Alliance for Full ParticipationNovember 18, 2011

Share dataDiscuss role of self-advocatesOverview other activities Discuss outcomes to date and next stepsShare 3 systems change tipsAnswer questions

Number of Individuals in Integrated Employment

Settings (Includes: Competitive Employment, Individual Supported Employment

and Group Supported Employment)

Source: Institute for Community Inclusion

Percent of Individuals in Integrated Employment

Settings

Source: Institute for Community Inclusion

Some Good News

The number of people receiving supported employment services is up (494 in FY10)

BUT

Although the percent of people receiving supported employment has increased (35.9%), it’s still not where it was in 2001 (48%)

PlanningAlaska Works InitiativeSupported Employment Action PlanPeer PowerAlliance for Full Participation State Plan

Helped plan and organize 3 federal job fairsSent information about the job fairs to the mediaPut flyers upHad a phone treeHelped with set-up and take-downWelcomed peopleWrote thank-you notes

Planned and organized Peer Power meetingBrought self-advocates together from around the

stateTalked about ways working people could help

non-working people and youth get and keep a jobUsed Peer Power recommendations as a starting

point for Alaska’s AFP State Plan

2nd Peer Power meeting scheduled for DecemberDiscuss work done to dateDiscuss what was learned at AFP SummitIdentify specific actions Peer Power members will

take to help non-working adults and youth get and keep a jobWho, what, where, when and how

Drafted supported employment standardsProvided input on waiver reapplicationCollaborated on other grants

DVR (Customized Employment Grant)Division of Employment Security (Disability

Employment Initiative)Secured self-employment grant from Office

of Disability Employment PolicyHelped plan annual Full Lives ConferenceSecured funding to start 2 Project SEARCH

pilot sites

DVR policy changesDiscovery as a reimbursable serviceWork Incentives Counseling as a reimbursable

serviceSelf-employment policy more friendly to would-be

entrepreneursAnnual Full Lives Conference includes

employment trackExpansion of Project SEARCH (3 sites)1-stop job centers secure Employment

Network status

Continued policy developmentWaiver Plan amendmentsTraining for individuals and families,

providers, vocational rehabilitation counselors, care coordinators and State DD staff

Unemployment Insurance data runDevelopment of data tracking systemDevelopment of Employment Network

Partnership Plus arrangement with DVR

Systems Change Tip #1

A small investment can pay a BIG return

Invested around $5,000 for speaker at annual Transit Conference

Resulted in establishment of Alaska Mobility CoalitionSuccessfully advocated for state and

federal fundingInfluenced the passage of SAFETEA-LUGovernor created Coordinated

Transportation Task Force

Systems Change Tip #2

“Glom” onto existing initiatives and activities

Had strong working relationship with Department of Education & Early Development (EED)

Joint goal to improve transition of youth with disabilities into jobs and adult life

EED provided 100% of Project SEARCH start-up costs3 operational sites2 other communities interested

Systems Change Tip #3

Tip #6: Sometimes it doesn’t take money

Influence State Plan priorities and strategiesDVR’s State Plan reflects AWI activities to

improve employment outcomes of people with DD

Comment on proposed policyDVR changed self-employment policy to

make it more friendly to would-be entrepreneurs

Present results and dataDVR agreed to participate in

development, implementation and evaluation of Project SEARCH