The TIP Brief: Beyond the Surface
October 2026 Newsletter

Celebrating National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM)

October is an opportunity to recognize the contributions of workers with disabilities and reaffirm the value of employment for all. For rehabilitation professionals and businesses, it highlights the importance of building strong partnerships that connect qualified candidates with meaningful careers. The Training Innovation Project supports this goal by advancing practical approaches to employer engagement. By equipping people with effective strategies and tools, we can break down barriers and support workplaces where people thrive, learn, grow, and advance. Together, we can turn the spirit of NDEAM into year-round action that strengthens the workforce for everyone. Learn more about NDEAM celebrations and how to spread the word at the US Department of Labor Office of Disability Employment Policy NDEAM webpage.

Kentucky Chamber of Commerce and TIP Host Disability Hiring and Retention Academy in Owensboro

This one-day training offers HR professionals, business leaders, supervisors and workforce development partners a comprehensive training program designed to equip them with the skills to effectively recruit, train, and retain talent from the disability community, strengthening their organizations while enhancing workplace inclusion. This event is a pre-cursor to a multi-day event planned for 2027 in Frankfort, Kentucky. The Chamber and TIP team  will develop an event planning toolkit to encourage future Academy development nationwide.
Learn more about the Disability Hiring and Retention Academy.

TIP Year in Review

The first year of TIP wrapped up September 30. What a year it has been. The Workforce and Employer Engagement Summit, held virtually on September 22, welcomed nearly 200 participants from Hawaii to Maine. It brought together businesses, rehabilitation professionals and workforce leaders to talk about strengthening partnerships and advancing employment for job seekers with disabilities. TIP supported 26 training events with 1,140 learners. TIP also created over 50 products, became a provider of continuing education credits for the Commission on Rehabilitation Counselor Certification (CRCC) and the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM).
Check out our complete 2026 TIP Year in Review.

Disability Hiring and Retention Academy

November 4, 2026
8:30 a.m. – 4:00 pm CT

Location: Owensboro Chamber of Commerce, 200 E 3^rd St, Owensboro KY

Participants will gain practical strategies for:

• Recruiting and retaining employees with disabilities
• Understanding ADA requirements and accommodations
• Building a more inclusive workplace culture
• Applying universal design principles across the employee experience
• Connecting with regional resources and employer peers

From Policy to Practice: Expanding Internships and Apprenticeships for People with Disabilities
Learn at Lunch

November 17, 2026  12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m. ET

Presenter: Katia Albanese
Internships and apprenticeships offer valuable opportunities for people with disabilities to explore career options while gaining practical skills and meaningful work experience. Yet these pathways are often underutilized by vocational rehabilitation (VR) professionals and the individuals they serve. This session will explore how VR professionals can leverage internships and Registered Apprenticeship Programs to expand career pathways for people with disabilities. Drawing on national trends and innovative state approaches, the presentation will highlight policies and practical strategies that connect individuals with disabilities to employers and high-demand careers. Participants will learn how to identify opportunities within their states and strengthen partnerships with workforce and apprenticeship systems, positioning VR as a valuable partner in developing disability-inclusive talent pipelines.

Save the Date for TIP Master Classes

Take a deep dive into advanced topics with nationally recognized experts in 2027. Hold these dates on your calendar. Registration information will be coming soon.

February 2, 2027 – Job Accommodation Network (Invited)
May 4, 2027 – Communication Skills for Business Partnerships
August 3, 2027 – Disability Hiring and Retention Academies Toolkit

2026 Autism Informed Employers Video Series

The Kentucky Employment First Council, Innovative Supports for Autistic Workers (ISAW), and the Training Innovation Project (TIP) share Episode 9 of the 2026 Autism Informed Employers quick-hit video series. This is a monthly 2-minute video series along with quarterly topical conversations.

Episode 9: shares ways some Autistic people interpret verbal information, such as the difference between socially polite and blunt communication styles.  Understanding how one may be understood, and tips to arrange information, can be helpful in communicating with people who may process conversations in a different way.

Episode 10: Autistic workers sometimes need supports for executive functioning skills. In this episode we discuss the range of skills and abilities that fall under the executive functioning umbrella and how these are affected by autism.

TIP National Advisory Panel member Susie Edwards is the Executive Director of the Kentucky Office of Vocational Rehabilitation (OVR). OVR is housed in the Kentucky Education and Labor Cabinet and is a combined agency that serves individuals with disabilities in the Commonwealth. She brings 25 years of experience with Kentucky OVR, beginning her career with the agency in 2001 as the Training and Development Coordinator and advancing through executive leadership positions. Prior to joining OVR, she owned a web-based business specializing in personnel placement for residential childcare facilities. This venture built upon more than 13 years experience as the Director of Social  Services for a private children’s home in her hometown of Savannah, Georgia.