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Family members, educators, service providers, employers, community partners and young people with disabilities convened in September for this transformative two-day event. The focus was on:
- increasing the expectation for employment for all students
- improving interagency and community collaboration
- increasing awareness on assistive technology
- ensuring all families have access to information
- providing more training on CIE strategies.
The event – coordinated by the Idaho Competitive Integrated Employment Center (ICIE), Idaho Project for Children and Youth with Deaf-Blindness, and Idaho State Department of Education – was a resounding success. 151 attendees brought their voices and insights to the process of aligning efforts, sharing strategies, building partnerships and creating real opportunities.
It took an innovative approach to the traditional conference format, blending both online and in-person engagement. Six regional locations gathered simultaneously in Idaho Falls, Pocatello, Twin Falls, Boise, Lewiston and Post Fall. This ensured people from across the state were able to attend and engage with regional partners.
Keynote speaker Ellen Condon (Co-Director of the Transition and Employment Projects at the University of Montana’s Rural Institute on Disabilities) shared her expertise on building pathways to CIE to all regions over Zoom. Small group discussions were held in person at individual sites to share case studies and identify strategies, barriers and solutions. These regional discussions were facilitated by representatives from different state and local agencies. Pre-recorded videos were also integrated to highlight first-person perspectives and lived experiences on the challenges and rewards of CIE for youth and young adults with disabilities and employers.
"Attending the Envision Employment Summit as a parent was truly eye-opening,” said Charlotte Tomevi, parent and Summit attendee.
“The conference was parent-friendly, engaging and gave me a new perspective on how to support my child’s employment journey. Group discussions and provider connections helped me think beyond the limits of traditional services, even with VR support. Hearing success stories from young adults overcoming challenges gave me renewed hope. I left with better tools, strategies and a deeper understanding of how to improve outcomes for my child.”
Parents and youth were able to improve their knowledge about resources available to them. They were also able to make valuable connections with local partners and state agencies. ICIE and other projects and programs left with an increased understanding of individual community needs and how to improve processes that lead to greater opportunities across the state. This informed decision-making will be put into practice through their goal to further improve Idaho’s CIE support systems.
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