Strategies for Community Inclusion

Employment in an integrated setting is only one aspect of being an integrated member of the community. For many people, a job also offers the opportunity to make friends and get to know the community in new ways. People with disabilities who may have experienced work within the context of a sheltered Work Center may find it challenging to navigate the social relationships and other aspects of true community inclusion associated with integrated employment.

Community Inclusion can be facilitated if partnerships within the community are developed as part of helping individuals find employment. The following resources offer information about developing partnerships with community stakeholders as well as facilitating opportunities for individuals to take active roles in their communities.
Webinars
  • ​Techniques for Involving All Stakeholders 
    Organization and Work Center transformation goals are met effectively when all levels of the organization are engaged in the process. "Techniques for Involving All Levels of Stakeholders in Transformation" explores ways to encourage all stakeholders to learn about and participate in the transformation process.
  • Person-Centered Planning and Shared Decision Making
    Person-Centered Planning and Shared Decision Making are essential tools in a an agency's journey of cultural change. Ability Beyond discusses how they successfully transformed employment supports by supporting individuals to make informed choices around personal career goals, manage concerns and fears around change, and implement concrete ways to maintain existing friendships while welcoming new relationships.
  • The Employment Adventure: Finding Tools for New Experiences Shameka Andrews is a successful entrepreneur who advocates strongly for the rights of individuals with disabilities to achieve their personal career goals. In this webinar, she shares her own experiences in developing personal career goals and the steps she has taken – and continues to take – to achieve them. 
  • Becoming Your Own Boss: How to Start Your Own Business
    Shameka Andrews is a successful entrepreneur who advocates strongly for the rights of individuals with disabilities to achieve their personal career goals. In this webinar, she shares her own experiences in identifying and developing her business and offers tools and resources for supporting others to pursue rewarding employment.
Videos
  • The Interviewer
    The Interviewer is a little film with a big message. Invite all stakeholders and members of your organization to view this film and discuss how its message can be used to transform the waysthey think about employment opportunities. 

    ​The Interviewer is used with the permission of Bus Stop Films, an organization that offers weekly film-making workshops for people with intellectual disabilities. This film has found its way onto screens across the globe and recently “went viral” in Europe after being shown on Arte TV, winning over 30 awards, and being screened at over 40 film festivals including Short Shorts Film Festival & Asia, Cleveland, Flickerfest. Learn more about Bus Stop films by visiting their website at busstopfilms.com.au and their Facebook page at: facebook.com/busstopfilms. 
  • A Plan, A Process, and Communication
    Ability Beyond successfully transformed its Work Center into integrated community-based work opportunities. In this video, Shaileen Brighton-Ortiz and Carrie O'Connell discuss the plan and the process that made the transformation a success.
  • Pitch Tank
    ​Wouldn't it be great to run a business idea before a panel of experts to hear some input and get some new ideas? Tracy Tuttle of St. Lawrence ARC had that opportunity when she attended Pitch Tank as part of the 2016 New York State Rehabilitation Association (NYSRA) Summit. Watch this video to see what she learned. 
Additional Resources
  • Going To Work
    Among the many publications offered as free downloadable PDFs at the Institute for Community Inclusion website is one that may be of particular interest, entitled Going To Work. This publication is designed to support individuals and families in developing integrated employment opportunities, including information on both benefits management and Ticket to Work. It is available for download here.
going_to_work.pdf
File Size: 1138 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File
  • Module 5: Community Inclusion
    The Illinois Department of Human Services offers a publication dedicated to Community Inclusion which includes exercises for individuals and staff in navigating the challenges and barriers associated with becoming an active member of the community.
module5rdccommunityinclusion.pdf
File Size: 478 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File
The following resources are focused on the role of person-centered planning in developing and implementing employment opportunities.
  • Toolkit: Working on Purpose
    ​Created by Carol Blessing of the Blessing Consultant Group and used by permission here. The toolkit offers individuals a step-by-step process for considering personal interests and skills and developing a person-centered approach to finding meaningful employment.
toolkit_working_on_purpose_six_steps_to_employment..pdf
File Size: 490 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File
  • Skills to Pay the Bills: Mastering Soft Skills for Workplace Succes
    ​    Produced by the Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP), this workbook examines the importance of soft skills – such as the ability to communicate constructively, work as a team member, and maintain a positive mental attitude – and offers activities and tools for developing these skills as part of attaining employment.
softskills.pdf
File Size: 3522 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File
  • SSR: Supporting Social Roles
    Employment is a crucial adult role for individuals. In this free download, John O’Brien examines how to support individuals to participate in adult roles in their communities.
ssr.pdf
File Size: 714 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File
  • Core Competencies
    Direct Support Professionals define the quality of every service by their understanding, competence and ethical commitment. Employment Supports Transformation is supported by direct support and employment support professionals who support individuals’ in achieving their own employment goals. To learn more about training in Core Competencies in NYS and regional collaborations visit the website: http://www.workforcetransformation.org
  • Center for Disability Employment (CDE) 
    The Campaign for Disability Employment is a collaborative effort designed to create employment opportunities for people with disabilities. Visit the website to view and share public service announcements, discover additional resources, and access toolkits: https://www.whatcanyoudocampaign.org

    Several discussion guides to use with the CDE’s online toolkits are available here as PDFs:
Who Am I?
Use this discussion guide with the CDE’s Who Am I toolkit to support individuals to explore their talents and skills.​​
whoiam_guide.pdf
File Size: 1222 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File
Because
Use this discussion guide to explore how mentors, including employment specialists, families, and other community members can play roles in developing employment opportunities.
because_english_508-nov-2013.pdf
File Size: 859 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File
These resources are also available in Spanish.
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