Implementing a Multi-faceted Implementing a Multi-faceted Employment Strategy in WA Employment Strategy in WA

StateState

Cesilee CoulsonCesilee CoulsonWashington Initiative for Supported Employment Washington Initiative for Supported Employment

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What Stakeholders Everywhere Say! What Stakeholders Everywhere Say!

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• 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

General Principles and Stages of General Principles and Stages of Employment First Employment First

1.THE EMPLOYMENT CULTURE

2.ORGANIZING FOR ACTION

3. LEADERSHIP

4. EDUCATION

5. IMPLEMENTATION

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The Employment Culture

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• Bold goals attract bold people• Find the believers & start with them• Everyone has a role• Follow the energy• Be Resourceful• Voracious appetite for learning!

“ALL MEANS ALL”

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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

Why employment?What’s the Value of

Employment?

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Health and Safety

Power and Choice

Status and Respect

Integration in the Physical and Social Life of Your Community

Relationships

Competence

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“Employment is the most direct and cost effective way to accrue all of

these benefits at once.”-Linda Rolfe, WA State DDD Director

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Phase 1 – Organizing for ActionPhase 1 – Organizing for Action

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• 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

Phase 2 – LEADERSHIP

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• 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

Employment -- LeadershipBe 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

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Phase- 3 EducationOR ToolsTalking Points

Washington Toolswww.peopleworking.wikispaces.comwww.gowise.org/Wise-Videos

Institute for Community Inclusion (ICI) Toolswww.realworkstories.org

•Webinars and training events www.gowise.org/wise-events

•Innovations to learn through experience-- www.gowise.org/Wise-Projects

•On-Demand training https://lms.latitudelearning.com/home/asp_main.aspx?scode=wise/

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People Working

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WISE Movies

EF Talking Points

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ICI Real Work Stories

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Phase 4 – IMPLEMENTATION

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• 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

Work Autonomy App

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• 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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OR Employment First

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Spotlight

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Moving Forward in Seeing Outcomes and Improving Quality

WA Outcome DataOR Outcome Data

Gowise.org

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