Employment Webinars

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Employer engagement is a critical part of a robust and effective workforce development system. Crossing the cultural and communications divide between the worlds of work and disability is critical for expanding job opportunities for people with disabilities. The great state of Iowa has been at the forefront of outreach work to educate business partners on the bottom-line benefits of hiring more and more people with disabilities.

Watch this webinar to learn how Iowa’s Vocational Rehabilitation system has built up a robust network of business partnerships with Kwik-Trip and other diverse firms. Our guests also spoke about the unique challenges of meeting the workforce training needs of youth with disabilities in rural Iowa.

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Every company wants to hire the right talent that will contribute to their bottom line. Increasing, leaders in corporate America recognize that boosting diversity and inclusion impacts more than just workplace culture and brings with it a competitive edge in the marketplace.

Companies in a variety of industries are working hard to hire more and more people with disabilities. As such, companies need to better understand how to make disability a key part of their diversity and inclusion strategies. We invite you to watch this special conversation with some of the nation’s leading experts on disability, inclusion and success. Jim Sinocchi spoke about his efforts to launch a “new era of disability inclusion” at JP Morgan Chase, by “hiring professionals with disabilities into the robust culture of the firm.” He shared key lessons he has learned about how to identify, training and promote professional with disabilities.

Likewise, Vincenzo Piscopo spoke about the key work that Coca-Cola has done to bring greater diversity to their team, their culture and their brand. From the new Unlabeled ad campaign to his personal experiences as a leader in the firm, Vincenzo offered insights from a globe-trotting careers as a successful inclusion leader.

Learn all about Coca-Cola’s new campaign that puts disability, mental health and all aspects of diversity front and center here: https://www.campaignlive.com/article/ad-week-diet-cokes-unlabeled-pushes-powerful-message/1589226

You can learn more about JP Morgan Chase’s disability hiring efforts here: https://www.jpmorganchase.com/corporate/news/insights/jsinocchi-a-new-dawn-for-disability-inclusion.htm

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About Our Speaker:

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A Conversation about Successful Disability Employment Strategies with Kevin McCloskey and Kris Foss

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Featuring:

Kevin McCloskey, Director of Partnership Development – Disability Solutions @Ability Beyond
Kris Foss, Managing Director – Disability Solutions @Ability Beyond

Disability Solutions, a corporate disability consulting firm, is changing minds and changing lives through their work with Pepsi, Synchrony Financial, Staples and other employers across the country. Disability Solutions’ clients have hired over 350 people with disabilities, including veterans, over the past five years through the planning and implementation of a strategic approach focused on driving business results. Managing Director, Kris Foss, and Director of Partnership Development, Kevin McCloskey, will discuss best practices and tips on bridging the gap between employers and the community partners who serve all jobseekers with disabilities that have produced real outcomes.

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Learn about the innovative work being done by Jennifer Christian, MD, MPH President and Chief Medical Officer, Webility

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Featuring:

Jennifer Christian, MD, MPH President and Chief Medical Officer, Webility

Disability is the minority group that anyone can join at any time due to accident, illness or injury. The life experience of acquiring a disability can result in serious disruptions to a person’s life, health and employment. The road to recovery or adapting to a new reality can be a complex and confusing process. Yet there is a critical gap at the center of that process. Assuring a good “big picture” outcome for a working person with a health-related life and employment disruption is not in any professional’s job description today.

Instead, this important task typically defaults to the person who acquires a disability and their family. Together or alone, they face the challenge of navigating complex systems of health, disability and workers’ compensation. As a result, some people fall through this gap in the social fabric and end up with avoidable outcomes.

Jennifer Christian, MD’s life work has been about bridging that gap. From founding Webility to draw attention to this hole in the social fabric to helping doctors, employers, benefits payers and other stakeholders establish better communications, Dr. Christian has been an innovator and thought leader. Dr. Christian has dedicated her life to get people the support they need to remain functional, independent, and able to participate fully in human life, including work.
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A Conversation about Faith, Disability and Inclusion Resources with Bill Gaventa, M.Div and Joe Timmons

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Featuring:

Bill Gaventa, M.Div., Summer Institute on Theology and Disability, National Collaborative on Faith and Disability, Texas Faith Inclusion Network on Disability
Joe Timmons, Research Fellow, Institute on Community Inclusion

Years ago, Rev. Bill Gaventa said, “in every faith community, there is a scriptural basis for welcome and hospitality.” Over the course of his career, he has worked hard across the country on issues at the intersection of faith, disability and inclusion. He has worked with dozens of congregations of different faiths to promote the lives and value of people with disabilities.

Faith organizations have a unique role supporting job seekers with disabilities. Not only can religious organizations drive inclusion, they also can help prepare people for work.

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Featuring:

Jessica Patton, Deputy Director
Andrea Schonenberg, Senior Director, Jobs Program Best Buddies International

The mission of Best Buddies International is to establish a global volunteer movement that creates opportunities for one-to-one friendships, integrated employment and leadership development for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD).

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Project Search Logo

During this webinar, we discussed lessons from Project SEARCH’s work with youth with disabilities and how to apply those lessons to other workforce programs. The insights from Project SEARCH offer critical lessons learned about serving youth with disabilities. Learn key insights that can apply to other workforce programs including various ways to break down tasks, support different learning styles and how to accommodate different disabilities.

Featuring:

Paula Johnson, M.S.,Program Specialist Project SEARCH
Lisa M. Enright, M.Ed. Project SEARCH Instructor – Bayhealth

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