Come Partake in This Month’s Lunch & Learn!

Newsletter Guide

January Lunch & Learn: The Intersection of Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder & Intellectual/Developmental Disabilities

2023 Lunch & Learn Schedule

Disclosure & Accommodations Training

Congrats to the Latest Foundations Graduates

New 3-Part Communication Series

• Effective Communication with VR Counselors

• Successful Written Communication

• Constructive Conversations

We welcome you to visit our website and sign up for future Lunch and Learns! The 2023 schedule and sign-up links can be found on our sign-up page!

Disclosure & Accommodations Training

Thursday, January 19th from 10-11 AM Eastern via Teams

Join the January Supervisor Circle featuring guest speaker, Barry Whaley, Project Director of the Southeast ADA Center, to learn about and discuss Disclosure and Reasonable Accommodations.

Supervisors: We welcome your staff to attend this meeting.

Mr. Whaley’s presentation will answer the following:

•  Are people obligated to disclose a disability?

•   When is the “right time” to disclose a need for accommodation to an employer?

•  What concerns do people have when they disclose a disability?

•  How does an employee request an accommodation?

•  What is the role of the employment specialist’s role in disclosure and requesting a reasonable accommodation?

•  When is an accommodation unreasonable?

• What can be done to ensure that the process is respectful of the employee with a disability?

•  What are the employer’s responsibilities?

Attendees will come away with an understanding of how to ensure that job seekers and employees are treated in an ethical, valued, and courteous way when disclosing a disability or requesting an accommodation.

Congrats to the Latest Foundations Graduates!

Congratulations to the latest Foundations course graduates! These dedicated individuals were awarded with a certification from the Association of Community Rehabilitation Educators (ACRE). We’re excited about the promise these emerging leaders bring to the field.

Ashley Keel Aspire Indiana

Barbara Drudge Cardinal Services

Cynthia Henry Wabash Center

Galan Zeller ADEC, Inc.

Karen Pfahler Corvilla, Inc.

Rhonda Dolph Gateway Services, Inc.

Sarah Blake Gateway Services, Inc.

Want to join the growing list of Foundations alumni and receive your ACRE certification? Sign up for our next Foundations course taking place in April.

Learners will have opportunities for practicing skills and applying strategies in their daily activities.

Part 2: Successful Written Communication

Feb 3rd from 11:00 am -12:00pm EST

Mastering written communication is essential for all employment professionals. This webinar discusses approaches and formats for progress reports, emails, texting, and case notes. Presenters Steve Upchurch and Terry Donovan will also provide tips for successful written communication - even in a rush!

Part 3: Constructive Conversations

February 17th from 11:00am -12:00pm ET

Creating engaging and collaborative conversations can be challenging whether it is in-person, over a video conference, or on the phone. Our final webinar in the communication series focuses on:

• Identifying when each approach is most effective

• Using constructive conversation strategies

• Self-reflection and identifying a personal growth area

• Creating an action plan with your goal partner to improve communication