Employment Resilience: People with IDD are Critical Frontline Workers

View presentation on HealthMatters Program YouTube Playlist
Date and time: Tuesday, August 18, 2020 1:00 pm CDT
Duration: 1 hour and 4 minutes
Handout: PowerPoint Presentation-Erin Riehle and Maryellen Daston

Resource: Colorado Teen With Special Needs Thrives On Being An Essential Worker

Overview: Internationally, some COVID-19 policies meant to protect people with IDD could have the negative effect of restricting people with IDD from working due to health concerns solely based on disability status in the absence of any evidence supporting this practice. This presentation will explore these policies and discuss Project SEARCH graduates who are part of the solution on the frontlines of the COVID-19 pandemic. The impact of people with IDD working on the frontlines will be discussed along with policy implications.

Learning Objectives:

  1. identify issues restricting people with IDD from working during the COVID-19 pandemic due to health concerns solely based on disability status in the absence of any evidence supporting this practice;
  2. explore policies inhibiting and supporting people with IDD to work during the pandemic; and,
  3. discuss Project SEARCH graduates who are part of the solution on the frontlines of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Presenters: Erin Riehle, MSN, RN is a recognized authority and national leader in promoting employment opportunities for people with disabilities and other barriers to employment. She is a Senior Clinical Director of Disability Services at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center. Erin is a co-founder and Director of Project SEARCH, an employment preparation and transition program that has received national and international recognition for innovative practices.

Maryellen Daston, PhD works with the Project SEARCH central administrative team at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center where she manages the Project SEARCH database, develops online training modules, manages content for the Project SEARCH website, and writes and edits articles for professional journals and other communications. She also researches funding opportunities, writes grant proposals, and oversees research related to Project SEARCH. In addition, Maryellen co-authored the book on the history, philosophy, and practices that define the Project SEARCH model, “High School Transition that Works: Lessons Learned from Project SEARCH”, Paul H. Brookes Publishing Co.

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COVID-19 Webinar Series is presented by the HealthMatters Program, Department of Disability and Human Development, College of Applied Health Sciences, University of Illinois at Chicago with continued partnership with Project SEARCH, a leader in securing competitive employment for people with disabilities based at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center and with Aspire an Illinois organization providing services to children and adults with developmental disabilities, their families and their communities.

PLEASE NOTE

  • There is no cost for these webinars.
  • CEUs are not offered for these webinars.
  • Webinars and materials will be recorded and archived on YouTube.
  • For disability accommodations email Jasmina Sisirak (jsisirak@uic.edu) at least 10 days before the webinars.
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