1. Wayne County Employment Coalition
PA’s Why
– Everyday Lives values, statements, and recommendations are our framework for change.
PA’s why: Everyday Lives values statements and recommendations are our framework for change.

2. What does being an “Employment First State” mean?
Kelly

3. WIOA
Signed by President Barack Obama on July 22, 2014
“WIOA is designed to help job seekers access employment, education, training and support services to succeed in the labor market and match employers with the skilled workers they need to compete in the global economy.”
The Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act is designed to help job seekers access employment, education, training and support services to succeed in the labor market and match employers with the skilled workers they need to compete in the global economy. The main impact of this act on ODP employment services is in regard to Section 511 of the Rehabilitation Act, as added by WIOA. Section 511 provides limitations on the use of Section 14(c) subminimum wage certificates
for youth transitioning from secondary education and limitations on schools regarding contracts with Section 14(c) certificate holder. The intent of Section 511, and WIOA more broadly, is to insure that transition from secondary education and/or postsecondary education to competitive integrated employment is the primary goal for youth in transition, including youth with significant disabilities. Section 511 of the Rehabilitation Act, as added by the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity
Act (WIOA), makes several changes to Section 14(c) of the FLSA including:
Prohibits anyone age 24 or younger from starting work at subminimum wage unless it is documented that the person received transition services under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA); has applied for VR services and was unsuccessful; and has been provided counseling and referral to other resources with the goal of CIE.

4. We are an “Employment First” State
Executive Order: – Establishing “Employment First” Policy and Increasing Competitive Integrated Employment for Pennsylvanians with a Disability
Kelly
First Say - On March 10, 2016, Governor Tom Wolf signed Executive Order , entitled “Establishing ‘Employment First’ Policy and Increasing Competitive-Integrated Employment for Pennsylvanians with a Disability.”
Before we get into the Executive Order, I’d like to read a few statistics that are noted in the Executive Order Recommendations Summary, which I’ll talk about shortly.
RELEVANT STATISTICS FOR PENNSYLVANIA
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, 19 percent of the population has a disability. About 66 percent of the population is working age (typically defined as ages 16-64), which means in Pennsylvania there are approximately 1.6 million working-age people with a disability.
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that only 20 percent of people with a disability participate in the labor force, meaning they are either employed or unemployed but looking for work, compared to a 63 percent labor participation rate for all people.
In Pennsylvania, more than 105,000 students with a disability ages (transition age).
These statistics make it all the more important that PA is an Employment First State.

5. We are an “Employment First” State
Establishes policy for agencies under the Governor’s jurisdiction, requiring competitive-integrated employment be the first consideration and preferred outcome of all publicly-funded education, employment and training, and long-term supports and service programs for working-age Pennsylvanians with a disability.
The Executive Order also prompts us to work closer together and more effectively as agencies DHS, OVR, and PDE) to help people obtain jobs in the community.
DHS – Department of Human Services
OVR – Office of Vocational Rehabilitation
PDE – Pennsylvania Department of Education
Kelly
Then, Read Slide.
So what does all of this mean? This means that employment should be at the forefront of conversations that we as agencies have with individuals we serve and that we are giving them every opportunity to pursue a job in the community.

6. Everyday Lives and Charting the Life Course
What is ODP’s role within the context of being an “Employment First State”?
I’ll now turn this over to my colleague, Marguerite
Now, we’ll talk about ODP’s role within the context of being an “Employment First” State. We will touch on our Everyday Lives philosophy and how it relates to employment, as well as how supports coordinators can use the LifeCourse Tools to begin having a conversation with individuals and families about their vision for a meaningful life, specifically related to employment.
Everyday Lives and Charting the Life Course

7. What Is Important to People with Disabilities
Everyday Lives
Values Statements
What Is Important to People with Disabilities
Everyday Lives in Action: My Life, My Way
Employment / Meaningful Contribution: I want to work and/or have other ways to contribute to my community. My family, supporters, and community support me to find and keep a real job that I like with good wages and benefits or start and run my own business, and / or volunteer the way I want in my community.
EMPLOYMENT/MEANINGFUL CONTRIBUTION: I want to work and/or have other ways to contribute to my community. My family, supporters, and community support me to find and keep a real job that I like with good wages and benefits or start and run my own business, and/or volunteer the way I want in my community.
Marguerite
Say, The document Everyday Lives: Values in Action is a guide that the Office of Developmental Programs uses as we develop policy and design programs and services. Providers of services also use these recommendations to support individuals and their families to achieve an everyday life. This document was developed by a group of stakeholders including self-advocates and families. What you see here is one of the value statements written by self-advocates.
Read slide…

