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

2. What Stakeholders Everywhere Say! 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

3. General Principles and Stages of Employment First 1.THE EMPLOYMENT CULTURE 2.ORGANIZING FOR ACTION 3. LEADERSHIP 4. EDUCATION 5. IMPLEMENTATION 3

4. The Employment Culture 4 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” 5 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 The Alderbrook Paper

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

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

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

9. Phase 1 – Organizing for Action 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

10. Phase 2 – LEADERSHIP 10 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 -- Leadership Be 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 11

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-eventswww.gowise.org/wise-events Innovations to learn through experience-- www.gowise.org/Wise-Projectswww.gowise.org/Wise-Projects On-Demand training https://lms.latitudelearning.com/home/asp_main.aspx?scode=wise/ https://lms.latitudelearning.com/home/asp_main.aspx?scode=wise/ 12

13. People Working 13

14. 14 WISE Movies

15. EF Talking Points 15

16. ICI Real Work Stories 16

17. Phase 4 – IMPLEMENTATION 17 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 18 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

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20. OR Employment First 20

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

22. Gowise.org 22