Community Role in the Culture of Self- Sufficiency SHANNON MCLAIN MALANA WALUS STEVE CHAPMAN

Exploration of Concepts Social Role Valorization Poverty Inclusion Supported Employment

Community & Employment Inclusion great strides towards civil rights equitability & common good movement over the last 30 to 50 years (Corrigan, Place-then-Train)

Community must evolve Evolution requires… …communication of elements (McLain & Walus, 2015)

“All Means All” 1.From impossible to possible… 2.From possible to beneficial… 3.From beneficial to allowed… 4.From allowed to preferred… 5.From preferred to expected… 6.From expected to required… 7.…to the same standard as everyone else (Mank, 2008)

2014 APSE Conference Dialogue Discussion resulted in a comprehensive list of most effective least effective future hope …in the community’s role in the culture of self- sufficiency.

Re-consider status quo of current culture.  Does current culture of employment, subsidization, and benefits support a status quo?  Is there a status quo of health and well-being for all individuals?

Where are people in your community Work Schools Family Residential Provider County State

APSE’s Standards and Guidelines: Employment First Everyone has employable strengths and can work in the competitive labor force with the right measure of support and in jobs well-matched and sometimes customized to their interests and abilities. People with disabilities are the experts about themselves and should play a leading role in decisions that affect their lives. Companies who hire people with disabilities will profit in many ways, including financially. Publicly funded services should be strengths-based—what people can do, not what they cannot do. Share success stories to increase expectations, shatter stereotypes, and create better understanding about the employment potential of people with disabilities. Acknowledge supported employment is a well-researched and proven, evidence-based business practice. An important role of the organization is to educate policy makers, including elected officials, on advocating for equal opportunities and fair treatment in the workplace. Promote the role of employment in the transitional youth directly into post-secondary education or competitive employment options. Unified voice representing human service professionals, people with disabilities, educators, employers, family members and other stakeholders.

WIOA Standards Maximize Employment, economic self-sufficiency, independence, inclusion and integration. Means Individuals with disability, including the most significant disabilities, are capable of achieving high quality, competitive integrated employment. Workforce system must provide the opportunity to participate in job-driven training and pursuit of high-quality employment outcomes. Individuals with disabilities are able to achieve the same kinds of competitive integrated employment as non-disabled individuals. Prepare for, obtain, retain and advance in high quality jobs.

Dependence vs. Self-Sufficiency Financial planning can maximize government benefits Changing community to provide opportunity for independence (Owen, 2015 Forbes)

Definitions Self-Sufficiency. Person with I/DD who are employed and not fully reliant upon government funding. (Kunstler, Thompason, & Croke, 2013; Mann & Wittenburg, 2012) Poverty. Persons with I/DD who are unemployed or underemployed who are reliant upon government funding (Hoff, 2013; Hugues & Avoke, 2010) Government Funding. Any governmentally funded assistance program (i.e., Medicaid, SSA, HUD, etc…)…(Hoff, 2013).

Café Conversation Questions 1.Are persons receiving supported employment services self-sufficient (able to live comfortable with little to no government subsidy)? 2.Are persons receiving supported employment services in poverty? 3.Does government funding promote self- sufficiency Definitions Self-Sufficiency. Person with I/DD who are employed and not fully reliant upon government funding. (Kunstler, Thompason, & Croke, 2013; Mann & Wittenburg, 2012) Poverty. Persons with I/DD who are unemployed or underemployed who are reliant upon government funding (Hoff, 2013; Hugues & Avoke, 2010) Government Funding. Any governmentally funded assistance program (i.e., Medicaid, SSA, HUD, etc…)…(Hoff, 2013).

QuestionMost EffectiveLeast Effective Future Hope a. Are persons receiving supported employment services self-sufficient (able to live comfortable with little to no government subsidy)? Plan to Achieve Self- Support (PASS) Plan Peer Support Early Planning Parental/guardian/resident ial buy-in Benefits counseling Fear of money/Business Non-profit vs. For-profit thinking Resistance to change Increase educational inclusion Generation of inclusion/non- segregation b. Are persons receiving supported employment services in poverty? Better understanding/training on benefits More stories of successful benefit independence Untrained staff (re: benefits & potential) Systemic issue of who provides what service Re-evaluation & Updating of SS Policy (SSA become Lean?) Benefits training counseling as initial training for individuals/planning & support persons c. Are persons receiving supported employment services in self-sufficiency? Increase inclusion as a norm Participation in self-advocacy Promotion of success stories showing “big picture” Independent living skills lacking to make good budget decisions Story telling of unsuccessful outcomes = fear Using Medicaid as long-term healthcare Increase effective inclusion & self- advocacy/support and encouragement Education fosters expectation d. Do supported employment services support the individual receiving service to be self- sufficient? Answered in a/b/c e. Does government funding promote self-sufficiency Discretionary funding Rates support segregated programming Lack of financial literacy Expectation that employment/self- sufficiency is goal on a continuum – individuals continue to progress Cross-systems collaboration