Past Conferences: 2007 - Calgary Alberta

Overview

The 2007 National Supported Employment Conference was held in Calgary Alberta at the Hyatt Hotel from November 7th - 9th and 2007 attracted over 350 participants from around the country.

Program

Donna Messer, ConnectUs Canada Communications, Keynote Address

Donna Messer is an author, speaker and trainer for ConnectUs Canada Communications. She is a motivator, who truly walks her talk. She founded the company on the premise that everyone can learn to network and get work, they just need to find their own communication style.

Combining interactive training, strategic planning and an exploration of the natural fears of networking, Donna de-mystifies the process by providing techniques that can be immediately used. Donna has received rave reviews for her seminars and speeches and is increasingly sought after as an expert resource on the subject of networking.

Since founding ConnectUs, Donna Messer has played a critical and active role in introducing networking training to the curriculum of colleges and universities, boardrooms and government offices. She has been recognized as an "Outstanding Achiever in the field of career planning and recruitment".

Donna has conducted workshops and delivered keynote speeches for corporations, organizations and educational institutions throughout the Canada, the United States and Europe. The Power of Positive Linking is one of the most comprehensive, interactive network training programs in North America. Donna uses a networking system that takes her clients from an" opportunity to a solution". She monitors and measures their results.

She serves on the Executive Board for Women in International Trade, and chairs Women in Food Industry Management. She volunteers her time to support youth, the disabled and new immigrants. She is actively involved in charities directed towards improving the status of women of all ages.

For more information, visit Donna's web site at: http://www.connectuscanada.com

Kate Young, TD Bank Financial Group, Keynote Address

Kate Young has worked for TD Bank Financial Group as Manager of Community Relations and Friends of the Environment Foundation since September 2005. She is well recognized in the London community as the former television news anchor for nearly 20 years.

Kate received her Broadcast Journalism diploma from Fanshawe College in London. She joined the London television station in 1984 where she anchored the station's major news programs and became Director of Community Relations for the Television Station in 2001.

Kate was lured away from the bright lights of television by a company that has a strong history in Canada - TD Bank Financial Group, which is the corporate arm of TD Canada Trust. In her capacity as Community Relations Manager for TD, Kate has taken a special interest in diversity issues within the bank. She was instrumental in organizing a conference in 2006 called Ability First - Hiring the Best for Your Business, which was geared to London employers and presented the business case for hiring people with disabilities. The conference was a resounding success and interest is building in other Canadian cities to be a part of a similar initiative.

Kate initiated the formation of the London TD Pride Network, underscoring to the 36 hundred London TD employees how committed the bank is to an inclusive environment.

Kate was nominated for the J.S. Woodsworth Award recognizing people who fight racism in Ontario and was given the Certificate of Appreciation from the Association of London Muslims. Kate is on the Deans Advisory Council on Environmental Studies at the University of Waterloo. In 2000, Kate received the Distinguished Alumni Award from Fanshawe College and was nominated for the Premier's Award for her outstanding career achievements and her many contributions to the community. She recently was chosen as London Newsmaker of the Year by the London City Press Club.

Presenters

Conflict Resolution Basics for Supported Employment (SCE LifeWorks-Manitoba) - Thursday 10:30am-12:00pm

It is remarkable how much conflict we can encounter as we support individuals to find employment. Not just with the people we support (in my experience, primarily not with the people we support), but with Hey, we are humans dealing with other humans, and so conflict is inevitable. It might not even be bad. It is our reaction to the conflict that will largely influence the outcome. We will talk conflict resolution fundamentals, including:

• What conflict is, and why it is not always bad
• Conflict styles and cycles
• Two ways to understand how conflict can occur
• A problem solving approach to deal with conflict in a positive way

Supported employment examples will be used to give context to the discussion.

