Date/Title: February 9, 2010/Supported Employment (SE) Principles &Practices: Doing a Good Job of Facilitating a Good Job

Time: 9:30 AM – 12:30 PM

Location: The Council, 1151 South Fourth Street, Louisville KY 40203
(Parking on street, across the street lot or at the corner of Fourth and St. Catherine- just a hop, skip and a jump to the new office)

Description:  Supported Employment (SE) Principles &Practices: Doing a Good Job of Facilitating a Good Job

Given the tightening job market, the people supported employment is devoted to serving will be among those most vulnerable to unemployment. Now, more than ever, it's essential to remain steadfast about employment for all, and be at the top of our game in the ways we plan with people and provide employment supports.

The presentation will provide a brief overview of the following considerations, signaling the degree of supported employment service quality:

History - Know it! Learn from it! What are SE’s roots and how have services evolved in the last 30 years? The job seekers and businesses we support deserve our best, not 1984 (or 1964) version services.

Discovery – We need to learn all we can about people’s talents, gifts and interests. Often these are obscured and unknown. We need to think way beyond asking, “What do you want to do?” What are better questions; better ways to understand the job seeker and her needs?

Support – We need to understand and honor what’s typical and valued – supplementing as needed, but not supplanting things businesses already have in place to support and train their employees.

Customization – We need to match job seeker contributions with employer needs, in a way that benefits both – without regard for what’s written in job descriptions.

The role of employee – We need to be clear about the role of employee for people with disabilities. All too often, supported employees find themselves working in “community jobs” while assuming the role of agency client, or token disability person instead of employee.

 Resources for additional study will be shared. 

Presenter:  Milton Tyree has had numerous opportunities through the years to develop personal relationships with people who have disabilities and their family members. He has 30 years of experience in the design, development and provision of supports and services that promote participation of people with disabilities within valued aspects of everyday life. Milt lives in Louisville with his wife, Vicky, and daughter, Kaylyn. He provides supported employment training and consultation through the Human Development Institute at the University of Kentucky. Also, Milt serves as a consultant through the Presbyterian Church (USA) encouraging involvement of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities within communities of faith.

REGISTRATION: E-mail registrations are accepted by sending them to brichardson@councilonmr.org. Or call 584-1239, ext. 207 Voice mail reservations can also be made. Please leave a number that you can be reached at during the workweek incase there are changes that effect the lecture.