Upcoming Webcast
What Is Possible When Systems Truly Collaborate?
 Date: 6/26/2019 (2:00pm ET)
Presenters: Nancy Brooks-Lane, Senior Associate, Griffin-Hammis Associates; and Richard Kriener, Customized Employment Coordinator, VA DARS
Join Richard Kriner and Nancy Brooks-Lane for a spirited conversation about the Commonwealth of Virginia's statewide efforts to increase the employment outcomes for youth and adults with the most significant disabilities. Over the past year, the Virginia Department for Aging and Rehabilitative Services (VA DARS) and the Virginia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services (DBHDS) braided funding and resources for a statewide competency-based Discovery and Customized Employment initiative.
This included providing training, technical assistance, and mentorship to agency staff resulting in ACRE certification for participants. The goals included educating stakeholders, especially families and businesses about the efficacy of customized employment. This webcast will include case study examples of individuals with disabilities as they achieve their employment goals through customized employment.
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Customized employment is a process for individualizing the employment relationship between a job seeker and an employer in ways that meet the needs of both. It is based on a match between the unique strengths, needs, and interests of the job candidate with a disability, and the identified business needs of the employer or the self-employment business chosen by the candidate. Customized employment uses a flexible blend of strategies, services, supports, and funds to facilitate employment outcomes for job seekers with complex needs through negotiated employment relationships.