NASDDDS
2007 Annual Meeting
Crowne Plaza Hotel Old Town Alexandria
Alexandria, Virginia
November 7-9, 2007

Taking Care of Business: Employment Strategies That Work

Meeting Presentations

To view a presentation file, click on the appropriate file name (e.g., Moseley.ppt). The presentations are in the format submitted by the each panel and/or session presenter.

= Word Document
= PDF File
= PowerPoint Presentation

Recognizing the need to assist states in improving their capacity to achieve employment goals for people with developmental disabilities, the NASDDDS Board of Directors launched the Supported Employment Leadership Network (SELN) in 2006 in collaboration with the University of Massachusetts' Center for Community Inclusion. The SELN leadership team described the benefits of Network participation, the project's first year accomplishments, and key research findings regarding the characteristics of high performance states.

Moseley.ppt (224 KB)
Butterworth.ppt (1,617 KB)
Butterworth.pdf (1,617 KB)

As a leader in public sector employment opportunities, Ron Sims stimulated thinking about the possibilities for successful employment of individuals with developmental disabilities in the public sector.

James Salzano
Executive Vice President
The Clarks Companies

Jim Salzano of Clarks North America will challenge your thinking about the role business can and should play in providing employment opportunities for individuals supported by developmental disability service systems.

John Lund
CEO
Tangible Systems (Washington State)

Washington representatives shared the state's 25-year journey of values building, consistent focus, and investment in training, innovation, data, and relationship building that brought them to the point of implementing the state's Employment First Policy.

Rolfe.ppt (679 KB)

MONEY MATTERS: Financing & Contracting Strategies
How to Pay for What You Really Want:
Building Rate & Contracting Structures that Support Employment

Regina Chace
Programs Supervisor
Developmental Disabilities Services Division
Oklahoma Department of Human Services

Peter Mason
Operations Manager for Contract Administration
Connecticut Department of Developmental Services (DDS)

Regina Chace discussed Oklahoma's unique outcomes-based employment services rate structure and the approach the state uses to contract with employers to furnish employment supports for persons with developmental disabilities. Connecticut's Peter Mason reviewed DDS' system-wide rate restructuring process including its development and implementation, current status, and lessons learned.

Chace.ppt (177 KB)
Mason.ppt (171 KB)

EYE ON THE PRIZE: Improving Performance through Data and Training
Count What Matters: Using Outcome Data

Margaret Van Gelder
Director of Family & Employment Supports
Massachusetts Department of Mental Retardation

Stan Butkus
Director
South Carolina Department of Disabilities and Special Needs (DDSN)

Kathi K. Lacy, PhD
Associate State Director for Policy
South Carolina DDSN

Massachusetts and South Carolina presenters highlighted the role of data systems in achieving outcomes. Margaret Van Gelder described Massachusetts' use of employment data to track outcomes and improve provider performance. Stan Butkus and Kathi Lacy from South Carolina described how their state collects and uses data to strengthen performance and achieve targeted outcomes. They also discussed the state's use of NCI performance measures to improve and manage service quality.

VanGelder.ppt (2.70 MB)
Butkus&Lacy.ppt (434 KB)

Julie Huber
State Director of Day Services
Tennessee Division of Mental Retardation Services

Theresa Wood
Deputy Commissioner
Vermont Department of Disabilities, Aging, and Independent Living

Marie Zura
Director
Howard Center Developmental Services (Vermont)

Tennessee's Julie Huber outlined the role that collaboration has played in the development of her state's Employment First Policy. Finding common ground to make employment work through partnerships was the focus of her presentation. Theresa Wood and Marie Zura from Vermont provided insights into how key relationships supported the realization of a "Community First" way of doing business.