8. By the Numbers: Everyday Lives Today (Graphic Charts)
Employment of people interviewed by Independent Monitoring for Quality
14% had paid jobs
86%had no paid job
38% want a job
62% don’t want a job
Of those who want a job…
23% had job goal in plan
77% had no job goal in plan
Marguerite
Say, The Office of Developmental Programs also surveys the people we serve each year. Based on this survey we found that 14% of the people we serve have a paid job. The number of people with a job is very similar to the number of people with a paid job in other states, but there is definitely room for improvement. One place we can start with the 38% of people that have no paid job but want one. Of the people who want a job only 23% had a job goal in their Individual Support Plan.

9. Values in Action Recommendations (graphic insert)
3. Increase Employment
Employment is a centerpiece of adulthood and must be available for every person. The benefits of employment for people with disabilities are significant and are the same as for people without disabilities.
Employment Is…
Feeling proud
Having self-confidence
Getting a paycheck
Meeting new people
Building new skills
Paying taxes
Marguerite
Say, One of the recommendations is that ODP should increase employment because it is a centerpiece of adulthood and must be available for every person. *This is the “why”* The benefits of employment for people with disabilities are significant and are the same as for people without disabilities. Employment helps us meet new people and feel proud and valued. It increases our self confidence, helps us build new skills and provides us with money to pay for things that are essential and things that are fun.

10. ODP’s Employment Principles
All working-age people with disabilities who want to work should be given every opportunity to work.
Competitive employment in the general workforce is the first and preferred post-education outcome.
Paid work is an essential part of having control over the life you want.
Everyone deserves to establish career goals and aspirations and earn a living wage.
Employment leads to new competencies and opens doors to new relationships and social opportunities.
Achieving employment and community inclusive outcomes are cornerstones of ODP policies, principles and practices.
Kelly
First Say - ODP has a number of principles that guide our work within the context of being an Employment First State. We’ll talk about our role and the work we do in proceeding slides.
Then, Read Bullet #1
Then, Read Bullet #2. Then say, This is taken almost directly from the EO.
Then, Read Bullet #3. Then say, The second recommendation in our Everyday Lives Values in Action document is to promote self-direction, choice, and control.

11. Charting the LifeCourse (Circular Graphic)
Wayne County Employment Coalition
Charting the LifeCourse (Circular Graphic)
Charting the LifeCourse is a set of principles and tools that can help us dream and plan for Everyday Lives.
A set of principles and tools that can help us dream and plan for Everyday Lives.
Concentric rings describe the various stages of the LifeCourse framework.
The LCF brings us back to center on that passion, and also reframes the way we think about all people. So get comfortable. Here we go!
The Framework was created:
BY FAMILIES to help families and people of all abilities and all ages to develop a vision for a good life,
to think about what they need to know and do,
to identify how to find or develop supports,
and to discover what it takes to live the lives they want to live.
to focus on their current situation and stage of life
and also to look ahead to think about life experiences that will help move them toward an inclusive, productive life in the future.

12. Wayne County Employment Coalition
Core Belief:
All people have the right to live, love, work, play and pursue their life aspirations in their community.
Core Belief
All people have the right to live, love, work, play and pursue their life aspirations in their community.
In the past, conversations about supporting people with disabilities and their families mainly revolved around those who were known to the system. We know that number is small in relation to the actual number, and so want to make sure all families have access to and choices about the supports they need.
 All people are considered in our vision, values, policies and practices for supporting people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
This does not mention disabilities. It is based on the values that all of us should have these opportunities.

