Description
Can everyone be "job-ready" when they age out of IDEA-funded services, even with the best public school transition programs?
Hear how a transition service of Ability Beyond called Career Training Services helps smooth the transition for young adults from "school days" to "pay days" by helping them discover their unique strengths and learn skills that are necessary to obtain meaningful employment.
Linda Rammler, Director of Career Training Services, and Michelle Ouimette, Managing Director of Roses for Autism, will explain the replicable, four-pillared model and its underlying values in detail. They will share how their services evolved from a more traditional "day program model" to one that is person-centered and successful in facilitating meaningful employment and personal success for all.
They will further discuss specific strategies used by their staff to identify opportunities for continuing education, interest-based community experiences, and specific career-related training that enables the individuals they support to find paths to achieve their career goals.
Speaker
Michelle Ouimette, Managing Director of Roses for Autism, Ability Beyond
Michelle Ouimette joined Ability Beyond in 2006, working in both residential and community-based service systems. She oversaw the rapid growth of the agency’s young adult residential programs and the creation of their proprietary therapeutic support model. She conceptualized the “Discover, Learn, Work” career training and transition service for young adults with disabilities after evaluating the service gaps for students who were exiting high school but still unable to obtain competitive employment. Ms. Ouimette was promoted to Managing Director of Roses for Autism in July 2013. She has a Master’s Degree in Business Administration from the University of Connecticut with concentration in Management and Marketing.
Linda Rammler, Director, Career Training Services, Ability Beyond
Linda Rammler has over 40 years of experience supporting people with disabilities. Linda currently serves as the Director of Community Services for the UConn UCEDD where she provides technical assistance around inclusive practices in transition services, housing, faith communities, and schools. She also directs the Career Training Services, a transition service of Ability Beyond, for adolescents and young adults with autism, behavioral/mental health challenges, and developmental disabilities which focuses on meaningful employment. Linda has a B.A. in Psychology from UConn; M.Ed. with teacher certification in special education from the University of Hartford; and a Ph.D. in Developmental Psychology from Yale University. Linda is married to an individual with a significant disability, and has been an adoptive and foster mom to over 10 individuals.
Registration
- ANCOR member: $69.00
- Non-member: $129.00