Employment First Massachusetts

Explore how the Charting the LifeCourse (CtLC) framework amplifies youth voices, supports family conversations, and guides formal planning for post-secondary success. Learn how CtLC tools foster collaboration and can be used to put the YOUTH into youth engagement.

Presenter: Rebecca Davis, Federation for Children with Special Needs

LifeCourse in Action webinars are presented in English on Zoom with live, simultaneous Spanish interpretation. Please let us know if you have any disability access or language access needs to attend this webinar.

The Institute for Community Inclusion (ICI) and the Massachusetts Department of Developmental Services (DDS) are offering up to 25 employment support professionals from DDS provider agencies the chance to earn a free ACRE certificate through the College of Employment Services for Independent Learners (CESIL). This training is only available to DDS provider agency staff and provides an Association of Community Rehabilitation Educators (ACRE) certificate, a valuable credential in the field of employment services.

This comprehensive 40‑hour online course begins with a live kickoff webinar on Monday, March 2, 2026 at 9am ET and runs through July 31, 2026. Participants will gain knowledge of best practices and apply their skills through field‑based assignments.

This course is offered online and accessible 24/7, providing flexibility for staff to engage at times that best fit their schedules. The training format includes video presentations, knowledge checks, discussion forums, case studies, and assignments, along with handouts, worksheets, and templates to support day‑to‑day work. All presentations are captioned, transcripts are available, and instructors will provide guidance throughout the course.

Please note: Registration should only be completed by individuals who intend to participate fully and have the availability to complete the required 40 hours of training.

It’s more important than ever that job seekers are appropriately using their time to prepare and plan for entering or re-entering the workforce. Participants will learn how to coordinate and implement person-centered planning strategies during these challenging times. This 2-session online training series will cover strategies to assess job seeker’s employment goals, abilities, interests, and capacities.

In this training, you will learn to:

• identify personal and family networks
• develop vocational profiles and schedules
• evaluate situational assessments
• create 30-day placement plans
• use Discovery to identify vocational goals and maximize information gathering

You must attend both sessions to receive a letter of completion.

This 3-day training focuses on how work earnings affect Supplemental Security Income (SSI), Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI), Medicaid, Medicare, subsidized housing, food stamps, and other public benefits. Included is a review of work incentives associated with each benefit and how they can assist individuals with disabilities to transition into employment or increase earnings without jeopardizing benefits. This training is geared toward employment professionals, case managers, and rehabilitation counselors.

Learning Objectives:

As a result of attending this training, participants will be able to:

• Differentiate between SSI and SSDI, Medicare and Medicaid
• Explain how earnings will impact cash, healthcare and other benefits
• Educate consumers about the rules and best practices to report income
• Describe how work incentives can help consumers to make a smooth transition to work
• Direct consumers to resources that can help address their employment and benefit related needs

Disability-related accommodations provided upon request. Questions? Contact Berenise.Albino@umb.edu.

Join us as we explore how to use Charting the LifeCourse tools to support the Individualized Education Plan (IEP). Annie Willis, Chief Education Officer of The Guild for Human Services, will demonstrate how to effectively use the CtLC tools to develop student visions that can guide the IEP development process. Annie will review The Guild for Human Services’ data collection tools to guide students and families through the IEP process.

LifeCourse in Action webinars are presented in English on Zoom with live, simultaneous Spanish interpretation. Please let us know if you have any disability access or language access needs to attend this webinar.