Wood.ppt (2.57 MB)

MONEY MATTERS: Financing & Contracting Strategies
Restructuring: Creating New Ways of Doing Business

Michael Linak
Director
Wisconsin Developmental Disabilities Services

Lisa A. Mills, PhD
Independent Consultant
Moving To A Different Drum (Wisconsin)

Molly Holsapple
Policy Analyst
Project ReBAR and Employment
Oregon DHS/Office of Developmental Disabilities Services

Mary Lee Fay
Administrator
Oregon DHS/Office of Developmental Disabilities Services

Both Oregon and Wisconsin are using MIG grants to accomplish major systems change. Oregon explained their ReBAR system-wide rate restructuring project and Wisconsin talked about how to maintain a focus on employment while moving to a managed care system of service.

Mills.ppt (144 KB)
Fay-Holsapple.ppt (229 KB)

EYE ON THE PRIZE: Improving Performance Through Data and Training
Building Capacity Where the Rubber Meets the Road:
Using Training to Improve Outcomes

Jane Gallivan
Director
Maine Office of Adults with Cognitive and Physical Disability

Larry Glantz
Senior Policy Analyst
University of Southern Maine/Muskie School of Public Service

Jane E. Johnson
Director
Florida Agency for Persons with Disabilities

Maine's presentation highlighted the state's Medicaid Infrastructure Grant. The new initiative is designed to expand awareness of the needs and abilities of workers with developmental and other disabilities by improving outreach and offering new service options for consumers and families, increased support for service providers, and improved engagement with private employers. Information on Maine's statewide Supported Employment Curriculum and required training for direct services staff was included. Florida's Jane Johnson described the multiple employment outcomes that have been accomplished through the implementation of a new comprehensive statewide benefits training package.

JUST DO IT: Promoting Employment through Strategy and Policy
Innovation: How State Agencies Can Support Creative Employment Outcomes

Colleen Gauruder
Statewide Training Coordinator
Maryland Developmental Disabilities Administration

Andrew K. Pegg
Owner of Designs & Graphics by Andilla (Maryland)

Mary Pegg
Andrew's mother

Morris Tranen
CEO, RISE Partners
also represents
the Maryland Division of Rehabilitation Services

Stephen Hall, PhD
Director
Georgia Office of Developmental Disabilities

Doug Crandell
Employment Director
Cobb County CSB (Georgia)

John Agosta, PhD
Vice President
Human Services Research Institute (Oregon)

John Kregel, PhD
Professor of Special Education
Benefits Assistance Resource Center
Virginia Commonwealth University
Rehabilitation Research &Training

While self-employment may not be for everybody, for many individuals, particularly those with significant disabilities, it can provide an important opportunity for income and community participation. Maryland DD agency staff, a small business owner, and a family member discussed making self-employment a reality. Georgia's Steve Hall and Doug Crandell shared real examples of customized employment, how to fund it, and how to ensure your state's Medicaid waivers include it. John Agosta and John Kregel brought fresh new information, ideas, and opportunities for using Individual Development Accounts to achieve outcomes.

Gauruder.ppt (59 KB)
Pegg.pdf (5.50 MB)

MONEY MATTERS: Financing & Contracting Strategies
Waivers: Tools for Change

Robin Cooper
Director of Technical Support
NASDDDS

Angela Rapp Kennedy
SIS Product Manager
AAIDD (Washington, D.C.)

Support Waivers have grown in popularity over the past several years as more states have turned to this mechanism to augment or expand home and community-based service options. Robin Cooper presented the materials on behalf of Gary Smith, Senior Policy Fellow, HSRI which included Mr. Smith's information about supports waivers published in a report that HSRI recently prepared on behalf of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Angela Rapp Kennedy provided concrete ideas and examples for states on the use of Medicaid waivers to improve support for integrated employment.

Smith.ppt (224 KB)
RappKennedy.ppt (44 KB)
Connecticut Integrated Employment Information (45 KB)
Louisiana Integrated Employment Information (45 KB)
Maryland Integrated Employment Information (56 KB)
Oklahoma Integrated Employment Information (51 KB)
Utah Integrated Employment Information (45 KB)
Washington Integrated Employment Information (49 KB)
Oregon Integrated Employment Information (133 KB)