13. 1 in 4 Persons with I/DD Receive Formal State DD Services
Chester County providers
5/25/17
1 in 4 Persons with I/DD
Receive Formal State DD Services
1 in 4 Persons with I/DD Receive Formal State DD Services
75%
National % Receiving State DD Services
25%
100%
4.7 million people with developmental disabilities
25% receiving State DD Services
4.7 Million people with developmental disabilities
ALL individuals and their families are considered in our values and vision.
** Based on national definition of developmental disability with a prevalence rate of 1.49%

14. Services and Supports are Evolving
DuBois, PA
3/28/2017
Services and Supports are Evolving
Everyone exists within the context of family and community
Traditional Services isolate the person from both community and family.
Integrated Services and Supports work within the context of person, family, and community.
Over time, in focusing on the individual, we forgot about the important role of family. In fact, In not-so-recent history, a whole generation of adults with disabilities was cut off from having family in their life, and families and their generations were cut off from real relationships with their loved ones.
If we support families better, they can support the lives of their family members better.
Our system and often our attitudes still harbor an institution-based DNA. We need a new community-based DNA where people can have real lives.
We sometimes tend to focus on intervention and forget about the importance of life experiences.
Everyone exists within the context of family and community
Integrated Services and Supports within context of person, family and community
Traditional
Disability Services

15. Wayne County Employment Coalition
The future is not something we enter, the future is something we create…
Leonard sweet
And creating it means we need to make decisions and choices. Those choices need to start with your dream!

16. So, why is it so important to have a vision?
Wayne County Employment Coalition
So, why is it so important to have a vision?
A vision is having a destination. Without a destination, we wander or don’t move forward at all.
As family members, having and sharing our vision for our loved one has enormous power. And when our loved one reaches the ability to define his or her vision, as family members, we shift to sharing that vision with them and supporting them in moving toward it.
Having a vision sets the dream, the positive expectation for the future. Without a vision, there is no expectation of what the future might look like. And if we don’t have a vision of our own, someone else may determine it – and we might not really like what they choose!
So, why is it so important to have a vision?
A vision is having a destination. Without a destination, we wander or don’t move forward at all.
As family members, having and sharing our vision for our loved one has enormous power. And when our loved one reaches the ability to define his or her vision, as family members, we shift to sharing that vision with them and supporting them in moving toward it.
Having a vision sets the dream, the positive expectation for the future. Without a vision, there is no expectation of what the future might look like. And if we don’t have a vision of our own, someone else may determine it – and we might not really like what they choose!

17. The Power of High Hopes – PROOF!
Wayne County Employment Coalition
The Power of High Hopes – PROOF!
The power of high hopes – PROOF!
The most powerful force in changing transition outcomes …. is not ultimately found in the transition plans we craft, the educational services we offer, the instruction we provide, or the systems we build, but rather is in the expectations and aspirations individual parents hold for their sons and daughters. All of these other efforts are no doubt essential, but absent families equipped with a clear and compelling vision for a “good life” after high school, we are missing something utterly essential.
- Erik Carter
“What Matters Most: Research on Elevating Parent Expectations”
The most powerful force in changing transition outcomes …is not ultimately found in the transition plans we craft, the educational services we offer, the instruction we provide, or the systems we build, but rather is in the expectations and aspirations individuals parents hold for their sons and daughters. All of these other efforts are no doubt essential, but absent families equipped with a clear and compelling vision for a “good life” after high school, we are missing something utterly essential.
~Erk Carter (What Matters Most: Research on Elevating Parent Expectations)
“There is a tension here we must release. Professionals are sometimes reluctant to encourage parents to “hope large” because it ultimately will require us to do things differently, demand us to invest differently. We must be willing to let families show us what is possible when their vision exceeds our own. Indeed this is how the world has always moved forward fastest. “ ~ Erik Carter
Expectations are formed early and over time and they are influenced by opportunities and supports.
Having expectations for the future encourages us to shape experiences day to day, and to allow those experiences to shape new expectations and discoveries.

18. Life Stages and Trajectory Toward the Good Life
Wayne County Employment Coalition
What would my good life look like?
What is my VISION?
What do I NOT want to see happen?
Life Stages and Trajectory Toward the Good Life
What would my good life look like?
What is my
VISION?
What do I NOT want to see happen?
Aim for a target, a clear picture of what a good life would look like for people.
What happens to us early in our lives has a significant impact on our quality of life and well-being in the future. It is important to help people have positive, healthy experiences, adequate support, and ample opportunities to learn and make mistakes so that they can have better outcomes later in life.
Sometimes people can’t see what a good life would look like, but can see what they don’t want. It’s ok to start with identifying what they don’t want.
And sometimes the trajectory isn’t straight, but we can get back on track!

