center
September 29, 2016
5

6. About Our Presenters
Olivia Raynor
Director of the Tarjan Center,
a University Center for
Excellence in Developmental
Disabilities, and Adjunct
Professor in the Department
of Psychiatry and
Biobehavioral Sciences at the
Semel Institute, U.C.L.A.
ORaynor@mednet.ucla.edu
The Tarjan Center is a catalyst for collaboration, innovation, and systems change to advance the
self-determination and inclusion of people with disabilities.
They serve as a bridge between the university and persons with disabilities from state, regional
and local communities, state and local government agencies and community providers.
Kecia Weller
Self-Advocacy and
Community Liaison, at
the U.C.L.A. Tarjan Center
KWeller@mednet.ucla.edu
6

7. What
Employment
First means
What we
have
learned
from C.E.C.Y.
Changes
taking place
If you want
to work
Overview of the Webinar
7

8. Webinar Overview
By the End of This Webinar,
Participants Should Be Able to…
• Understand the definition of Employment First
• Describe some key practices learned through CECY that lead
to competitive integrated employment (CIE)
• To know about key policies creating enhanced or new services
in education, rehabilitation, and the regional center for CIE
• Identify some next steps to take if you want to work or
advance in your career
8

9. What
Employment
First means
What we
have
learned
from C.E.C.Y.
Changes
taking place
If you want
to work
What Employment First Means for Youth
& Adults with Developmental Disabilities
9

10. Employment First Philosophy
Employment Is a Win/Win for Everybody
• Everyone can work and there is a job for everyone
• Individuals, schools, families and businesses must raise their
expectations
• People with developmental disabilities (DD) are hired because
of their ability
• Communities embrace people who contribute
• Not working should be the exception
• People are healthier, safer & happiest with meaningful work
• Employment is not a social service.
• Employment is a win/win for everybody.
10

11. What Does Employment First Mean?
Employment First = Competitive
Integrated Employment
• It’s a paid job – at least minimum wage — $10 an hour in CA
• The job is in the community ― in typical workplace settings
• The person is paid directly by their employer
• Fully integrated with co-workers without disabilities
• The person receives the same benefits as any other worker
doing the same work
• Support and accommodations are provided as needed
11

12. What Employment First Is NOT
• A program, plan or service – it is a philosophy, a set of beliefs
about the capability of people with disabilities to work
• Employment First is not employment only, it is about enabling
individuals with developmental disabilities to be a part of the
community and live more independent and productive lives
12

13. Employment First
As Systems Change
APSE, June, 2014
13

14. California’s Employment First Policy
From WIC Sect. 4869(a)(1)
October 9, 2013
“It is the policy of the state that opportunities for
integrated, competitive employment shall be given
the highest priority for working age individuals with
developmental disabilities regardless of the severity
of their disabilities.”
14

15. Definitions: Employment, Unemployment,
and Labor Force Participation
• People who work are employed
• People who are not working and seeking work are
unemployed
• People who are neither employed nor unemployed
are not in the labor force
15

16. National Disability Employment Statistics
Ages 16 years and Over
• Labor Force Participation
– People with disabilities: 19.8%
– People without disabilities: 68.8%
• Unemployment Rate
– People with disabilities: 11.3%
– People without disabilities: 4.8%
ODEP, August 2016
16

17. The majority of working age
people with disabilities are
not in the labor force.
17

18. Fast Facts About Employment in California
for People With Developmental Disabilities
82,963 individuals with I.D.D. are served by the regional
center system
• 12.5% earned wages
• $6,776 in annual earnings
• 76% attend day programs
DDS (2014), Annual Report Employment and Day Services
18

19. Youth with I.D.D. Expect and Want to Work, Go to
College, and Be Involved in Their Communities
• Youth today experienced the benefits
of IDEA, technology, and K-12 inclusion
• Most 15-19 year olds with D.D.
expected to go to some P.S.E. and get
a paid job in their future (NLTST-2)
• Youth want to learn and socialize with
age appropriate peers, make friends,
have a life!
• Youth want to work, earn money, buy
things!
19

20. What Does
Employment First
Mean to Me?
• Gainful employment is the work that I do every day
• I feel productive and contribute to the work place
• I have a sense of purpose and feel needed
• I have friends at work
• Tracy’s Story
20

21. What
Employment
First means
What we
have
learned
from CECY
Changes
taking place
If you want
to work
What We Have Learned From CECY About
Competitive Integrated Employment
21

22. The California Employment Consortium
for Youth and Young Adults With IDD.
Our Mission……
To stimulate policy change and build capacity in California
state systems and local communities to increase the
number of youth and young adults with IDD in competitive
integrated employment
22

