PANEL: Employment through the Looking Glass: The realities,
challenges, and opportunities for people with intellectual
disabilities in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
July 24, 2014
12:15pm-1:30pm
Description:
The panel will engage in an interactive conversation with the audience regarding
the current Federal and State policies influencing the Employment First initiative
in Pa, including the recently completed Supported Employment Leadership
Network (SELN) report, as well as state policy development in response to the
Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) Home and Community Based
Services (HCBS) rules. Subject matter experts on the panel will provide insight
from state, county, urban, rural, and advocacy perspectives and discuss the
evolving nature of this important initiative in Pennsylvania
Introductions 1 minute
Panelists will introduce themselves: Diane Cashman (Office of Developmental
Programs), Len Kravitz (Philadelphia Office of Intellectual disABILITY Services),
Pamela Zotynia (The Arc of Luzerne County), and James Furiosi (CarbonMonroe-Pike Developmental Services).
Format for the presentation is Reality, Challenges and Opportunities with
Employment.
Reality (15 minutes)
Diane will discuss the current state of employment for people with intellectual
disabilities through her involvement with the SELN (Supported Employment
Leadership network). Diane will explain how the ODP Futures process is
addressing the Employment Initiative as well as the federal Employment
Resource Rebalancing Initiative (ERRI) which involves a collaboration between
ODP, the Office for Vocational Rehabilitation (OVR), and Pennsylvania
Department of Education (PDE). She will also discuss the possible impacts of the
CMS Final Rule on programs in Pennsylvania.
Challenges (15 minutes)
Jim will discuss current barriers to employment and how we tend to look at
employment from a human services perspective than a partnering with
businesses perspective. Other barriers include a job market centered around
retail and service jobs, a lack of transportation infrastructure, benefit issues,
online hiring processes, uneven transition processes with school districts, and job
development activities which focus on traditional hiring versus customization.
Opportunities (30 minutes)
This will be tackled on two fronts: transition and employment success stories.
Len will describe the employment initiative in Philadelphia guided by the strategic
planning process PATH (Planning Alternative Tomorrows with Hope).
Philadelphia also has an integrative model for transition which connects schools,
Philadelphia IDS, Supports Coordination Organizations, the Office for Vocational
Rehabilitation, the individual (who is the focus of this team process), families and
other involved parties (ex.: friend, neighbor, etc.), and employment providers. It is
important to note that this employment initiative began in 2006 and includes all
age groups of people interested in joining the workforce.
Pam will discuss the TRACE program in Luzerne County. The purpose of the
program is to successfully transition individuals with I/DD who want to work from
day programs, sheltered work environments, schools and common home and
institutional activities to the modern demands of today’s results-oriented
workplace where customers, clients, and performance drive the bottom line.
TRACE formed partnerships with businesses in the community for
apprenticeships. We will hear about the feedback they have received, and how it
has gone with the first class of graduates. She will also discuss a program where
Lowe’s hired people with intellectual disabilities at its distribution center in
Luzerne. Finally, Pam was a pivotal influence in helping to implement the
Pennsylvania Disability Employment and Empowerment Summit (PADES): a
statewide initiative to bring together employers, self-advocates, providers, case
managers and state departments to promote starting Employment First in
Pennsylvania.
Discussion on what is solution-based?- 15 minutes
Audience members will have the opportunity to ask questions. But the main focus
is we want to hear what is working around Pennsylvania. The topics listed on this
form will be interactive and allow for questions. If we run out of time, audience
members can meet panelists individually.