ANNOUNCEMENT
Please note, the Fall Conference will not be providing printed handouts of speaker presentations this year. Available presentations are linked below beneath the session description. Feel free to download or print a copy. Some presentations are not yet available; please continue to check back as they will be uploaded when available.
Large print copies will be available at the conference for those that requested on their registration.
TUESDAY, OCTOBER 29
CONFERENCE PRE-SESSION
Best Practices for Employers to Improve Retention and Support for Entry Level Workers: Supporting High Crisis Employees
Tracy Palecek
Forty-nine percent of entry level workers come from low-income families. Entry level occupations are typically defined as positions in retail, food service, housekeeping, and care positions (Nursing aides, daycare etc.) These employees face particular barriers in traditional employment settings. We will see how companies have increased employee retention and turnover and saved money by utilizing some research-based interventions regarding transportation, childcare, communication and training, and even how and when the employee is paid. See how improving relationships between staff and management lowers stress, increases joy, and ultimately leads to businesses providing better care and service.
Hidden Heroes
Shawn Harper
In our world of spotlighted leaders and innovators, there exists a vital yet often overlooked cohort—the hidden heroes. These quiet forces behind the scenes work tirelessly with selflessness and unwavering dedication. It is time to illuminate their profound impact, urging recognition and celebration to inspire humility, perseverance, and genuine service. Attendees will gain practical strategies for identifying and nurturing hidden talent and fostering cultures where every individual feels valued. Ultimately, it's a call to recognize and amplify the voices of those who embody the true spirit of leadership, illuminating our world with dedication and compassion for the greater good.
NO HANDOUTS AVAILABLE
The Winning Edge
Shawn Harper
Join us for an electrifying breakout session with Shawn Harper, where he shares his insights on gaining the winning edge in life and business. As a former NFL player turned motivational speaker, Shawn brings a unique perspective on overcoming obstacles, fostering resilience, and achieving success. Discover practical strategies and mindset shifts to unleash your full potential and reach new heights of personal and professional fulfillment. This session is perfect for anyone seeking inspiration and actionable steps to transform challenges into opportunities for growth and achievement.
From Disability to Possibility
Dr. Patrick Schwarz
Using real life stories — from womb to tomb — of individuals with possibilities, Dr. Patrick Schwarz will illustrate what supports are successful and what else is needed for effectiveness in education and human services for all people. These compelling examples will motivate participants to re-imagine and support individuals in new and inventive ways. Be prepared for something fun and different!
NO HANDOUTS AVAILABLE
Ethics of Helping - Boundaries and Relationships
Kathleen Rooney
It is very common for anyone working in the helping profession to encounter ethical dilemmas. Ethics are at the heart of competent and effective practice for anyone in the helping field, particularly when managing boundaries and relationships. This workshop is designed to give individuals and organizations an opportunity to review common principles and standards for ethical practice that are relevant for their settings. Participants will practice using an ethical decision-making process to work through common areas of ethical concerns and leave with a stronger awareness of their own ethical base.
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 30
From Possibility to Success: Achieving Successful Student Outcomes
Dr. Patrick Schwarz
With the goal of building lifelong skills, Patrick offers authentic processes and supports that help educators plan lessons and units while at the same time embracing students' interests and passions, working toward students' dreams, promoting leadership, self-advocacy, self-determination, and membership in both school and the community. With an overview of supports and compelling stories of how they have helped real students in real classrooms, Patrick empowers educators to combine the science and art of teaching all learners. This motivating and empowering keynote gives everyone hope, direction, and inspiration to turn learning possibility into educational success!
NO HANDOUTS AVAILABLE
Wellness Strategies - Stress, Compassion Fatigue, and Resilience
Kathleen Rooney
In many organizations it is common to find employees suffering from the adverse effects of stress. In the helping field, there are additional factors related to the nature of supporting people that can contribute to compassion fatigue or secondary trauma symptoms. Left unmanaged, stress can lead to unproductive patterns and result in loss of focus, motivation, and productivity. This workshop will help participants identify personal stress factors and introduce them to practical methods for successfully managing stress. Participants will have the opportunity to develop a personalized plan to repair negative effects of stress as well as accelerate their resilience.