First Nations Employment & Disability Strategies-Treaty 7 Economic Development Corporation (Alberta) - Thursday 10:30am-12:00pm

Treaty Seven Economic Development Corporation is the AHRDA holder for southern Alberta providing employment and economic opportunities for First Nation peoples in our territories on and off reserve. As such, we have a narrow focus when it comes to persons with disabilities, however, recognize the need to reach out and to link with existing employment supports available in the communities of southern Alberta in order to gain and maintain employment for these individuals.

The T7 EDC Disabilities Program strongly upholds the belief that Aboriginal people are the primary factor that shape the decisions and forces that affect their lives, families, cultures and communities. It is on this basis that the T7 EDC Disability Program strives to be client driven with the client's full participation in all decisions.

The following elements regarding a client's active participation are considered as fundamental and treated as priorities for all Treaty 7 clients with disabilities:

• Significant levels of client active involvement;
• People enabled to perform significant tasks on their own behalf;
• Support is provided for clients as they learn to act for themselves;
• Plans and activities (client action plan) that people are able to accomplish themselves are encouraged; and
• Direct involvement with client rather than their representative or their agents.

T7 EDC are presently developing, designing, and looking to implement a Supported Employment program for First Nations people who self-identify as having a disability. With a successful implementation of a Best Practices-based Supported Employment methodology, T7 EDC and our service delivery personnel will be able to provide assistance and support with a cultural perspective.

Improving Supported Employment Outcomes for Individuals with Mental Illness (Capital Health-Alberta) - Thursday 10:30am-12:00pm

Despite the great strides in Supported Employment for individuals with disabilities and the current job market in Edmonton, people suffering from mental illnesses continue to have the highest rate of unemployment among the disability groups. Individuals diagnosed with a severe mental illness face unique and challenging barriers to obtaining and maintaining personally satisfying and appropriate employment positions in their communities. This presentation will discuss some of the specialized knowledge and skills required to work successfully with this population. In addition, the presentation will provide examples of specific services that have been developed and implemented in partnership with the private sector, funded agencies and various levels of government to improve outcomes for clients in Capital Health's Regional Vocational Program.

jobStart - Your Path to Success (Community Living Sarnia-Lambton-Ontario) - Thursday 10:30am-12:00pm

jobStart is a free eight -week interactive job readiness program for persons with disabilities which focuses on job retention. It is funded by Service Canada's Opportunities Fund. Due to the changes in the ODSP Employment Supports system, pre-employment activities and assessments are no longer funded. This workshop allows us to assess participants before we connect them to ODSP ES, ensuring they are job ready and to make the best job match. We have confidence they are motivated and have the ability to be successful beyond the 13 week window required by ODSP ES.

The content would include:

• Opportunities Fund application/proposal (we are now in our 6th year of funding)
• Prospecting for participants
• Curriculum content - ice breakers, group activities and exercises; providing participants the skills to be better employees
• Effective facilitating ensuring all learning styles are addressed
• Community Partnerships including guest speakers, employers
• Marketing and promotional materials
• Placement ideas that result in jobs

Building an Employment Continuum (CHIRS-Ontario) - Thursday 1:00pm-2:30pm

How can we address a variety of abilities and needs in a single employment program? What do you do when the funds for job-coaching have run out, but the desire to work and the need for job-coaching remain?

This presentation will provide an overview of CHIRS continuum of employment programs designed to provide employment experience and sustainable, community-based supported employment.

Special focus will be given to our entry level employment opportunity CardSharks+. This innovative program format provides a range of tasks from errorless card production for persons with severe to profound impairment to, work-station set-up and data entry for persons who are employment bound. In a recreational setting, participants are encouraged to practice team work, social skills and a professional attitude toward project completion. Participants often advance to a graduated work crew model developed in cooperation with three large employers, IKEA, Canadian Tire, Sheridan Nurseries. The model enables teams of clients to work in competitive settings as a collective with ongoing support from a job coach. We will illustrate how clients deemed "permanently unemployable" have become paid employees with opportunities for advancement.

