In today’s competitive job market, attracting diverse talent is more important than ever. This session will explore proven strategies for equitable recruiting and interviewing, including how to remove bias from job ads, streamline candidate evaluation, and ensure fairness at every stage of the hiring process. Learn how to design interviews that focus on skills and performance, rather than perceptions, and create a more inclusive environment for all candidates. Whatever your role in your organization’s hiring process, this webinar will provide practical tools to build a more diverse and high-performing workforce.

Anne-Marie Lake came to the field of Supported Employment in 2012 with a varied background in fundraising, marketing/communications, vocal performance, teaching and direct support/management. Anne-Marie holds a B.A. in Interpersonal Communication from Seattle Pacific University and is a Certified Employment Specialist through Highline College. Working in one of Washington state’s top providers of customized, integrated employment and transition services, she learned job development and job coaching, positive behavior support and person-centered approaches. Working successively as an Employment Consultant, Program Manager, Recruiter and finally Training Manager, she gained in-depth knowledge of the systems and processes that contribute to agency-wide success in the field.  Her passion lies in training and developing staff so they can achieve best outcomes, promoting the career opportunities this field offers and bringing different groups together to work on joint projects that benefit those we serve.

Anne-Marie joined the Wise staff in 2023, and is using her experiences in direct service, management, and training as part of the WOA 100 training team, in county Technical Assistance systems support, creating and managing learning content, and helping agencies of all sizes develop training programs that will enable their staff and managers to incorporate best practices into their daily efforts.

People with disabilities are often treated as though they are unable to make decisions or cannot be trusted to make “the right” decision. While staff and family may think they are protecting their client or loved one, this misguided attempt at protection instead leads to diminished self-determination and stolen independence. In this session, learn about the importance of dignity of risk—the idea that making our own decision and learning from our choices is a human right. Explore what promoting dignity of risk can look like in IDD services, how to balance this with your duty of care, and how to support your clients to make positive informed choices.

Lindsay Piper, MS, MNLM, GCSE, (she/her), is a sexuality educator and advocate, currently working as a sexual assault prevention specialist with the Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities community in King County, WA. She has professional experience in early childhood and elementary education, emergency management, sexuality and healthy relationships education, and disability rights, advocacy, and services. Lindsay is fiercely committed to working to better the communities she lives and works in, and believes strongly in the importance of accessible, safe, and thriving communities for all people. She has had the pleasure of working with many organizations to advance sexual health equity and education for people with disabilities, including Seattle Parks & Recreation, the University of Washington, Special Olympics Washington, and others. Lindsay has appeared on the Culture of Consent Podcast for Seattle Public Schools in an episode titled Consent Education & the IDD Community, and has presented at conferences across the United States. Lindsay holds her Master of Nonprofit Leadership and Management and her Master of Science in Family and Human Development, both from Arizona State University, a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Eastern Washington University, and a Graduate Certificate in Sexuality Education from Antioch University Seattle. She is a graduate of Leadership Snohomish County, and a member of Nu Lambda Mu International Honor Society.

This session shows you the journey Tucker Collins took to find his dream job as a photographer. We will look at his emerging business and current work as a photographer for the Worcester Red Sox. In addition, we’ll talk about the steps you can take with your program participants to help them discover what they want and map a plan to get there.

Paula Collins is the Assistant Vice President of Employment at WORK Inc. She manages a team in North Central Ma who support people with challenges to work. Her team works with MRC, DDS, and DTA as well as 9 area high schools to create programming to improve workplace skills. Paula has presented on multiple topics within disability rights, work supports and DEI on both the local and national levels. She holds her CESP certification as well as the Marc Gold and Associates Customized Employment certification and is a Fitchburg State Leadership Institute graduate. Paula has also assisted in the design and implementation of the Fitchburg Disability Steward program which trains residents for leadership roles in the community. She is an active board member of Stepping Stone Community Theater and MA APSE as well as a member of the DDS Statewide Quality Council. In her spare time, she can be found on Lake Quinsigamond or at Polar Park.