MIHEC February Learning Community Event: Customized Employment

This event, hosted by the Minnesota Inclusive Higher Education Consortium, will discuss the importance of paid employment while in college and offer information on a national study to assist staff in higher education to provide employment supports that fit the strengths and needs of college students with IDD. Jaclyn will be joined by one of her students who will share their experience. The presentation will include ideas on how to help students get paid jobs while in college. Attendees will also learn what has worked for study participants, representing 75 universities across the country, as well as challenges they have faced in providing employment supports. And, you will hear ideas and practical strategies on implementing customized employment in higher education.

Jaclyn Camden, M.Ed., is a faculty member at Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) with a passion for supporting students with disabilities transitioning and succeeding in employment. Her work focuses on preparing youth with disabilities to transition into postsecondary education and employment, career planning and development, collaborative employment partnerships, and supported employment on a college campus. Ms. Camden serves as the director of VCU's inclusive higher ed initiative ACE-IT in College, the assistant director of the Center on Transition Innovations, and the study lead for VCU’s RRTC on Employment for Transition-Age Youth with Disabilities, Effects of Trained Personnel Providing Employment Supports in Higher Education on the Employment Experiences of College students with I/DD.

Nicole Rabinowitz is the founder of Inclusive Networking, a company that provides training in Customized Employment and services in Discovery, Job Development, and Ongoing Support. She is certified in Customized Employment through Marc Gold and Associates (MG&A) and currently is an MG&A associate who trains and certifies those seeking Discovery Certification. Nicole is very passionate about supporting job seekers in finding meaningful, integrated, competitive employment as well as providing support and innovative training to employers, employment specialists, and job coaches to create more diverse and inclusive work environments.