Disability Inclusion Leadership Training Institute National Service as a Pathway to Employment: Shaping Experiences that Contribute to Success Tuesday, December 11, 2012 Hyatt Crystal City, Crystal City, VA Sheila Fesko – Project Director Nancy Keeler – Training Associate

NextSTEP is funded by the Corporation for National and Community Service (Cooperative agreement #09TAHMA001) and is a project of the Institute for Community Inclusion at UMass Boston. NextSTEP partners with the State Employment Leadership Network of the National Association of State Directors of Developmental Disabilities Services and the US Business Leadership Network.

Learning Objectives Understand the six essential elements of a positive national service experience that allow participants to contribute to the community while gaining valuable skills that can lead to competitive employment Explore effective practices for collaborating with entities that have similar employment goals for People with Disabilities such as SSA/Ticket to Work (TTW), state vocational rehabilitation and developmental disabilities agencies, and federal job centers Develop action plans to implement the six elements of service including pursuing collaborations with disability agencies

Impact of Service Personal Growth Enhanced Self-Concept Greater assertiveness and self-advocacy Clearer vision of personal futures Better understanding of disability

Framework

Impact of Service Career Growth Developing job skills Expanding network and building social capital Career exploration and realization Growth as a Community Member Expanded worldview Community connection Civic engagement

Factors that Influence Member Experience Inclusive and Welcoming Environment Robust Member Placement Member Development and Support External Collaborations and Partnership Activities that Support Career Development

The Volunteer Experience & Your Organizations Service Schedule

Vision for Your Organization What do you want volunteers to get out of service? What are your expectations of your organization?

Why Service Matters New Expectations on accountability/measures Consistent with goals—Strategic plan Corporation for National and Community Service

CNCS Strategic Plan Goal 2 –Strengthen national service so participants engaged in CNCS-supported program consistently find satisfaction, meaning and opportunity Objective 4—CNCS supported participants find professional, educational or civic growth opportunities in their service experience

Activity Making a Plan of Action For Volunteer Impact What is your VISION for volunteers What do I want volunteers to get out of service? What do I expect my organization to provide volunteers? What is your GOAL for volunteers Concrete method that can be measured Fill in the worksheet throughout today.

Activity How Diverse do you think we are?

CNCS Strategic Plan: Inclusive Environments Goal 2, Objective 1 Make CNCS supported national service opportunities accessible and attractive to Americans of all backgrounds.

Diversity and Inclusio n What does diversity mean to you within your organization? What does inclusion mean?

“Diversity is who we are. Inclusion is how we work together” Hiring Manager John Deere Corp.

Creating an Inclusive Environment Consistent communication about value of inclusion Culture that demonstrates inclusion Flexibility to accommodate different styles/background Check-ins with members to access their comfort/need for support Informed and trained staff Accountability that inclusion is achieved

Robust Member Placement Consideration of interests and abilities Reflection on how service supports longer term goals Member choice—requires multiple options of type of work/type of settings Clear understanding of expectations prior to placement Pre-service planning

Application Process Non-traditional members/volunteers can get screen out at application: Does your standard process require online application? Do job descriptions/posting list non-essential activities (i.e. driving) What options do people have if they require assistance?

Robust Member Placement Both parties (applicant and program) have a role in making sure there is a good match: Preparing for Service Worksheet Capacity to Support Volunteers Worksheet

Activity Capacity to Support Volunteers Worksheet Step One: Individually take a few moments to complete the worksheet for your program. Step Two: As a group, begin to discuss the following questions. 1. Which essential areas does your program rate the highest? Why? 2. Which area is most challenging for your program? Why?

Member Support & Development Member Support: Any activity or action that is tailored for or personalized to an individual volunteer’s long or short term needs Member Development: Any activities for an individual volunteer or for a group of volunteers that expands the capacity of those involved in their current position and/or for future goals.

Formal & Informal Development Formal: includes scheduled meetings and planned trainings or workshops. Informal: less structured and can be intentional in purpose or developed on a case-by-case basis.

Accommodations & Natural Supports “Accommodations are developed on an individual basis and in a partnership between the person with the disability and the employer.” disabledperson.com Natural supports are small acts of assistance or work- style adjustments made to help a specific volunteer.

Structured Supervision Clear and high expectations Communication Shared responsibilities Positive reinforcement

Key Elements to Successful Experiences Formal volunteer development opportunities Informal volunteer development Clear and high expectations Mentoring Structured supervision Communication with supervisors and volunteers External support Leadership development Teamwork Staff supervision capacity

Activity Making the Member Experience As a table, pick an area of member support and development and create activities Write each activity on a separate sticky note Activities that repeat can be spread across as many sticky notes as needed Paste the notes onto the wall in chronological order of when they occur during a service term

Activity Making the Member Experience Take a few moments to look at the activities on the wall Reflection: What of these activities are you going to take home? To steal?

Partnerships & Collaborations Who are your partners? How did your partnership begin? What ways do you, your partner and/or your volunteers benefit?

Why Partner? Partnerships to promote volunteer growth Broaden professional networks Gain skills through collaboration Partnerships to promote organizational growth Cross pollination of ideas Pipeline for future volunteers In-kind resource sharing (trainings & services)

Types of Collaborations and Partnerships Inclusion Team (teams/working groups focused on enhancing member experience) Connection with employers and post-secondary options Information regarding the value of service and volunteering Joint projects/shared interests Disability Organizations

Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) Intellectual & Developmental Disability (IDD) agencies Employment Networks (EN) Ticket To Work (TTW)

Vocational Rehabilitation “VR” is a state agency that provides a wide range of service to support individuals toward reaching their vocational goal The Council of State Administrators of Vocational Rehabilitation (CSAVR) & Rehabilitation Services Administration (RSA) General, Blind, and Combined “Close”, “26”, “consumer” and “work experience”

IDD Agencies “IDD” agencies are state organizations that fund a wide range of services for people with intellectual or developmental disabilities, including day services, employment support and residential services. National Association of State Directors of Developmental Disabilities Services (NASDDDS) & State Employment Leadership Network (SELN) Medicaid Waivers, billable services, and who qualifies

Employment Networks Employment networks help beneficiaries on disability insurance (SSDI) and supplemental insurance (SSI) find jobs Certified by the Social Security Administration (SSA) Participants choose their EN and receive free services

Activity External Collaborations & Partnerships Worksheet Step One:Individual Brainstorming Step Two: Small Group Discussion Step Three: Sharing Innovative & Exceptional Partnerships/Collaborations

Activities that Support Careers What does your program offer volunteers when they transition out of service/volunteering?

Activities that Support Careers Identification of transferable skills Support for post-service/volunteer transition Informal career development activities—job shadowing Integrate career/education ideas into standard practices –reflection, journaling Information on community resources

Pulling it all together. Reassessing the Action Plan.

The National Service to Employment Project (NextSTEP) conducts research, provides technical assistance, and creates demonstration projects focusing on people with disabilities in volunteer and community-service roles. Among its other activities, NextSTEP is working to promote collaborations between VR and service programs. National Service to Employment Project (NextSTEP) is funded by the Corporation for National and Community Service (Cooperative agreement #09TAHMA001) and is a project of the Institute for Community Inclusion at UMass Boston. NextSTEP partners with the State Employment Leadership Network of the National Association of State Directors of Developmental Disabilities Services and the US Business Leadership Network.