Breaking Barriers: An Employment Support Professional’s Guide to Successful Job Placement
November 15 - 17, 2021
Event Information
Registration Status: OPEN
Registration Ends: Monday, November 8, 2021
The US DOL has indicated for many years that employment rates for persons with disabilities are disproportionate to peers without disabilities. Public vocational rehabilitation (VR) systems are commonly used resources to help bridge the employment gap. Oftentimes, VR systems contract out to community agencies that specialize in job placement and retention services for persons with disabilities. Employment Support Professionals (ESPs) are then charged with providing person-centered services that facilitate successful employment outcomes, promote community participation, and enhance quality of life. Simple, right? Not quite. The critical role of ESPs is well-supported in research, though literature regarding their methods is scarce. A unique blend of skill, knowledge of the world of work, and understanding of individuals served is required. Helping someone else obtain employment has many distinct components that are unlike a personal job search. For example, ESPs may play the role of intake coordinator, crisis counselor, motivational interviewer, trainer, teacher, liaison, marketing professional, advocate, and more. However, many ESPs find themselves navigating nuanced landscapes with limited training, resources, and time- not to mention a pandemic! So, what can ESPs do to make the vision of fostering inclusion and empowerment through employment more obtainable? This interactive series will provide practical strategies for facilitating successful job placement for persons with disabilities.
Participants will learn to:
- Recognize common pitfalls in the job placement process
- Select an effective placement strategy to support the person served
- Describe and demonstrate business engagement strategies
- Manage the job search process to optimize results
Presenter: Vanessa Rodriguez
Date/Time: November 15,16,17 @ 2 pm until 3:15 Central
CRC Credit: 3 (General)
Cost: $199.00 per person
Bio: Vanessa Rodriguez, MS, CRC, ICVE, CDMS, CCM, CESP, WIP-C is the owner of Allied Occupational Solutions, LLC– a vocational consulting and evaluation firm with a mission to expand occupational choice for persons of all abilities, skills, and talents. Prior to her current role, she served as Vice President of a Community Rehabilitation Provider, where she developed and managed employment programs while directly providing services to hundreds of persons with disabilities for nearly 10 years. She has over 15 years of experience in services such as Supported Employment, Discovery, Customized Employment, Vocational Evaluation, Business Engagement, Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Consultation, and Diversity & Inclusion Training. Ms. Rodriguez obtained her Master of Science degree in Clinical Rehabilitation Counseling from Southern University and A & M College. She is a Certified Rehabilitation Counselor, International Certified Vocational Evaluator, Certified Disability Management Specialist, Certified Case Manager, Certified Employment Support Professional, and Credentialed Work Incentive Practitioner. Currently, Ms. Rodriguez serves as the 2021 President-Elect for the Vocational Evaluation and Career Assessment Professionals Association (VECAP), a Board Member at Large for Florida Chapter of the Association Supporting Employment First (APSE), and the Standards & Ethics Chair for the International Association for Rehabilitation Professionals (IARP) Florida Chapter.
Policies
Cancellation: To cancel your registration, send an email to currents@uacurrents.org. All registrants who have not cancelled at least 24 hours prior to class time will be invoiced.
Credit: Any credit for a class that you were unable to attend for unforseen circumstances must be used within one year of the date of the class.