During this webinar, you will learn about a curriculum designed to educate and empower transition-age youth with intellectual and developmental disabilities and their parents and/or guardians about advocating for and creating high expectations in employment.
Learning Objectives:
Learn the story behind the training “A Brighter Future: Navigating the World of Disability and Employment”
Learn six important topics to understand when approaching youth transition to adulthood
Learn about resources and how to access this training
Get connected to future opportunities to voice your ideas on training and information that can support youth transitioning to adulthood
Intended audience: Individuals with intellectual/developmental disabilities and their families, service providers, employers, and all others who are interested.
Presenters:
Tiffany Cron, PhD, Director of Colorado Office of Employment First
Melanie Honsbruch, CWIC, Curriculum Developer/Trainer, Colorado Office of Employment First
Webinar Description During this webinar you will get to dive into employment methods and learning strategies that support people with disabilities both within and outside of employment, while leading to increased health outcomes
and overall quality of life. Additionally, you will experience a demonstration of how applying typical elements of game playing, a process known as gamification, may help provide successful outcomes in employment for individuals with intellectual
and developmental disabilities.
Learning Objectives
Explore innovative employment methods.
Understand the connection between employment and health outcomes.
Experience an innovative employment method through a Gamification demonstration.
Intended audience: Individuals with I/DD and their families, service providers, employers and all others who are interested
Speakers:
Joseph Samour, JFK Partners LEND Trainee - Rehabilitation Counseling
Brian Dean, MA, CRC, Program Developer/Trainer - Colorado Office of Employment First
Tiffany Cron, PhD, Curriculum Developer/Trainer/Data Lead - Colorado Office of Employment First
This webinar will discuss the role of inclusive higher education during critical transition years after high school for young adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). Inclusive higher education offers students a supportive academic environment to prepare for employment and independent living after graduation. A recent program evaluation comparing campus participation and educational outcomes of students living on and off-campus will be presented. Additionally, Tracy Murphy, Executive Director of IN!, will discuss pending legislation to expand inclusive higher education opportunities in Colorado. College is possible for students with intellectual and developmental disabilities!
Learning Objectives:
Recognize inclusive higher education as a postsecondary option for young adults with IDD
Learn about pending legislation to expand inclusive higher education in Colorado
Intended audience: Individuals with IDD and their families, educators, policy makers, researchers
Speakers: Aryn Taylor, PhD, CRC, Grant Writer/Program Evaluator, Colorado Office of Employment First
Tracy Murphy, Executive Director, The Colorado Initiative for Inclusive Higher Education (IN!)
Considering the importance of technology in the daily lives of youth, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic, this webinar will explore factors and practical strategies related to digital citizenship, technology access, and internet safety for youth with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Further, based upon data analyzed during this exploration, the presenters will make the case for individual and systems-level investment in digital citizenship to support full participation.
Participants will:
Understand the importance of digital citizenship for youth with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
Explore common accessibility-related barriers that prevent successful technology usage.
Implement strategies that help to ensure safe Internet usage.
Senate Bill 16-196 created a 5-year pilot program to establish inclusive higher education programs for students with intellectual and developmental disabilities at the University of Northern Colorado, University of Colorado at Colorado Springs, and Arapahoe Community College. SB 16-196 came about through the collaborative effort of parents of students with intellectual and developmental disabilities and other committed stakeholders who formed a nonprofit, IN! Colorado Initiative for Inclusive Higher Education. The leadership of IN! was inspired by a movement across the country to create opportunities in institutions of higher education (both two- and four-year programs) for students with intellectual and developmental disabilities to experience and gain from inclusive higher education programs. The 2020-21 academic year is the final year of the pilot program.
Learning objectives:
Understand Colorado's pilot higher education initiative
Describe strategies, barriers and successes of inclusion in the university programs participating in the pilot
Presenters:
Christina Ruffatti, MA, CRC; Go On and Learn (GOAL) Program, University of Northern Colorado
Christi Kasa, PhD; Office of Inclusive Services, University of Colorado Colorado Springs
Julie Harmon, Office of Inclusive Services, University of Colorado Colorado Springs
Jennifer Woegens, MS; Disability Access Services, Arapahoe Community College
Tracy Murphy, Colorado Initiative for Inclusive Higher Education (IN!)
Beth Leon, MBA; Colorado Initiative for Inclusive Higher Education (IN!)
The Colorado Office of Employment First (COEF) team will present on the importance of having high expectations of employment for young adults with disabilities. The presentation will review the building blocks of the transition planning process, discuss the importance of a strong postsecondary vision for employment and how we can best prepare young adults for success. Additionally, the COEF team will raise awareness about how connecting to community resources such as benefits counseling and developing community partnerships to support young adults achieve their goals of employment are also essential to the process of achieving postsecondary success. The intended audience for this webinar includes: professionals, families, youth and all those interested.
At the end of this session, participants will: Understand the basics of the transition planning process Gain understanding about the importance of high expectations at a young age Learn about early employment experiences and key points on how benefits counseling is an important step Understand the state system and resources that can support young adults.
Speakers: Melanie Honsbruch, CPWIC; Teresa Nguyen, MPH; and Jennifer Stewart, MPP Colorado Office of Employment First
Many individuals with ASD and their families have questions regarding gender identity, sexuality, and intimacy. While gender and sexuality are common topics to explore in adolescence, there are a number of misconceptions regarding how to best support teens with ASD in navigating these changes. This webinar will provide information about strategies for caregivers and professionals to support teens in these areas with consideration of the unique learning needs of teens with ASD.
The intended audience for this webinar includes: families, caregivers, community care providers, and school-based providers
Learning objectives:
Discuss common misconceptions around sexual development and intimacy in adolescents with ASD
Explore core components of relationships and sexuality for adolescents with ASD including gender identity, dating, social safety, and sex education.
Learn skill building strategies for promoting health sexual development in adolescents with ASD
Speakers:
Lindsey DeVries, PhD, Instructor, Department of Pediatrics, University of Colorado School of Medicine
Caitlin Middleton, PhD, Assistant Professor, Department of Pediatrics, University of Colorado School of Medicine
This webinar will discuss the meaning and process of transition to adult healthcare, as well as health disparities, and hope for the future.
Learning Objectives:
Define transition, and define transfer; understand the differences of each process.
Discuss healthcare disparities patients with I/DD experience as they age.
Review research about healthcare for adults with IDD.
Outline the process of an ideal healthcare transition (wait a minute, there is no ideal! It should all be tailored to each patient and family’s unique situation and timeline.)
Understand the perspective of a patient/family who has undergone transition from pediatric to adult healthcare.