Participants will gain an understanding of the employment model and information about how to get started. Topics covered will include: obtaining funding grants to develop crews, pairing clients at different functioning levels with complimentary abilities, negotiating independent positions for successful crew members up front, nurturing an attentive employer - agency relationship, establishing on-site mentoring relationships with employers and outcome evaluation. Techniques to foster the growth of individual workers including the use of group & individual shift feedback forms and goal setting will also be presented. In addition, we will explore client & employer outcomes such as the changes in attitudes, identity and self-esteem that occur when people can do real work for a real wage.

Building Your Network to Get Work (ConnectUs Canada Communications) - Thursday 1:00pm-2:30pm

This workshop is designed to inspire those who need to know how to help clients achieve their goals through effective networking. Covering who-what-where-when and why to network, the participants at this interactive workshop will leave with new tools for career development along with innovative communication style insight.

Participants will learn, using a systematic process, the importance of recognizing opportunities and sharing contacts. This workshop provides the tools you need to refresh, build, and make the most of the networks you already have.

Donna Messer is an author, speaker and trainer for ConnectUs Canada Communications. She is a motivator, who truly walks her talk. She founded the company on the premise that everyone can learn to network and find suitable employment, using their own skills and interests. She uses a systematic process that has measurable results,

Donna has been working with unemployed and under employed people for over 20 years. She is on the Board of Directors for JobStart. www.jobstart-cawl.org a community based, not-for-profit agency helping experienced workers, newcomers to Canada and youth overcome challenges in order to reach their employment goals.

She works with people with disabilities and has spoken to the staff of Community Living Associations across the country. She has been instrumental in building profitable relationships between employers and potential employees in communities everywhere. Donna has facilitated workshops for LinkUp Employment Services in Ontario and will share success stories from happily employed participants. www.linkup.ca

Come away from this workshop with "New Tools and Innovations" for Team Building, Career Development and Staff Training along with some inside secrets on marketing!

Managing Staff Turnover Through Mentorship (Progressive Alternatives Society of Calgary-Alberta) - Thursday 1:00pm-2:30pm

Due to the current staffing crisis in the disability field, it has become increasingly common for organizations to hire new staff from increasingly diverse backgrounds. Frequently these staff have neither formal training nor significant work experience in human services. While they bring different strengths and perspectives, they do not always have sufficient familiarity with issues of disability nor the art of inclusion. This new hiring process creates an opportunity to utilize a mentorship program to orient new staff to an organization as well as  values, practices - and rationales for those practices. This presentation will examine the benefits of the development and implementation of a mentorship program including rationale for creating a program, components of effective mentorship, and how to keep a mentorship program running once it has been established. The presentation will recount the experience of Progressive Alternatives Society - Calgary in its implementation of a staff mentorship program.

School to Work Transition (Community Living Guelph-Ontario) - Thursday 1:00pm-2:30pm

The Supported Employment Program of Community Living Guelph Wellington is excited with the prospect of sharing our innovative ideas for helping individuals transition from school to community. We presently support 60 individuals with approximately 50 percent of those people having come directly out of the school system. We attribute our success to the partnership between SEP and the school board working together to promote employment skills and job procurement. This is especially important as our geographical covers both urban and rural areas.

Eighty percent of students have participated in the Community Readiness Program ( we will have handouts and explanations of the 6 week program). All individuals entering the SEP program complete an interest survey (handout). This helps determine skill sets, client interests and helps workers determine what options to explore. At times, a beginning point might be a job placement and other times individuals have gone right into competitive employment. Over 50 percent of all individuals on job placement secured a part time job.

Seasonal work is another avenue for assessing and developing job skills in a more supervised environment. Some of these opportunities include grass cutting, fixing divots at the Victoria East Golf Club (which SEP clients have done for over eight years), snow shoveling, making chocolates, and selling donated products ie. glass boats. (we will have brochures, power point presentations, and a video). We feel that the variety of jobs we offer/support is a fun way of taking the first step toward inclusion in the community.

