eLearning intro

Supporting a Vision for Employment

This online course is crafted for case managers and those in similar roles responsible for advising, assisting, and advocating for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) seeking employment.

We know the challenges are numerous, and so are the strategies and best practices! Skill-building is more important than ever in today's work environment. Designed to enhance their career path, learners complete the course, increasing both competencies and capacity to support individuals on an employment journey.

About the Course

The course was designed to be flexible and fit in to a busy case manager's schedule:

• Complete on the go with a mobile device, or at a desk computer, anywhere with internet access.
• Finish the entire course in one sitting or in smaller chunks depending on the learner's unique schedule.
• Easily pick back up where you left off using the course navigation.

To tackle common challenges, the course uses "thinking tools" so learners reflect and analyze problems before selecting answers:

• Scenarios, case studies and stories put the learner "in the room" immersing them in what is happening and strengthening learning.
• A variety of interactive exercises keeps the learner's attention and lessens boredom often associated with static and stale concepts in online training platforms.

Strategies for success

• With visually appealing images and an eye toward accessibility, learners are drawn in to each micro-lesson.
• Quizzes are used to determine if concepts are solid. (three opportunities to pass at 80% correct or greater)
• Access to additional resources to download and continue studying over time.

Course Content

Our course emphasizes the critical role case managers play in ensuring opportunities to experience competitive integrated employment. Using content derived from time with case managers across the country, the modules described below organize the micro-lessons focused on problem-based learning. This unique approach allows learners to face common challenges, focus on essential components, and practice the knowledge they are gaining through interactive exercises. The format allows for completion of small chunks at a time, or the entire course in one sitting as schedules permit, as determined by the individual learner. Our sincere hope is that the course provides content needed to perform essential duties with more confidence.

Estimated time to complete the course is 5-6 hours, including quizzes and post-survey.

Module 1: Employment Foundations

• A Vision for Employment connects the importance of having a positive vision for the future to the desire to work.
• High Expectations takes a historical look at the foundations of supported employment and events which led to the rise of Employment First.
• National Perspective identifies legislation and regulations with the greatest influence on expanding employment opportunities and how these regulations impact the role of case managers.
• What we Mean by Employment defines the various types of paid employment and how and why to differentiate competitive integrated employment from other types of paid work.
• Supporting Families reviews strategies to help support families to succeed and brainstorm actions after sharing concerns about work.

Module 2: Employment Pathways

• Informed Choice identifies the core principles of informed choice and suggested steps to achieve success during decision-making.
• A Self-Advocate Perspective: Dignity of Risk explains the "dignity of risk" through the eyes of a self-advocate.
• Supporting the Individual's Voice addressing the challenges of maintaining a focus on the individual during the planning meetings.
• Guided Conversations shares best practices for engaging individuals in meaningful conversations along their pathway toward competitive integrated employment.
• Shifting the Focus to Employment examines how to discuss employment with individuals who are not working.
• Addressing Concerns About Work focuses on engaging an individual to overcome fears and worries preventing them pursuing employment.
• Supporting Career Success explains how to assess job satisfaction and career growth with scenarios to address workplace challenges.

Module 3: The Employment Process

• Introduction provides information on completing the module and next steps.
• Getting to Know the Job Seeker connects what is learned about someone's goals to narrowing a job search and achieving a good job match.
• Meet Tyler provides step by step guidance on actions a case manager took to encourage Tyler to advocate for a better outcome.
• Job Support Planning describes how anticipating potential issues and solutions may jump start and streamline the entire process.
• Getting to the Job Offer describes how finding specific tasks can lead to customized jobs that meet both the needs of the job seeker and the business.
• Retaining Employment illustrates the importance of fading and long term follow along services if needed.

Module 4: Collaborating with Vocational Rehabilitation

• Introduction provides information on completing the module and next steps.
• Partners in the Employment Process describes the role of vocational rehabilitation in an employment pathway and strategies for seamless supports between systems.
• The Vocational Rehabilitation Process: Application and Eligibility describes the VR application and eligibility process, and when Medicaid waiver funds can be used for employment services.
• Long Term Supports focuses on planning early for the move from VR funded job placement to IDD funded long term supports as needed.