Maine APSE

The Network on Employment

Employment First and For All
Welcome to the Big Tent
October 27, 2010

Maine APSE, along with fourteen co-sponsors, hosted this exciting conversation and kick off event on improving and enhancing integrated employment in Maine for citizens with disabilities. The names (and logos) of our co-sponsoring groups are shown below on this page. Thank you to everyone for their great support!

Materials and Information from the Conference:

Listing of "Bold Moves" proposed by conference participants

News report on the conference, including pictures, on the CHOICES website.

The agenda for the day

What is Employment First?

Employment First is a growing national initiative that focuses on integrated employment as the
desired outcome for individuals with disabilities. Employment First strategies generally consist of a clear set of guiding principles, policies and practices disseminated through state statute, regulation or operational procedures that identify employment in integrated, community-based businesses as the priority for state funding.

Resources for Learning More:

APSE Statement on Employment First - Employment in the general workforce is the first and preferred outcome in the provision of publicly funded services for all working age citizens with disabilities, regardless of level of disability. Adopted October 2010. More details, including "Underlying Principles " and "Characteristics of Successful Implementation of Employment First" is available here.

Establishing a National Employment First Agenda - APSE White Paper (pdf format only)

Employment First Resource List (Created by the Institute for Community Inclusion at UMass Boston)

Maine Parent Federation