Customized Self-Employment Part 1: The Basics

Course Code: REL-IDD-GHA-CSE1-V3

Hours: 3.5

Type: Online Course

Content Expiration Date: 10/31/2023

Learning Objectives:
Describe how Customized Self-Employment is different from traditional types of vocational programs
List at least three core elements or benefits of Customized Self-Employment
Provide appropriate feedback to frequently asked questions about Customized Self-Employment

Outline:
Section 1: Introduction About this Course Learning Objectives Section 2: Introduction to Self-Employment Sam the Sports Man Is There any Hope for Sam? Unemployment – A Staggering Problem People with Disabilities and Underemployment Is There an Answer to Unemployment and Underemployment for People with Disabilities? Building on the Past Think About Sam Unemployment and Beliefs about People with Disabilities “Special” Places for People with Disabilities Changing Beliefs New Ways to Work for People with Disabilities What Supported Employment has Taught Us Values Shared By Supported Employment and Customized Self-Employment More Values Shared By Supported Employment and Customized Self- Employment Let’s Review Summary Section 3: Early Work Experiences Self-Employment: Why Didn’t I Think of That??!! First Job Early Work Experiences and People with Disabilities Changing Attitudes, Changing Law Key “Players” in Self-Employment for People with Disabilities Self-Employment - The next Logical Step in Supported Employment Lessons from the Past What is Customized Self-Employment? Gretchen: A Customized Self-Employment Story Customized Self-Employment Practices New Approaches: Person-Centered Assessment So What’s This NEW Way of Getting to Know People? Purpose of Discovering Personal Genius Sam’s Personal Genius Emily and Louis Summary Section 4: Frequently asked Questions (FAQ’s) About Self-Employment Fear about New Ideas FAQ: Most Small Businesses Fail? FAQ: What’s A Small Business going to Cost and Who Will Fund it? FAQ: But Should the System Have to Support a Business forever? FAQ: Do you Think the Community is Ready to Accept People with Disabilities Having Their Own Businesses? FAQ: How Can They Have Their Own Business If They Can’t Read or Write? Troy the Business Man FAQ: How Can They Have Their Own Business if They Aren’t Able to Put in the Long Hours Business Owners Work? FAQ: Is it Really Their Business if Their Family Helps Them With it? FAQ: Will a Business Work Out Here in the Country Where He Lives? FAQ: How Does Someone Know if Starting a Business is a Good Idea or Not? FAQ: They Aren’t Very Motivated by Money. Shouldn’t They Go to a Sheltered Workshop First and Learn Work Skills? Greg’s Big Decision Summary Section 5: Customized Self-Employment Benefits Self-Employment or Wage Jobs Benefits of Self-Employment Over Wage Jobs Benefit One Benefit Two Benefit Three Ivan and his Rototiller Benefit Four Ivan’s Self-Employment Income & SSI Summary Section 6: Strategies for Self-Employment Self-Employment Can Work for Every Kind of Disability Self-Employment Strategies for Success Strategy for Success: Business Planning Strategy for Success: A Good Business Team Strategy for Success: Committed Leaders with a Willingness to Embrace Change Strategy for Success: Competent Staff and Effective Teams What Professionals Need in Order to Support Self-Employment What the System Needs In Order to Support Self-Employment Kelly’s Copy Service Summary Section 7: Put Into Practice Using What you Have Learned Creating Your Own Work Portfolio Section 8: Summary Self-Employment as an Answer to Unemployment A Call for Change Course Contributors Contact the Authors References Congratulations

Instructor: Cary Griffin, MA

Cary Griffin is a Senior Partner at Griffin-Hammis Associates, a full service consultancy which specializes in building communities of economic cooperation, creating high performance organizations, and focuses on disability and employment. Cary maintains a strong relationship with the Rural Institute at The University of Montana, where he served as Director of Adult Community Services & Supports. He is the former Executive Director of the Center for Technical Assistance & Training (CTAT) in Denver. Cary provides training to administrative and direct service level professionals in the rehabilitation field; consultation to businesses and rehabilitation agencies regarding the employment of individuals with significant disabilities; conducts field-initiated research & demonstration; provides family & consumer case consultation; develops resources; and organizational development. Recently, Cary has been instrumental in designing self-employment protocols and training for individuals, agencies, and states. Disclosure: Cary Griffin, MA has declared that no conflict of interest, Relevant Financial Relationship or Relevant Non-Financial Relationship exists.

Instructor: David Hammis

David Hammis is Senior Partner at Griffin-Hammis Associates, a full service consultancy which specializes in building communities of economic cooperation, creating high performance organizations, and focuses on disability and employment. David maintains an ongoing relationship with the Rural Institute at The University of Montana, where he served as Project Director for four employment and Social Security outreach training and technical assistance projects, and now serves as an Organizational Consultant for the Rural Institutes Rural Entrepreneurship and Self-Employment Expansion Design Project. Dave works with organizations nationally and internationally on benefits analysis, supported employment, supported entrepreneurial employment, and employment engineering. Disclosure: David Hammis has declared that no conflict of interest, Relevant Financial Relationship or Relevant Non-Financial Relationship exists.

Instructor: Beth Keeton, MS

Ms. Keeton has worked closely with the state of Florida’s Division of Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) to coordinate the development and implementation of a Self-Employment Certification curriculum. Florida VR has been the first in the nation to make such an extensive commitment to supporting self-employment as a possible outcome for all customers. Beth has served as the point-person for this effort and has been actively involved in all aspects of implementation including: developing the training curriculum; training VR vendors; and providing ongoing technical assistance to VR staff (both state and local), vendors, and customers. Additionally, Beth works with GHA on several other national projects, all of which are geared towards increasing the quantity and quality of employment outcomes through Customized Employment. For the last decade, Beth has provided extensive training and technical assistance throughout the country on positive behavior support, self-employment, customized employment, and benefits analysis. During her time on the various self-employment projects, she has developed expertise in all aspects of business plan development and has discovered a particular affinity for financial planning and Social Security benefits analysis. Disclosure: Beth Keeton, MS has declared that no conflict of interest, Relevant Financial Relationship or Relevant Non-Financial Relationship exists.

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All courses offered by Relias Learning, LLC are developed from a foundation of diversity, inclusiveness, and a multicultural perspective. Knowledge, values and awareness related to cultural competency are infused throughout the course content.

To earn continuing education credit for this course you must achieve a passing score of 80% on the post-test and complete the course evaluation.

Course Delivery Method and Format
Asynchronous Distance Learning with interactivity which includes quizzes with questions/answers, and posttests.