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With 17 years as a special education teacher and the last 7 focused on School-to-Work/Work-Based Learning (WBL), Heather Moller, WBL Coordinator at Atlantic County Special Services School District (ACSSSD) has expanded opportunities for students aged 18–21 by adding new worksites to accommodate their varying needs. Since being hired in July 2024 as WBL Coordinator, she supports over twenty students working off-campus across multiple locations, including Atlantic County Senior Nutrition Centers, Shore Medical Center, Trinity Learning Center, Reed’s Farm, Atlantic Cape Community College, Atlantic County Institute of Technology, and Stockton University-Atlantic City.
ACSSSD's WBL program emphasizes proactive and transparent communication, from initial contact to student onboarding, with job coaches and personal aides supporting each student. The program's planning is thorough, with pre-visits to potential job sites, employment tours, and consistent employer check-ins to ensure students thrive in diverse workplace cultures.
This program’s success is made possible not only by Heather’s leadership, but by the dedication of ACSSSD's administrators, teachers, job coaches, personal aides, employers, families and of course, the students themselves, each playing a vital role in creating meaningful, real-world work experiences.
| | We Would Love to Hear Your Story! | | |
Do you have an employer you would like to spotlight? Are you proud of the employment journey of one of your individuals and want to share? With permission submitted from the employer/individual, we are thrilled to promote what Employment First can accomplish!
If you are interested in expressing your journey, please consider sharing what APSE means to you! Please answer some questions below and submit them with the button below. We can't wait to hear about all of your great experiences! Please send a headshot and basic information about you and your workplace.
- What has been your experience with APSE?
- What do you enjoy the most about NJAPSE?
- How have you grown during your time with APSE?
- What success stories have you had with APSE?
- What benefits does APSE contribute to you and the community?
We look forward to hearing from you!
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Building financial wellness is about more than managing money. It’s about creating independence, stability, and opportunity.
National Disability Institute, supported by the New Jersey Inclusive Healthy Communities (NJ-IHC) project, is hosting a four-part webinar series for people with disabilities, their families, and community partners across New Jersey.
Each session focuses on essential topics, including the foundations of financial empowerment, navigating Social Security benefits, and managing the extra costs of disability. Join subject matter experts to gain practical strategies that support financial inclusion and economic stability.
| | APSE has put together a thorough compilation of resources to help you learn more about Employment First and reach the goals you may have as an individual, student, business, or provider. | | | |
EEOC Disability-Related Resources
U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission
The EEOC enforces federal disability laws and provides a wealth of resources for job applicants, employees, employers, and medical providers. Their materials include fact sheets, guidance documents, and technical assistance to help understand disability discrimination in the workplace.
Key areas include:
- Disability‑Related Publications: Clear, practical guidance on rights and responsibilities.
- Latest EEOC Disability News: Up-to-date press releases and announcements.
- How EEOC Can Help: Information for applicants, employees, and employers on navigating disability-related issues.
- Federal Disability Laws & Regulations: The legal foundation for workplace protections.
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The National Disability Rights Network (NDRN) represents the Protection and Advocacy Systems (P&As) and Client Assistance Programs (CAPs), the nation’s largest providers of legal advocacy for people with disabilities. NDRN strengthens this network by providing training, technical assistance, and advocacy for laws that protect civil and human rights. Right now, Congress is considering drastic funding cuts that would devastate P&As, reducing protections against abuse, neglect, and exploitation while limiting people’s ability to live independently. These programs are life-saving resources for many individuals with disabilities.
Contact Congress today to help protect and preserve these critical supports using the link below. You can personalize your letter by naming Disability Rights New Jersey
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Employment Specialist Supplemental: Introduction to Assistive Technology
January 13th, 2026 | 10am-12pm
While supporting an individual with disabilities in performing their work duties, sometimes challenges emerge that time, teaching, or circumstance will not remedy. This supplemental will provide a spectrum of assistive technology an individual could use to overcome those challenges to better comprehend, navigate, and perform their work at their highest level of independence. Participants will leave the session with examples of a wide variety of assistive technology and software recommendations for use on the job site as well as a greater understanding of how to appropriately assess and match assistive technology to the need.
Note: This training currently is ONLY open to employees of New Jersey CBVI, DDD, and DVRS, DDD/Medicaid Approved Providers, DVRS approved vendors, and individuals with disabilities and family members.
To meet the training needs of the entire state, there is a limit of participants per agency for this training.
Certificates: Certificates of Attendance with training title and duration will be provided.
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Supported Employment Leadership Institute
March 3rd - 4th, 2026 | 9:30am-4:00pm
Employees often become supervisors because the success and leadership potential they displayed in a previous role resulted in a promotion. However, being an effective supervisor does not come automatically with the new job title. Rather, one must intentionally develop a set of skills in areas such as leadership, vision, recruitment, and organization. Our Supported Employment Leadership Institute is a 2-day, in-person, interactive course designed specifically for supported employment managers and supervisors. During this course, participants will dive into solution-focused, evidence-based strategies to address challenges unique to supported employment managers.
Topics will include: The hallmarks of effective supervisors, exploring the challenges of hiring and maintaining qualified job coaches, strategies for supervising remote workers, the importance of collecting program data and how to meaningfully utilize it to improve services and documentation challenges unique to supported employment supports.
| | | | Hiring Events and Job Fairs | |
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Looking for in-person and remote events in New Jersey to network and assist consumers in applying for positions?
The Department of Labor (DOL) has many listings available on its website!
Click the button below to see events happening in your counties!
| | | | National APSE Events and Learning | | |
Day Hab to Employment Community of Practice
Tuesday, December 18th
12pm-1pm
Learn about Day Hab providers moving towards employment
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PRE-ETS Community of Practice
Thursday, December 18th
1pm-2pm
Join professionals from across the country to focus on Pre-ETS. Many provider agencies have been providing services for transition age youth (students) for many years, but others are newer to the experience. Once a month we will come together to share ideas, resources, experiences, and support each other to improve outcomes for students with disabilities during and after high school.
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APSE Public Policy Committee:
State Policy Meeting
Tuesday, December 30th
3pm-4pm
The committee has two fundamental objectives: to act as a forum to get updates on various policy
related issues and get input on issues; to provide opportunities for members to assist in advancing
APSE's public policy agenda via contributing time and energy to APSE's various public policy activities.
Interested in learning more? Join the Public Policy Committee by emailing info@apse.org!
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Are You an Enthusiastic and Dedicated Leader?
Join an NJAPSE Committee:
We are always looking for new talent such as yourself to get involved with NJAPSE! One of the best ways to get involved and learn more about APSE is to join one of our three committees.
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