Alzheimer's Disease & Multiple Types of Dementia
Heather Janes
Alzheimer’s disease is a type of dementia, but not all dementias are Alzheimer's disease. Session will cover multiple types of dementia, including the impact on those with intellectual/developmental disabilities. The session includes on-set presentation, behavioral and cognitive changes, and disease progression. Participants will learn approaches to dementia care and environmental changes that can support the care of people living with dementia. Discussion will include over-the-counter medications that advertise cognitive improvements, new medications to treat Alzheimer’s disease, and non-pharmacological approaches to address common dementia-related behaviors.
3 Levels of Disclosure: Appropriate Communication Techniques and Setting Boundaries
Tracy Palecek
Communication is important for connection and trust building. What happens when our clients, kiddos or students share too much or even disclose abuse, neglect or other concerning issues? You will learn the 3 levels of disclosure and how to maintain healthy boundaries around communication. You will learn how to model this behavior to those you serve and help foster connection while maintaining professional roles. You will receive pre-made scripts to use in tough conversations and feel more confident in addressing, referring, and documenting incidents that occur. Best of all, you will feel more connected and respected to those you serve!
Collaboration: Teambuilding, Active Listening and Problem-Solving
Patrick Schwarz
Collaborative schools utilize processes to promote successful instructional teams with all members actively involved. Tools for success include teambuilding, active listening and problem-solving. In this dynamic workshop, participants will learn about each of these processes and interactive application exercises will illustrate how they can be applied to participants’ own schools and individual learning situations.
NO HANDOUTS AVAILABLE
Understanding Job Carving and Crafting Practices That Are (and Are Not) Evidence-Based
Doug Crandell
For individuals with intellectual disabilities to have success in employment we must ensure best practices in the delivery of those services and supports. Individuals with intellectual disabilities often get mired in a myriad of “assessments” supposedly aimed at determining a job seeker’s needs but that are often not person-centered, not based on strengths, and don’t leverage the unmet needs of a business. This session will focus on career creation methods that actually create meaningful inclusive employment for individuals with intellectual disabilities.
PRESENTATION HANDOUT PRESENTATION HANDOUT LARGE PRINT
Finding Our Calm: Navigating Anxiety with Strength and Resilience
Jessie Taken Alive-Rencountre
In this interactive session, participants will explore practical tools and techniques to navigate anxiety and regain a sense of calm. Drawing from both modern approaches and time-honored practices, we'll delve into the roots of anxiety, how it affects the mind and body, and how to build resilience.
This workshop is designed to empower individuals with strategies they can use in daily life to manage stress, foster emotional well-being, and find strength in moments of uncertainty.
Twenty-Two Cents and Hour: Disability Rights and the Fight to End Subminimum Wages
Doug Crandell
Join us for an informal session discussing the past, present, and future of employment and disability. From this foundational platform, we will discuss and analyze HR 2373, the Transformation to Competitive Integrated Employment Act. Finally, we will spend time thinking about the ethics of evidence-based practices in disability and employment. Twenty-Two Cents an Hour has been nominated for the Disability History Association’s Book Award as well as the Georgia Author of the Year Awards.
PRESENTATION HANDOUT PRESENTATION HANDOUT LARGE PRINT
Engaging Small Businesses Using Intentional Strategies that Work!
Doug Crandell
If we are to truly deliver on competitive, integrated employment for all, we must become much more thoughtful and intentional in the way in which we engage small businesses. In the session, we will purposefully examine the approaches that work in placement, but that need to be improved as we move from simple “job finding” to becoming experts in our local economies. Tools explored will include: performance improvement, tracking what counts in job development, and using social capital to its fullest. This session will be interactive through the use of exercises.
PRESENTATION HANDOUT PRESENTATION HANDOUT LARGE PRINT
Neurodiversity at Work - Embracing Strengths and Navigating Barriers
Kathleen Rooney
Embracing neurodiversity in your workplace means creating a more adaptable environment where everyone can thrive. And when you cultivate a culture of acceptance and inclusion, you tap into the unique strengths of neurodivergent individuals. These include enhanced creativity, innovation, productivity, problem-solving, and collaboration.
