Skip to the main content of the page

EMPLOYMENT FIRST

​​​​​​Training Calendar

The Employment First Training Calendar lists information on required and optional trainings in Oregon. Trainings listed include the Oregon Employment Learning Network (OELN) trainings, Oregon Training and Consultation (OTAC), and webinars, as well as APSE CESP Exam opportunities. Trainings that will meet the required 12 hours under OAR 411-345-0300 are also noted.

National Disability Employment Awareness Month lunch and learn series

National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM) takes place in October. A series of events will be held on Tuesday October 4, 11, 18 and 25. The NDEAM 2022 theme is “Disability: Part of the Equity Equation." This recognizes the important role that people with disabilities have in making the nation's workforce diverse and inclusive.


Innov​ation Grants

The Oregon Legislature awarded a Policy Option Package in the 2015-17 session for the Department of Human Services (DHS) to fund innovative Employment First projects to increase capacity throughout the state. The purpose of these grants is to expand efforts to increase competitive integrated employment opportunities for people with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (I/DD).


Summer Work Ex​​​​perience

The Office of Developmental Disabilities Services, Vocational Rehabilitation and Oregon Department of Education issued a Request for Application (RFA) No. 4331 for Summer Work Experience Programs to fund pilot programs throughout the state aimed at giving youth with disabilities experience with summer work.

The goal is to develop a work experience program that increases job opportunities for young people with disabilities. This RFA is part of ongoing efforts in ODDS, VR and ODE to increase job opportunities for transition-age and high school youth. More information is in the following message:


Local Emp​loyment First Teams

As part of the Employment First initiative, local leadership teams around the state started gathering in 2011. The strategy behind local teams started with the recognition that in order to implement Employment First successfully, efforts at the community level needed to be organized and supported. There are now more than 30 local Employment First teams in Oregon. A full list of teams, with contact information for team leads, is available online:

In 2016-17, Employment First funded Community of Practice (CoP) webinars, a subject-based discussion series of topics. Each topic is featured in a two-hour session, which was recorded, and in an online ongoing discussion forum to allow access to the information and continue the conversation(s).

Archive of Community of Practice Webinars:

  
Materials
9/28/2017 Webinar
6/24/2017 Webinar
4/22/2017 Webinar
3/9/2017 Webinar
2/23/2017 Webinar
1/5/2017 Webinar

Training and Technical Ass​istance Resources

Families/Self-Advocates

Employment Support Professionals

Service Coordinators and Personal Agents

 Vocational Rehabilitation Counselors



List of VR I/DD Counselors, Education Transition Network Facilitators and ODDS Employment Specialists