The Supported Employment Program is networking regularly with the school board and other agencies. To ensure extra funding we work collectively with the Ontario Disability Support Program, Passport Program, Second Chance, Lutherwood Coda, Christian Horizons, and other United Way Agencies.

To assess the success rate of the participants we observe the individuals' ability to be independent and to sustain employment, even though we consider all individuals successful until they participate. The yearly Individual Support Agreement review is used as a tool to asses the individual's satisfaction with the Supported Employment Program.

Destination Employment (Learning Disabilities Association of Manitoba-Manitoba) - Thursday 3:00pm-4:30pm

Promoting Employment Success & Independence Among Adults with Learning Disabilities

Specific topics will include characteristics of our program participants, the common mental health issues outlined in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV) and by The American Psychiatric Association. The recurrent employment difficulties experienced by our adult consumers will be highlighted, along with how our program provides participants with the knowledge and the specific strategies needed to help them cope with difficulties and promote employment success. The Learning Disabilities Association of Manitoba and the structure of our Destination Employment Program will be discussed to highlight the program strengths, growth, consumer outcomes as well as the limitations this program needs to address so that a greater number of adults with LD and/or ADHD within our community who are experiencing employment difficulties can access the help needed for employment success and independence.

The overall objective of this presentation is to share information about our particular employment program which has shown to be successful in helping adults with Learning Disabilities and/or ADHD overcome barriers, face challenges, and reach employment success and independence.

Natural Supports in the Workplace - the Evolution of the Job Coach (CASS-Alberta) - Thursday 3:00pm-4:30pm

Natural supports are frequently referred to in the field of Supported Employment but new staff often don't fully understand the definition, the employer's role in these supports - and HOW TO facilitate Natural Supports. Calgary Alternative Employment Services (CAES) provides extremely little direct job coaching but rather utilizes existing training mechanisms and co-worker relationships in the workplace in order to ensure that our client base has the 'same work experience' as their coworkers. It's cost-effective, and inclusion and retention rates are very high. This workshop will define Natural Supports, explain and illustrate facilitation techniques, explore employer roles and participation, and provide examples of "Natural Support Success Stories'. Participants will leave this workshop with a full understanding of Natural Supports and the implementation strategies required in order to facilitate better training and integration, and increase job retention for those they serve.

Supported Employment Transition Initiative-Saskatchewan (SARC-Saskatchewan) - Thursday 3:00pm-4:30pm

This presentation updates delegates on the ongoing developments of two initiatives that began 7 and 11 years ago in Saskatchewan. The department of highways started hiring persons with developmental disabilities 11 years ago at all 8 fleet services shops. These individuals were hired initially under a day labour agreement. A few years later a letter of understanding was developed and included in the union agreement. The original positions for these individuals were shop assistants. Since then, a few of these individuals have applied for positions within the union and have been successful at obtaining and maintaining their employment.

Recently, the department adopted mandatory diversity competencies for all supervisory and management staff.

The Supported Employment Transition Initiative that began 7 years ago has provided funding for over 60 initiatives and has been able to develop the capacity of supported employment in Saskatchewan by creating best practices, adopting the Standards and Guidelines for Career Development, developing training opportunities, networking on a regular basis and last year hosting the National Supported Employment Conference.

This presentation will be full of resources and information, so that delegates will take with them some of the most interesting and innovative resources currently available.

Target Supported Employment for Youth - A Cross Ministry Initiative (Prospect-Calgary) - Thursday 3:00pm-4:30pm

Target Supported Employment for Youth is a rapid employment program for at-risk youth, between 18 and 24 years old, with mild developmental disabilities and/or mental health issues. This unique service is a collaborative, cross ministry initiative between Alberta Employment Immigration and Industry, the Calgary Health Region, and Persons with Developmental Disabilities - Calgary Regional Board. Target supports individuals to successfully obtain and maintain employment through a blend of customized supports including rapid placement with supportive employers and extensive on-the-job supports.