This workshop teaches you how to build a neuroinclusive workplace culture through your recruitment, retention, and promotion practices. You will learn practical ways to embrace the strengths and navigate barriers for people with autism, ADHD, dyslexia, and more.
Value Systems: Exploring Lakota Values in a Modern World
Jessie Taken Alive-Rencountre
This session offers an exploration of the Lakota value system and how it provides guidance for living in harmony with oneself, others, and the environment. Rooted in the traditions of respect, balance, and interconnectedness, the Lakota values offer a lens for understanding how cultural principles can shape individual and collective well-being. Participants will learn how these values can serve as a foundation for navigating challenges in today's world and building strong communities. The presentation will cover key aspects of Lakota spirituality, kinship, and the deep connection to nature, providing actionable insights for anyone seeking wisdom from indigenous teachings.
Reframe Up
Tracy Palecek
This presentation focuses on the latest research in the areas of burnout and stress relief. You will learn Cognitive Behavioral Therapy techniques to actually reframe your thoughts (to change how you feel!) around difficult situations, clients and even co-workers. We will also explore some new and exciting ways to keep yourself healthy to work in the helping field. Renew yourself and continue to work with purpose and joy!
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 31
Working Dogs in the Workplace
Tony Russell
In this presentation participants will learn more about the definition of a service animal, their roles, and tasks. Service animals are trained to assist individuals with physical, sensory, blind or low vision, and mental health disabilities with a variety of tasks. Participants will also learn what it takes to integrate a service animals into the workplace and employees rights under the ADA.
Helpline Center University 101
Brad Keizer
This presentation is targeted at learning how to utilize the Helpline Center's online Community Directory tools to connect individuals to resources in their community.
The presentation provides a brief history of the Helpline Center and the current services offered today. As well as an online Community Directory tutorial. Additionally, we will demonstrate how to leverage the Create Your Own Guide tool to build comprehensive Resource Lists for your clients.
What you’ll learn
History of the Helpline Center
Current core services at the Helpline Center
How to navigate the online Community Directory tools
How to use the Create Your Own Guide tool online
Hair of the Dog: Raising the Stakes for Energizing Vocational Growth
Tricia Jones-Parkin
We all know that the "hair of the dog" can ease the effects of a rough night, but how can we apply that concept to overcoming the lingering challenges in supporting individuals with significant disabilities in employment? In this interactive session, we’ll explore how to address persistent barriers in technology, workplace supports, and community inclusion. By leveraging collective insights, participants will leave with actionable strategies to tackle vocational roadblocks with renewed energy and perspective.
Navigating the Path to Independence: Young Adults Share Their VR Journey
Serenity Johnson & Logan Eisner
In this session, Serenity and Logan will share their experiences navigating their transitions from high school to post-secondary programs and employment. Both Serenity and Logan participated in Vocational Rehabilitation Services such as Project SEARCH and the Youth Leadership Forum and they will discuss the role VR played in their success. Logan’s supervisor, Ronnie Little Bear, from the Lodge at Deadwood will also join the panel to share the employer perspective. Participants will have the opportunity to ask questions of the panel.
Boxelder Job Corps - The Best Kept Secret in the Black Hills
Derek Sukstorf
Job Corps is the nation’s largest job training program, yet many are unaware of the extensive opportunities it offers to qualifying young men and women. At Boxelder Job Corps, we champion a whole person approach that drives the educational and vocational success of each student. Enrollees receive comprehensive support, including basic medical and dental care, counseling, and job placement services, all at no cost. Do you know and individual between the ages of 16 and 24 who could benefit from our program? Come learn more.
The Five Powers
Malcom Chapman
People crave engaging and meaningful work. As expectations for employment change, the work experience will shift from focusing on the individual to concentrating on the collective. In the future, individuals in both public and private organizations will take risks and make decisions. Collaboration and creativity will become the norm rather than the exception. Teams will learn to adapt, embrace change, and move forward. More importantly, teams will recognize that genuine growth comes from innovative thinking.
This speech is a call to action for fostering a sense of community through genuine relationships within today’s workplace. Building an exceptional organization is challenging work, but the rewards are significant. When done successfully, it results in a seamless experience for both internal and external customers. The future is here, and engaged teams can experience these benefits today.
NO HANDOUTS AVAILABLE