Vermont APSE:

 

Sponsored by:

• Vermont’s Division of Disability & Aging Services and the Division of Vocational Rehabilitation
• University of Vermont-Center on Disability & Community Inclusion
• Green Mountain Self-Advocates
• Vermont APSE-The Network on Employment

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.”

In this spirit, you are invited to join us in Vermont this fall to see how we changed our vocational services for individuals with developmental disabilities.

Hear from state representatives, service providers, self-advocates and their families, and employers as we address the issues we faced and the strategies we implemented in this conversion process.

We will 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.

Keynote address by Dale Dileo, disability advocate and author of Raymond's Room:

Ending the Segregation of People with Disabilities