Empowered Employment: Building Equity and Person-Centered Partnerships

This session will empower job coaches and job developers to support people in obtaining more equitable and person-centered employment opportunities for people with IDD. Using the Equity in Recruitment, Hiring, and Onboarding model, participants will explore how to align job searches with each person’s strengths, interests, and goals. The session will cover strategies for accessible recruitment, collaborating with employers, and partnering to ensure a realistic job preview. It will also highlight person-centered onboarding approaches, including mentorship and structured follow-ups, to promote long-term success and satisfaction.

Nick Burton is the CEO of N. Burton Consulting LLC, leading efforts to enhance person-centered planning, service capacity, and equitable access for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD), including those with co-occurring mental health conditions. With over 25 years in the I/DD field, his work spans program design, implementation, and evaluation, always focused on ensuring meaningful, self-directed lives.

He also serves as Co-Executive Director of NextGen Synergy Inc., a nonprofit dedicated to expanding capacity and fostering cross-sector collaboration to better support individuals with I/DD and mental health needs. Previously, he was Director of Programs for Maryland’s Developmental Disabilities Administration, overseeing statewide services and driving systemic improvements.

Nick works with provider agencies, government entities, and advocacy organizations to build sustainable, person-driven systems. His current focus includes strengthening the intersection of I/DD and mental health, developing workforce competencies, and advancing a Choice Advising Model to support informed decision-making.

Starting his career as a direct support professional, he has held roles as a case manager, agency leader, and senior executive, with a deep commitment to equity, inclusion, and social justice. A national speaker on person-centered practices and leadership, he brings a broad perspective from working across multiple states.

He holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Montana and a master’s in public administration from Portland State University. He lives in Baltimore, Maryland, with his husband, Thomas, and their two cats, Gary and Lois.