Employment First Massachusetts

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.

Join us for a Community-Based Day Services (CBDS) Lunch and Learn. We will break down what it means to individualize CBDS supports, explore person-centered practices, and highlight innovative strategies you can take back to your programs. We will discuss:

• person-centered planning and discovery
• intentional grouping
• creative staffing
• tools and resources

This webinar is free and open to agencies that provide CBDS in Massachusetts. We welcome and encourage staff at all levels to join!

Supporting individuals to be successful at their jobs is not as easy as it sounds. It requires many skills, including excellent communication, maintaining relationships with multiple team members (including employers), knowledge about accommodations and assistive technology, and effectively assisting people with various disabilities to learn and master new tasks.

In this training, you will learn about:

• best practices and strategies needed to support individuals in meeting their employment goals
• the role of the job coach
• natural supports and social inclusion
• systematic instruction
• job maintenance and self-management techniques
• fading and behavioral support strategies

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

Whether it’s your first time creating an Individual Support Plan (ISP) or you’ve been doing it for years, this webinar will show how Charting the Life Course tools can help. As the basis for receiving DDS adult supports, the ISP is most effective when it is person-centered and includes the goals and resources needed to make your vision a reality. Attend this webinar and learn how LifeCourse tools can help you create an effective ISP.

Presenters:

• Maryann Welch is Director of the Northeast Family Leadership Program, a certified Charting the LifeCourse Ambassador, and parent to a teen receiving services from DDS.
• Donna Kushi is a certified LifeCourse Ambassador with extensive experience in family support services in western Massachusetts. She is the parent of an adult son with disabilities.

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.

Individualized and person-centered job planning is crucial for individuals in search of meaningful and fulfilling employment. But how can employment professionals stay organized and keep everyone working toward the job seeker’s goals? Utilizing a 30-day Job Development Action Plan is a great option.

Join us to learn:

• components of an effective plan
• when and why to implement a plan
• how to keep support teams engaged in the process

This webinar is appropriate for staff or educators who assist individuals with disabilities to find competitive employment.