19. Wayne County Employment Coalition
Think about all the different parts of our lives – these are called “life Domains”.
They are all important to our everyday lives.

20. Daily Life and Employment
What you do as part of everyday life – school, job, volunteering, your daily routines, and interdependence.
What you do as part of everyday life– school, job, volunteering, your daily routines, and interdependence.
During the early years, the focus is getting a child ready for school.  During the school years, the focus begins to turn to getting ready for adult life – working toward a vision of what the person will do after school ends, what kind of job they might have, and what their day-to-day life might look like.

21. Community Living
Where you live and how you get around in your community – housing and living options, community experiences, transportation, home and vehicle changes to meet your needs.
When a child is young, they usually live with their family. As they leave school, the young adult and/or their family may want to change their living situation, perhaps attending college and living in a dormitory, or getting an apartment with a friend. Learning skills and having responsibilities as a child will help to prepare for living life as an adult in the way the person and their family envisions!

22. Social Life, Leisure and Spirituality
Building friendships and relationships, leisure activities, hobbies, personal networks, faith community.
Having friends and personal connections in one’s life is key to having a happy and successful adult life. Friends and connections that children make during early and school years – at school, in community activities such as scouting or sports, or in their faith community – have an impact on their adult life. Those school or neighborhood friends may end up being future employers, neighbors, business owners, and most importantly, friends in adult life!

23. Healthy Living
Everything you need to stay healthy – medical care, mental health, behavioral health, fitness, wellness, and nutrition.
Living a healthy lifestyle and learning healthy habits begins early and continues throughout the life course.  Health and wellness is very important because it can positively or negatively affect other parts of a person’s life, such as their ability to go to school or work, live as independently as possible, go places and participate in the community, and associate with family and friends!  As children begin to transition to adult life, they begin to start taking control of their own health care to the best of their ability. This may mean making healthy choices in what to eat or exercise.  It might also mean taking control of or more actively participating in medications, doctor’s visits, and other health care decisions.

24. Safety and Security
Staying safe and secure– preparing for emergencies, well- being, guardianship options, legal rights and protections.
It is important to find a balance between helping someone stay safe and enabling them to make their own choices and decisions, and even learn from making occasional mistakes! You don’t want to give a person so much support and protection that they are unable to have any control of their own life. There are many skills that can be learned and practiced by children and adults that will assist them in being safe, secure and supported while being as self-determined as possible.

25. Citizenship and Advocacy
Being a valued member of the community, making choices, setting goals, assuming responsibility and advocating for your own vision of a good life.
Being known and valued in one’s community gives a person a sense of worth and of being a contributor and a good citizen, not just someone who needs assistance. Learning to make choices, set goals, and knowing how to speak up for wants and needs leads to being more self-determined in life and essential to becoming an advocate for yourself or others.
On the website, there are examples of Integrated Supports for each Life Domain that have been filled in with ideas to get you started.  The possibilities are really endless once you begin thinking about all different types of supports you use to help you problem-solve and troubleshoot your life!

26. How can LifeCourse help with employment?
Wayne County Employment Coalition
How can LifeCourse help with employment?

27. Wayne County Employment Coalition
LifeCourse focuses on the day-to-day experiences, relationships, supports and resources that will keep us moving toward our vision.
What happens every day is important! Are the experiences we’re having today following the trajectory toward our dreams? What are the relationships and opportunities that can help that happen? Where can we be involved in community and build those contacts and experiences? What skills or training might be helpful in keeping me moving toward my vision of an everyday life? The LifeCourse tools lead people to think creatively and anticipate what’s next.

28. Wayne County Employment Coalition
LifeCourse can help us understand all the many benefits of working, beyond making money.
Earning money is certainly a primary reason for getting a job, but working is also an opportunity to build friendships, learn new things, and achieve a sense of accomplishment, competence and pride! Working gives people meaningful structure to their days, builds social capital, and is an important part of adult identity and purpose. Having the right job with the right supports can greatly increase satisfaction and quality of life.

29. Wayne County Employment Coalition
LifeCourse sparks different conversations that spark brainstorms that spark new possibilities!!
What if?
LifeCourse does not supplant any approach to exploring employment! Rather, it supports every approach.

