TN DDA Projects Landing Page
Employment First Project
TN DDA is proud to partner with SHIFT on an exciting new initiative related to an Employment First approach to services. There are two distinct elements to the Employment First Education & Accreditation initiative.
PROJECT ELEMENTS
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SHIFT’s philosophy is that, in order to be successful in adopting an Employment First approach to services, people at every level of an agency or organization need to be knowledgeable about and involved in the process. Employment First credentials and certifications are designed with this in mind.
The Employment First Credential is most appropriate for direct support professionals and other supporters who desire a basic knowledge of competitive integrated employment.
The Employment First Job Coach Specialist Certification is most appropriate for professionals who support people with disabilities to build the skills necessary to succeed in their job and in the workplace.
The Employment First Job Developer Specialist Certification is most appropriate for professionals who support people with disabilities to secure employment in alignment with their skills, abilities and preferences.
The Employment First Leadership Certification is most appropriate for the people leading an organization in the process of an Employment First culture shift. These are also the people who will serve as the primary points of contact during the accreditation process, if applicable.
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Once all learners have completed their coursework and successfully earned their credentials and certification, the organization can be considered for accreditation. Employment First Accreditation is appropriate for those organizations who are committed to adopting an Employment First culture. The rigorous, but highly collaborative, process guides organizations through the process of implementing best practices and proven standards, creating a solid framework for helping people supported to achieve their competitive employment outcomes.
PROJECT INFORMATION
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SHIFT encourages organizations to be strategic in the selection of staff that will participate in this education. This is because we know that having the right people supporting your Employment First initiative will significantly increase the odds of your success. SHIFT suggests that you consider the following:
Include representation from all levels of the organization - from direct support to executive leadership.
Include representation from all core service areas (residential, vocational, medical, etc.).
Select people who have an interest in competitive integrated employment.
Select people who are influential in the organization.
Select people who have the capacity and willingness to meet the educational requirements, including the 90 day completion timeline.
The number of staff who will be required to complete education is based on the annual operating revenue of the organization. Click here for the table showing that information.
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Only a limited number of provider agencies will be selected for this opportunity. Organizations are encouraged to submit thoughtful, thorough responses to the narrative portions of the application. Consider preparing your responses in a Word document in advance as partially completed applications cannot be saved. Incomplete applications will not be considered for review.
Applications will be reviewed by SHIFT subject matter experts as well as representatives from TN DDA. Once all applications have been reviewed, each organization will be notified as to whether they have been accepted into the Employment First Education & Accreditation Pilot Program.
If you have any questions about the application process, please contact Constance Harrington (constance.harrington@techfirstshift.com), SHIFT's Director of Education and Accreditation.
Application Information
Applications to participate in the second phase of this Employment First Education & Accreditation
project will be accepted through October 1, 2024.
Resources and Links
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Tennessee Benefits Counseling Program
Link to Tennessee’s Benefits Counseling Program that helps beneficiaries see a clearer pathway to employment by helping them understand the relationship between employment and benefits
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Transition Tennessee
Link to Transition Tennessee’s online home for training and resources on preparing students with disabilities for life after high school
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Vocational Rehabilitation Office Locator
Link to VR Office Locator:
Vocational Rehabilitation Regional Offices, Community Tennessee Rehabilitation Centers, and Tennessee Technology Access Centers
Technology First Accreditation Project
TN DDA’s Division of Program Innovation and SHIFT are proud to partner once again for Technology First education and accreditation in FY 2024. This year, ten organizations were awarded full scholarships to cover the cost of their Technology First education and accreditation.
Enabling Technology is the use of various forms of devices and tech to support a person with disabilities to live as independently as possible. These types of technologies include sensors, mobile applications, remote support systems, and other smart devices. Enabling Technology can support a person in navigating their jobs and communities, gain more control of their environment, and provide remote support and reminders to assist a person in independent living.
TN DDA’s ENABLING TECHNOLOGY PROGRAM
PROJECT SPECS
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Autism Breakthrough of Knoxville (East)
Buffalo River Services, Inc. (Middle)
D&S Community Services (Middle)
D&S Community Services (West)
Dawn of Hope
Evergreen Life Services (East)
Independent Opportunities, Inc. (East)
Independent Opportunities, Inc. (Middle)
RHA Health Services (West)
Shelby Residential and Vocational Services (West)
Development Services of Dickson County
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Community Development Center- Middle Region
Core Services - East Region
D&S Community Services (East)
Easterseals TN - Middle Region
Emory Valley Center - East Region
Journeys in Community Living -
Middle RegionLife Bridges - East Region
MillarRich - Middle Region
St. John’s Community Services - West Region
Tennessee Personal Assistance - Middle Region
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All of the Enabling Technology Fundamental Training for SHIFT can be accessed through our DDA Relias LMS. You should contact your agency’s Relias Supervisor to request assistance in assigning the Enabling Technology Relias Training Plan and its corresponding courses to your Relias training transcript.
