Vermont APSE

Advancing Employment. Connecting People.

Burlington, VT 05405
ph: 802-656-1345

Vermont Conversion Institute II:

A Time for Change...

Thanks to all who attended our Second Vermont Conversion Institute. It was a great success!

Please join our Facebook page to keep the dialogue moving forward.

Due to the success and feedback from our first Vermont Conversion Institute, we have decided to host again this fall. We will continue our dialogue on creating a culture of inclusion for people with disabilities as we convert sheltered workshops to community-based programs. We'll be expanding our presentations to represent other great work occurring around the country.

Dates: October 8 & 9, 2009 (9:00-4:00 each day)

Registration Fee: $400.00 per person: includes materials, meals, and Lake Champlain Dinner Cruise. Some scholarships may be available.

Location: Hilton Burlington, 60 Battery Street, Burlington, Vermont, United States 05401 Reservations: 1-800-HILTONS (800-445-8667) Fax: 1-802-658-4659

Overlooking scenic Lake Champlain and the Adirondack Mountains, the hotel is walking distance to the Lakefront Boardwalk and Church Street Marketplace and many other Vermont Attractions. We’ve secured a room rate of $169.00 per night. Ask for the Vermont APSE room block (Reservations must be made by September 17, 2009). Burlington International Airport is a 10-minute drive from the hotel (free shuttle).

Contact: For additional information call 802-656-1345 or email: bryan.dague@uvm.edu

Space is limited, please register early.

Send Registration Form with check payable to Vermont APSE by September 24, 2009 to:

University of Vermont (Attention: Bryan Dague)
Center on Disability & Community Inclusion
Mann Hall, 3rd Floor
208 Colchester Ave.
Burlington, VT 05405-1757

FAX: 802-656-1357

EMAIL: Bryan.Dague@uvm.edu

Click HERE to download registration form.

Keynote Speaker: David Mank, Indiana University-Institute on Disability & Community

Guest Speaker: Laura Owens, National APSE Executive Director

Presentations will include:

Making Employment Work for Maine: In October 2007 a Maine team of agency representatives and advocates attended "Vermont's Conversion Institute" convened by Vermont APSE. A work group then began meeting to pick up on the information and energy that emerged from the Vermont Institute, and to help Maine develop and sustain services and supports that are as integrated as possible. This presentation will show the progress the State of Maine has made toward community inclusion.

Presenter: Lisa Sturtevant, Maine Department of Health & Human Services

Its Your Life: Building Connections Through Work: The State of Maine's DHHS’s Office of Cognitive and Physical Disabilities, Maine Developmental Disabilities Council, Speaking Up for Us (SUFU), and the University of Southern Maine Muskie School collaborated to develop a pilot program to assist consumers in the transition from sheltered work to community employment. Utilizing a peer support model, Its Your Life: Building Connections Through Work partners with persons with cognitive disabilities who are successfully employed in their communities to co-train individuals attending sheltered workshops. This training enables them to provide practical information, reassurance and support to their peers who are attending these sheltered workshops.

Presenter: Alli Vercoe, University of Southern Maine Muskie School

Flooded with Opportunity: Transition to Community-Based Employment: Learn how Friendship, Inc. in Fargo, North Dakota turned adversity into opportunity and converted their sheltered workshop services to community-based employment. This presentation will outline the history, changes made, plans in place, lessons learned, and success stories.

Presenter: Don Brunette, Chief Operating Officer, Friendship Inc.

Vermont Panel: Representatives from the Division of Vocational Rehabilitation, Developmental Services, and direct-service agency personnel will address issues of funding, leadership, policy and systems change, individualized services, self-employment, and life after sheltered employment.

Green Mountain Self-Advocates: To Boldly Go Where Everyone Has Gone Before!: We'll hear from self-advocates and their thoughts on community-based employment and services. The purpose of Green Mountain Self-Advocates is for people with developmental disabilities to take control over their own lives, make decisions, solve problems and speak for themselves. We educate and make the public aware of the strengths, rights, wants and needs of people with developmental disabilities.

To ensure plenty of opportunity for dialogue, we'll incorporate World Café sessions (the World Café is an innovative yet simple methodology for hosting conversations about questions that matter) as well as the Dinner Cruise on Lake Champlain aboard the Spirit of Ethan Allen III. We recognize that each state and system is different and we can all learn from each other. We welcome this opportunity to host this event as we create a culture of inclusion for all.

Background:

In 2002, Vermont closed its last sheltered workshop for people with developmental disabilities. Vermont Senator Jim Jeffords noted, “As we close this chapter on work centers in Vermont, I hope that we encourage others to follow Vermont’s lead to a place where all of us work side by side.”

We invite you to join us this fall as we examine the issues of policy change, training, and culture-shift needed to foster the closure of sheltered workshops while building community-based employment services. State policy makers, Developmental Services Directors, Vocational Rehabilitation Directors, and Advocates are encouraged to attend. State teams are also encouraged.

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Burlington, VT 05405
ph: 802-656-1345