Our presentation will highlight the key elements of the service model including:

• service design and rapid placement philosophy
• staff skills and training
• key functions of each position
• building relationships with informed and supportive employers
• job coaching strategies and best practices
• employment retention plans
• employment retention and client/employee follow-up success

We will also discuss relevant learnings and data collected throughout the project, our experience collaborating with multiple ministries, and some inspirational client and employer successes.

Job Developer Toolkits - A Resource for Success (Provincial Networking Group Inc.-British Columbia) - Friday 11:00pm-12:30pm

After 15 years in business, providing very effective supports to people with disabilities, one thing we have learned is that traditional strategies or ways of doing things don't always work for those with multiple barriers to employment.

We have found great success in doing things differently; taking a different or non traditional approach to assisting people to achieve meaningful paid employment.

Through the process of developing training to teach others how to use our techniques, we produced a set of booklets each with a different topic. This "Job Developer's Toolkit" is intended to provide readers with some practical ideas on providing non traditional supports for those individuals who are not having success with traditional services. Learn how to use "Job Seeker Profiles" instead of traditional resumes. Learn how to write effective "Job Proposals" instead of sending job seekers to interview after unsuccessful interview.

There are currently 4 information packed booklets in the toolkit with more titles currently in development. Toolkits are now available for purchase from PNGI and ASPECT in BC.

Mental Health Employment Strategies & Employer Perspectives (Regional Mental Health Care London-ON) - Friday 11:00pm-12:30pm

This presentation will discuss the unique challenges for hiring those with mental health concerns - as well as the topics of Job Development and Marketing techniques for people with mental health challenges. Our research during 2006 in Ontario focused on how employers determine employability. We also explored 'myth versus reality' with reference to how supported employment specialists define employability - and how employers define employability. We'll explore the value of pre employment preparation based on direct employer feedback, employer perspectives on how homelessness impacts employment and getting hired, employers' perspectives on supported employment services, and the value of engaging employer and supported employment specialists as partners in research.

"Success breeds success" describes a support system that works for everyone.

Supported Entrepreneurship: From "I Hate My Boss" to "I am the Boss" (CASS-Alberta) - Friday 11:00pm-12:30pm

What is Supported Entrepreneurship and how are such services for people with disabilities developed and implemented? Since 2004, Calgary Alternative Support Services (CASS) has helped almost 50 individuals to start small-scale, revenue-generating enterprises and reach 'self-employment' status - proving that self-employment and entrepreneurship are viable forms of labour market participation. This presentation will discuss the basics of small business / micro-enterprise development in effort to provide a practical 'How-to-Guide' based on an existing successful program which has experienced growth through both challenges and new opportunities. Attention will be given to the process of creating and maintaining partnerships and other business development / maintenance resources.

In addition, the audience will have the opportunity to hear directly from, & interact with, graduates of the Supported Entrepreneurship Program at CASS. Participants will leave this session with a better understanding of what it takes to start a business as well as the remarkable capacities of entrepreneurs with disabilities.

The Employment Wave... Can you Swim? (Avalon Employment Inc.-Newfoundland) - Friday 11:00pm-12:30pm

Enjoy a session that will review where we have come from.. and where we are going, but more important how are we going to get there. Demographic issues in Canada mean labour shortages, where do individuals with disabilities fit in the New Economy, and Labor Market. Review models of support, both in traditional employment and self employment. Individual Purchase Service Agreements.

A fun session that will lift your spirits and give you a new view of both your job and the individuals you serve.

Catch the employment wave, and refresh your inner career development processes or at least gave a life preserver and JUMP IN!!!!

Building Employer Relationships (REDI-Alberta) - Friday 1:30pm-3:00pm

REDI Enterprises Society places a high importance on building quality relations with employers. Our view of supported employment including the support of both the employer and the employee facilitates the building of strong employer relationships. Through the use of media, employer recognition programs, and networking with local businesses we have developed successful partnerships.

