Fall Conference

ABS Supported Employment Department attended the 2022 Fall Conference presented by SDRehabACTion

October 11-13th in Sioux Falls.  The Fall Conference focuses on employment related topics in the field of disability services and is held each year in conjunction with National Disability Employment Awareness Month.  The theme of this year’s conference was “Today’s Vision: Tomorrow’s Reality”.

Jonathan Mooney opened this year’s

conference with his presentation “Learning Outside the Lines”.  Jonathan shared his experiences growing up in the school

system where he had to learn to advocate for himself and teach educators to

accommodate for students.

 

Supported Employment staff also enjoyed a number of breakout sessions during the conference.

David Hoff has an extensive background in working with public systems and community agencies to enhance employment outcomes for people with disabilities.  David presented on informed choices in employment and how this goes beyond just asking and use of an experiential approach for making choices.

 

Brittany Schmidt works in the private sector providing consultation and diagnostic services as well as

intervention primarily for individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder and their care team.  Brittany held a session regarding Social Thinking in the Workplace with an emphasis on Autism.  Social thinking refers to how we use our previous knowledge to determine how to act, what to say, and what not to say.  She focused on how people share space and know how to share space.