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Click here to register for this event What: Montana state government is hosting a one-day disability employment seminar for state employees and others interested in promoting employment opportunities for people with disabilities. Jim Marks, Director, Disability Transition Programs, Department of Public Health and Human Services, will kick off the event at 9 a.m. The featured keynote speaker, Lois McElravy, will speak from her personal experience illustrating how the complexities of brain injury cause confusion and chaos with the simplest of tasks, like writing notes and making lists. Participants will gain a better understanding of how they can partner with employees with disabilities to identify accommodations needed to create a productive work environment. Other sessions include small-group exercises based on complex workplace issues, a presentation on reasonable accommodations by Anne Hirsch, Job Accommodation Network, a presentation on People without Limits, by Paul Gelderloos, People without Limits, and a panel of local experts will address commonly asked questions through locally developed case studies. The expert panel includes: Marieke Beck, Montana Human Rights Bureau Jim Marks, Department of Public Health and Human Services Anne Hirsch, Job Accommodation Network Michelle Pickell, Job Opportunity Based Services When: Thursday, May 26, 2011 9:00am - 4:00pm Mountain Where: Gateway Conference Center 1710 National Avenue in Helena, MT Registration: $50 and includes breakfast and lunch. You can register online at http://pdc.mt.gov/default.mcpx or call (406) 444-3871.

At work, it's what people CAN do that matters. That's the simple message behind the Campaign for Disability Employment (CDE), an ODEP-funded outreach effort to promote the hiring, retention and advancement of people with disabilities.

Click here to register for this webinar What: The Real Lives, Real Stories webinar will give VR personnel specific, real cases of 3-6 transition age individuals with autism who have achieved competitive employment or are in the process of seeking and achieving competitive, customized employment. This webinar will address the stories and lives of at least 3 individual (Ian’s Story, Chelsea’s Story, Katelyn’s Story, Vincent’s Story, Ashley’s Story, and/or William’s Story) and will cover: An overview including video of the individual. The process of how their goals are decided and a description of the employment outcome. The personal supports each person needs and how they are provided. The paid supports each person needs and how they are provided. Where the person is now and plans for near future. It is expected that VR staff who participate the webinar will learn about the variety of interests, skills, and needs of individuals with autism and the possibilities for employment. In addition, staff will be given general; and specific information about specific types of paid, unpaid, formal, and natural supports individuals may need. When: Wednesday, September 7, 2011 10:00am - 11:00am Mountain Registration: Click here to register for this webinar Deadline for registration is Sept. 5, 2011 The webinar is free of charge.

For more information about the Montana State University Billings WIPA project please contact: mark.williams1@msubillings.edu or cal toll free: 888-866-3822 What: The Montana State University Billings/Montana Center on Disabilities WIPA project is part of the Ticket to Work and Work Incentives Improvement Act that was established in 1999. The goal of the Work Incentives Planning and Assistance (WIPA) project is to help Social Security Disability beneficiaries understand and utilize employment supports and work incentives so they can achieve their employment/ vocational goals.The Community Work Incentives Coordinator travels throughout Montana to make these services more accessible for consumers in their local areas.

For more information about the Montana State University Billings WIPA project please contact: tkelker@msubillings.edu or jennifer.belcher@msubillings.edu or call toll free: 888-866-3822 What: The Montana State University Billings/Montana Center on Disabilities WIPA project is part of the Ticket to Work and Work Incentives Improvement Act that was established in 1999. The goal of the Work Incentives Planning and Assistance (WIPA) project is to help Social Security Disability beneficiaries understand and utilize employment supports and work incentives so they can achieve their employment/ vocational goals.The Community Work Incentives Coordinator travels throughout Montana to make these services more accessible for consumers in their local areas.

We are pleased to announce the release of a new FREE online training curriculum, Montana Integrated Vocational Employment Specialist Training (MT INVEST).  MT INVEST is a joint project of the Developmental Disabilities Program and Vocational Rehabilitation, and is available to our employment partners and the public throughout the State of Montana! 

Under mounting pressure from the U.S. Department of Justice, one state now plans to start moving away from sheltered workshop placements for people with developmental disabilities. Just two weeks ago the Justice Department filed a motion to intervene in a class-action lawsuit against the state of Oregon alleging that the state is violating the Americans with Disabilities Act by not providing supported employment services. Federal officials said they sought to join the suit after unsuccessfully attempting to negotiate with the state. Now, Oregon Gov. John Kitzhaber is taking steps to alter the employment landscape for those with disabilities. In an executive order set to take effect this summer, Kitzhaber said the state will no longer fund new placements in sheltered workshops as of July 2015.

Welcome! This site highlights the employment successes of people with Intellectual Disabilities/Developmental Disabilities (ID/DD) who are working in paid jobs in their communities. Through the use of innovative, front-line employment support practices, these individuals are earning money, forming networks, and contributing to their communities. Learn more about these people and the promising practices that led to their success.