30. Wayne County Employment Coalition
Exercise: Let’s explore employment scenarios using the LifeCourse tools!

31. The Integrated Supports Star
Personal
strengths, assets and
interests
The Integrated Supports
Star
Technology
Relationships
What if?
Personal Strengths, assets, and interests
Relationships
Systems of Support
Community
Technology
What if?
We will have 4 different employment scenarios described in LifeCourse Portfolio format, and 2 copies of each, so we can break into 8 groups, or less if the group is small. People can work on their stars in their small groups for about 15 minutes and then everyone report out.
Systems of support
Community

32. Regional Collaborative in PA’s Community of Practice of Supporting Families (shaded map of United States)

33. PA Family Network Supporting Families to Have High Expectations
Wayne County Employment Coalition
PA Family Network Supporting Families to Have High Expectations
For more information, contact:
1-844-PAFAMILY
Supported by ODP, the PA Family Network is 20 family members trained in teaching the LifeCourse principles and tools to families across the state so they can develop strong visions for all family members, discover opportunities for employment and meaningful community involvement, build support networks with one another, and learn about the various service systems they encounter across the lifespan.

34. How Can LifeCourse Help with Employment?
LifeCourse can help us understand all the many benefits of working, beyond making money.
an opportunity to build friendships
learn new things
achieve a sense of accomplishment and pride!
meaningful structure to our days
build social capital
an important part of adult identity and purpose
increase satisfaction and quality of life.
LifeCourse can help us understand all the many benefits of working beyond making money.
An opportunity to build friendships
Learn new things
Achieve a sense of accomplishment and pride
Meaningful structure to our days
Build social capital
An important part of adult identity and purpose
Increase satisfaction and quality of life.
Marguerite
A core belief of the Charting the Life Course philosophy is very akin to ODP’s Everyday Lives philosophy, which is they really go hand-in-hand. It is that, “People with disabilities and their families have the right to live, love, work, play, and pursue their life aspirations just as others do in their community”.
Employment is one of eight domains that the Life Course Tools help a person think about and plan for. Because of it’s integrated structure, it allows the individual and family to think about the many benefits of working, beyond making money.
In addition, the life course tools meet a person where they are and help them think about their day-to-day experiences, relationships, supports, and resources that will help keep them moving toward their vision.
These are tools that you may take with you when you speak with individuals and families not just about employment, but about a vision for their life.

35. How Can LifeCourse Help with Employment?
LifeCourse focuses on the experiences, relationships, supports, and resources that support our vision.
What happens every day is important!
Are the experiences we’re having today following the trajectory toward our dreams?
What are the relationships and opportunities that can help?
How can community experiences help relationships?
What skills or training might be helpful in keeping me moving toward my vision of an everyday life?
The LifeCourse tools lead people to think creatively and anticipate what’s next.
LifeCourse focuses on the experiences, relationships, supports, and resources that support our vision.
What happens every day is important!
Are the experiences we’re having today following the trajectory toward our dreams?
What are the relationships and opportunities that can help?
How can community experiences help relationships?
What skills or training might be helpful in keeping me moving toward my vision of an everyday life?
The LifeCourse tools lead people to think creatively and anticipate what’s next.

36. Wayne County Employment Coalition
HOPE LARGE! DREAM BIG!
HOPE LARGE!
DREAM BIG!

37. Wayne County Employment Coalition
LifeCourse challenges us to have high expectations and envision the kind of work that will be fulfilling and where we can make a difference.
In the past, people with disabilities have not had many chances to work in their communities. Reasons included low expectations, stereotypes and stigma, a focus on deficits or limitations instead of abilities and skills, and a lack of exposure to the possibilities of real employment. The LifeCourse tools turns these barriers on end by helping people begin with a dream. For example: What are you passionate about? What is it about work that is appealing to you? What’s going to ignite a fire in you that makes you want to get up each day and go to work? What workplace characteristics are important to you? What do people like and admire about you? How can people best support you?

38. Wayne County Employment Coalition
THANK YOU!
Kelly Arnold, ODP Employment Lead
Nancy Richey, ODP Supporting Families Lead
Lisa Tesler, PA Family Network Director
Handouts
Booklet for parents and professionals