The ET Fundamental Training can be easily found in Relias by going to the Learning Tab>Training Plans>Training Plans List, and then searching for “Enabling Technology”. You will then need to assign the Enabling Technology – Fundamentals training plan which consists of the following courses.
Enabling Technology – Fundamentals (Training Plan):
1. Enabling Technology – Fundamental 1 - Introduction to Enabling Technology and Best Practices (revised June 2023)
TNDIDD_ENAB2104_SHIFT_Intro_Best_Practices2. Enabling Technology – Fundamental 2 - Roles and Responsibilities of the Circle of Support (revised June 2023)
TNDIDD_ENAB2105_SHIFT_Roles_Responsibilities3. Enabling Technology – Fundamental 3 - Person-Centered Assessment and Support Planning for Technology (revised June 2023)
TNDIDD_ENAB2106_SHIFT_PCP_AssessmentThese courses should be assigned and completed by all staff going through the SHIFT Tech First Accreditation learning program. Any staff that have already completed these ET Fundamental courses within the last 6 months can use that completion towards SHIFT credentialing. Anyone who completed the ET Fundamental Training after the 6 month period, must retake the ET Fundamental Trainings.
This includes the same two-year SHIFT membership and access to the education learning plan for the credential or certification program the person is enrolling in.
Enrolling Additional People
If you add more learners, please add them to the CSV. We'd prefer to have you enroll everyone at once so everyone is on the same education cycle. In order to make it easier on you/your accounting, we will send 2 invoices - one for the standard TN DDA bill and one for the overage that will not be reimbursed by TN DDA.
NEED MORE INFORMATION?
Questions about Technology First education and accreditation should be directed to
Constance Harrington (constance.harrington@techfirstshift.com),
SHIFT’s Director of Education & Accreditation.
Questions about the scholarship program should be directed to
Milton Neuenschwander (Milton.Neuenschwander@tn.gov),
TN DDA's Director of Enabling Technology.
RESOURCES AND LINKS
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Relias – How to Print/Email/Download Certificates of Completion
Link to a YouTube video that explains how to print/email/download a Certificate of Completion for each of the 3 Enabling Technology Fundamental trainings in Relias. Each learner will need to take and complete these courses in Relias, then upload the certificates of completion in order to take the final Credentialing Exam in Shift.
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SHIFT Learners: TN DDA Login and Certificate Upload on SHIFT Platform
Link for the Introduction video that covers logging, uploading certificates, and seeing how to move forward once the certificates have been given approval. Your staff will need to follow these directions when they have completed the ET Fundamental Training in Relias and are ready to upload the certificates.
TRAVEL TRAINING PROJECT
“Before travel training begins, a travel trainer determines a student’s strengths and weaknesses, assesses how much support the student can expect from their parents or guardians, and reviews the travel route to determine the feasibility of traveling to a specific destination.”
Patricia J. Voorhees, Travel Training Specialist
General Information
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“I can successfully teach a person (Traveler) how to use a route with the WayFinder app.”
To do so includes:
Understand the fundamentals of travel training and what it entails
Understand the WayFinder app’s capabilities
Understand how to create a route
Understand notifications/tracking while a Traveler is using the app to follow a route
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“I can independently take a route using the WayFinder app.”
This can mean that there is a staff person with them (Trainer) but not sitting with them or walking beside them and cuing them through the process.
The Trainer builds the route, reviews it with the Traveler, practices with the Traveler, then the Traveler uses it independently.
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WayFinder app unlocks the world of independent travel for people with cognitive disabilities. Accessible GPS-based cues guide the Traveler through bus and foot navigation, extending people into the community on their own terms.
Resources and Links
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AbleLink WayFinder
Link to AbleLink’s page on their website describing WayFinder
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TN Travel Training Curriculum
FUNDAMENTALS:
Intro to Community Navigation
Traveling in the Community
Assessment and Instruction
SPECIALIZATION:
Wayfinder App
SMART Travel Training
EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING PROJECT:
Using the Wayfinder App
Developing a Route
Traveler Using the Route/App -
Using WayFinder App
Link to YouTube video AbleLink 4-Minute Tutorial #1 - WayFinder: Creating a Route that shows how to create a SMART travel route with the WayFinder app
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WayFinder App and CARTA
Link to video on travel training pilot program between AbleLink and Chattanooga’s transit system CARTA