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Tags Posts tagged with "community of practice"

community of practice

The Office of Developmental Programs is pleased to share an upcoming opportunity for professionals across systems to engage in a new Learning Collaborative focused on supporting people with disabilities who are parents or who are planning to become parents.

This Learning Collaborative will bring together professionals from across state and local systems, including providers, supports coordination organizations, administrative entities, and partners in early childhood, behavioral health, and child-serving systems. Participants will engage as regional or local teams to explore effective practices, share resources, and strengthen cross-system collaboration.

Through a series of interactive sessions, the collaborative will focus on:

  • Identifying practical strategies and best practices to support parents with disabilities;
  • Promoting informed choice, supported decision-making, and rights-based approaches;
  • Navigating complex situations with clarity around roles, responsibilities, and system requirements;
  • Connecting individuals and families to a broader network of supports and resources; and
  • Building sustainable relationships across agencies and communities.

The Learning Collaborative is designed as a community of practice, emphasizing shared learning, discussion, and real-world application. While it will not provide regulatory guidance, it will highlight key questions and opportunities to inform ongoing system improvement.

An informational webinar on June 4, 2026, will provide more details about the collaborative, expectations for participation, and how to get involved.

We hope you will consider joining and sharing this opportunity with others in your network.

Registration details will be announced in the coming weeks — stay tuned!

The AoD Disability Employment TA Center’s National Community of Practice (CoP) webinar, “Engaging Diverse Communities Through Financial Education and Empowerment, will be hosted Tuesday, April 16, 2024, from 3:00 pm – 4:00 pm ET.

Join the AoD Disability Employment Technical Assistance Center (DETAC) for a webinar to increase awareness about National Financial Capability Month. Financial education is a key first step on the pathway towards financial health and wellbeing to live more independently in the community. The Illinois Council on Developmental Disabilities funded a three-year initiative with the National Disability Institute (NDI) called Financial Wellness for People with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (I/DD). The panel will highlight how this train-the-trainers model in Illinois provided training to individuals with I/DD and their family members to manage money, reduce debt, and use credit wisely. The training was customized based on individualized needs ranging from a short class to a 10-module curriculum. While we often focus on helping people with disabilities find jobs, this webinar will highlight a model to ensure we also provide a roadmap on the importance of making good financial decisions to further increase independence.

Presenters:

  • Kimberly Mercer-Schleider: Director, Illinois Council on Developmental Disabilities
  • Michael Roush: Director, National Disability Institute
  • Tyson Bedford: Council Member, Illinois Council on Developmental Disabilities
  • Curtis Harris: Council Member, Illinois Council on Developmental Disabilities

Registration is required. Please register for this webinar here.

From ACCSES:

Last Thursday, ACCSES was pleased to be among the panelists on the National Expansion of Employment Opportunities Network Community of Practice webinar. For those who were unable to attend or wish to see it again, you can watch the webinar recording. The NEON National Plan to Increase Competitive Integrated Employment is available here.

One of our members, Brandon Yorty from VISTA, spoke in the webinar as an RCPA/ANCOR NEON project participant!