In this session we will show the various ways we achieve success for individuals through our commitment to strong associations with employers. This action packed gathering will be thought provoking and informative. Our goal is to have you leave this session thinking about how to use what you've learned to create success for the individuals you support.

Foundation for the Future (VRRI/CBE-Alberta) - Friday 1:30pm-3:00pm

Making the Most of the High School Years for Students with Developmental Disabilities

The Vocational and Rehabilitation Research Institute and the Calgary Board of Education have formed an innovative partnership to provide work experiences for the students at William Aberhart High School and Lord Beaverbrook, in Calgary, Alberta. In addition to the work experiences, the partnership focuses on assisting the students and their families with the transition to adulthood.

We are currently in the third year of the project and through implementation of best practices have made many discoveries that will be shared during this session. We hope this will be an interactive session and look forward to hearing about the experiences others have had in this area. This session will be of interest to adolescents or young adults, their families and service providers.

Job Development for Clients with Mental Health and Addiction Histories (CAMH-Ontario) - Friday 1:30pm-3:00pm

Our focus is on job development and supported employment for individuals with mental health and/or addiction histories. We will be introducing and discussing evidence based practices such as the Individual Placement and Support Model (IPS) and Motivational Interviewing. The IPS model is a standardized approach to supported employment for individuals with severe mental illness and focuses on the clients expressed interest in work. Motivational Interviewing is another evidence based practice where specific principles and strategies are used to build motivation and develop a plan for change.

Additional topics that will be addressed during this presentation include how to engage employers as well as accommodation and ongoing support. During this presentation we offer tips on networking with employers, how to speak the language of an employer, how to sell your client's skills and abilities and how to determine a good match between an employer and an employee. We also focus on how to educate employers and discuss the impact of stigma in the workforce.

We will also be discussing the unique collaborate partnership of job developers in Toronto which is called Strategic Employment Solutions (SES). SES is an organization made up of approximately 20 partnering agencies throughout the greater Toronto area. Together we support each other in finding and placing individuals in competitive employment. We will discuss how we use this model to cover a broad variety of jobs and to reach out to a larger number of employers. Through the use of Account Managers at SES we share leads and work together to improve outcomes for all clients.

The Centre for Addiction and Mental Health is an ODSP Employment Support Services Provider. We will discuss how our program fits into the context of the new directions for employment in Ontario and ODSP outcome based funding.

Rural PEI - What's Working? (Community Inclusions Limited-Prince Edward Island) - Friday 1:30pm-3:00pm

Community Inclusions Ltd. is a non-profit organization that services adults between the ages of 18-65 the in West Prince region of PEI with intellectual disabilities. Currently we service over 60 people. Prior to 2001 we did not have a formal employment services program. Very few of our clients were out working in the community. Currently today we have two staff in the employment unit. We have a full time employment counsellor and a job coach. We have also started working with the department of education on co-operative education programs for students.

Living in rural areas has many advantages and disadvantages. In an area of this size service providers can network very easily.

In Western PEI we face many challenges above and beyond our clients basic needs. We are faced with inadequate housing, lack of transportation, elderly parents and limited employment opportunities.

Many of our issues have been solved with maintaining employment with having the job coach in place. Any fears that an employer has are alleviated by having a job coach present. Also, they see it as a cost effective way to complete the training needed.

Entertainment

Wednesday, November 7th, 2007

A welcome reception and wine and cheese at the Hyatt Hotel.

Thursday, November 8th, 2007

Conference Gala Diner featuring local Calgary band the Dino Martinis!

Venue

The Hyatt

The Hyatt in downtown Calgary hosted the 2007 Conference. For more information, check out their website.

2007 Sponsors

The 2007 National Supported Employment Conference was sponsored in part by the Government of Alberta and Persons with Developmental Disabilities - Calgary Regional Community Board.