23. Where We Started:
The California Landscape
Stiglingh, Piet: Senwes Grain Silos. [Photograph]. Retrieved from:
http://www.xtraspace.co.za/blog/articles/five-of-the-worlds-biggest-storage-spaces-no5
23

24. Laying the Foundation:
Collaborative Leadership
(and “Developing the We”)
24

25. Youth Advisory Committee
“It was great to be talking about
internships with someone who
has been in an internship.”
25

26. CECY Workgroups
Data Nerds
America’s Next Top Models
Outreachers
Policy Change Artists
Unbroken
Chain
26

27. Data Dashboard
http://scdd.ca.govemployment_data_dashboard.htm
27

28. Strategies that Work
Local Successful Employment Models
• Person Centered Planning
• Use of multi-media marketing
materials
• Collaborative Partnerships
• Diversified access to various funding
streams
• Engagement of families
Spotlight on…
28

29. 7 Community Conversations
29

30. What
Employment
First means
What we
have
learned
from C.E.C.Y.
Changes
taking place
If you want
to work
Changes Taking Place in California That
Affect Self-Advocates Who Want to Work
30

31. Significant Changes in Policy and Practice
• Americans with Disabilities Act/Olmstead
• Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA)
• Medicaid Home and Community Based Waiver
• California Competitive Integrated Employment Blueprint
• California Legislation ABX2-1
Lots of moving
parts
31

32. What
Employment
First means
What we
have
learned
from C.E.C.Y.
Changes
taking place
If you want
to work
What You Can Do If You Want to Work
32

33. What Can You Do If You Want to Work?
There Is No One Path!
• I want to work and I am in high school
• I have a job but would like a better one or move up
• I want a job! I want to find one
• I don’t think I want to work, but I may not know
enough about it
(adapted from Ohio Dept. of Developmental Disabilities, Employment First)
33

34. I Want to Work
I am in High School…..
• Advocate for yourself. Share your plan with your transition IEP team.
• You might want to share pictures, or a video, or a PowerPoint that
shows you doing things you like to do
• Ask your transition IEP team if you can take classes that prepare you
for the job you want or to go to college
• Ask for opportunities to work or volunteer
• Ask for transition services that help you explore education and
training opportunities and careers
• Most important–GET PAID WORK EXPERIENCE!
CA Transition Alliance and CECY (2016), I Want to Work, I Know I Can.
34

35. 35
CA Transition Alliance and
CECY (2016), I Want to
Work, I Know I Can.
Steps I Need to Take
to Get a Job

36. Kecia’s Work Experience
• I have been working since I was 9 years old—I have
always been an entrepreneur!
• Non-competitive jobs—did not pay me what I was
worth
• Competitive jobs
36

37. Kecia’s Work Today
• Currently working as the Self Advocacy and Community
Liaison at the Tarjan Center
– Uses a job coach to support her work at times
• Governor Appointed Member of the State Council on
Developmental Disabilities
• Other activities, committees
37

38. “One thing we can agree on is this; we must seize this
opportunity to create new possibilities for competitive
integrated employment for every person with a disability
who wants a job, along with the resources, relationships
and meaning that comes from working.”
David Mank, DOL blog, July 13, 2015
Chairman, Advisory Committee on Increasing Competitive Employment
for People with Disabilities
38

39. Resources
Wondering about getting a job or a career change?
• http://www.mynextmove.org/
• http://www.catransitionalliance.org/content.aspx?id=1561
Considering college?
• www.thinkcollege.net
• www.semel.ucla.edu/opendoors
Want to know more about CECY?
• https://www.semel.ucla.edu/tarjan/employment
39

40. Resources
Want to know more about the California CIE Blueprint?
• http://www.chhs.ca.gov/Pages/Competitive-Integrated-
Employment-(CIE).aspx
Need more information about the Home and Community Based
Waiver?
• http://www.dds.ca.gov/Waiver/Home.cfm
Want to read more about Employment First?
• http://www.scdd.ca.gov/res/docs/pdf/Employment_First/Emplo
yment%20First%20Policy%20Summary%20SCDD%20CECY.pdf
40

41. Poll:
Do you now have a better understanding
of Employment First and how it can
help you get a job?
41

42. Ask Us a Question
Please type your questions
(Top-left corner of your MeetingBurner screen)
42

43. Thank you for attending
and interacting!!
You have access to webinar slides, handouts and video recording.
Don’t leave yet!! Please take 3 minutes to answer a survey about
your experience with this webinar.
UCEDD SlideShare
Page
UCEDD YouTube
Playlist
Webinar Evaluation
Survey
43