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Training Opportunities & Information Updates
From the Kentucky Supported Employment Training Project
June 25, 2025
Information Updates
OVR Continuing Education Requirement
It's that time of year! Every Employment Specialist who bills OVR for Supported Employment or Employment & Retention is required to complete 15 hours of continuing education related to disability and employment each year. The OVR CRP Continued Education Units form, along with your agency OVR Vendor Contract, is due by July 1. Of these 15 hours, four must be in the topic area of serving consumers who are d/Deaf, blind, or DeafBlind.
- No certificate offered for recording? Attach a screenshot of the webinar and a signed statement from your supervisor that you watched the number of hours for the purpose of verification.
- Need more hours? We have opportunities for recorded hours listed below and you can find additional recordings in past newsletters and at the bottom of our SETP Training page.
- Questions on what trainings count? If you are unsure, ask your CRP Consultant. If it was hosted by the Supported Employment Training Project, it will count!
Vocational Rehabilitation - Order of Selection
Kentucky OVR has begun an Order of Selection (OOS), effective May 14, 2025. You can find more information at OVR's Order of Selection webpage, including the Letter of Implementation and Understanding Order of Selection. Kentucky APSE has put out information on OOS in plain language that aligns with what you will find on the OVR webpage, including points around impact.
For Those Who Bill Medicaid Waiver Dollars
Our new Supported Employment via Waiver Funding Process flier steps you through the process of determining when to bill a waiver for supported employment, with hyperlinks to forms and contacts.
Reminder: Each long-term support Prior Authorization is particular to that service and job. If someone wants a new job, you will need to request a new PA for job development.
Waiver-related SE questions should be directed to: DDID.SupportedEmployment@ky.gov.
Training Opportunities
Supported Employment Documentation & Descriptive Writing
In case you missed the June 18 CRP Quarterly meeting, you can watch the overview on required Supported Employment documentation.
Previously recorded trainings to meet the d/Deaf, blind, or DeafBlind hour requirements
- Working with d/Deaf and Hard of Hearing Consumers: Strategies for Effective Communication: 1.5 hour; recorded SETP event from Spring 2024
- Working with d/Deaf and Hard of Hearing Consumers: Understanding Stereotypes, Discrimination & Respect: 1.5 hour; recorded SETP event from Spring 2024
- Effective Communication for Deaf and Hard of Hearing People: 1 hour; recorded and presented through Georgia Tech and AccessGA
Supported Employment: The Nuts & Bolts of the Work
Presented by: SETP
Description: Katie Wolf Whaley and Zac Sappenfield presented a 5-part webinar series digging into practical tips for offering quality supported employment services. Topics include Logistics & Tools, Discovery, Job Development, On-the-Job Supports, and Values and Disability Rights as Part of our Work.
Sessions were recorded and made available as SETP 202 in our online learning system for a 1-hour certificate each. You will need to log in to your HDI Learning account or create a new account to view.
Enhancing Employer Engagement
Presented by: Employment First Kentucky and SETP
Description: Three-part webinar series, each roughly 1.5 hours, on ways in increase our skills in job development with a focus on engaging with businesses.
- Enhancing Employer Engagement Part 1 – Connection (YouTube) (PowerPoint)
- Enhancing Employer Engagement Part 2 – Consideration (YouTube) (PowerPoint)
- Enhancing Employer Engagement Part 3 – Conversion (YouTube) (PowerPoint)
Kentucky Disability Benefits 101 Lunch & Learn
Date: Ongoing on a 5th Friday - next one is August 29
Time: 12:30 - 1:00 pm ET / Q&A to follow from 1:00 - 1:30 pm ET
Presented by: Carolyn Wheeler and Jeff White
Description: An ongoing chance to learn how to use the Kentucky DB101 website to show the positive financial impact of employment while still maintaining a person’s eligibility for Medicaid or Medicare.
Supported Employment (SE) Core Training Series
Date: Ongoing / Next series is July 14, 16, 18 and August 20
Presented by: SETP
Description: The Supported Employment Core Training Series is required of all new Employment Specialists but is open to anyone wanting a refresher. It continues to be virtual and free of charge. Note: We have added optional Roundtable discussions to the series. These provide additional time for Core Training attendees to meet in smaller groups, ask questions, and have conversations about the phases of SE service and support.
Commonwealth of Kentucky’s Virtual Job Fair
Please share! The Commonwealth of Kentucky is hosting a monthly virtual job fair on the 3rd Wednesday of the month. Last month, 48 incredible employers—including, but not limited to, Humana, Jabil, Norton Healthcare, Nucor Tubular Products, Secretariat Center, Starbucks, the University of Kentucky, the University of Louisville, UPS, and the U.S. Postal Service—participated across multiple industries. It targets veterans but is open to all Kentuckians.
Next offering: June 16 from 10:00 am – 1:00 pm ET (10–11 for Veterans and Military Families and 11–1 open to all job candidates). This event is completely free for both employers and job seekers, providing an excellent opportunity to connect and explore career opportunities.
Resources
Kentucky is an Employment First state.
It is the policy of the Commonwealth of Kentucky that competitive integrated employment in the community shall be considered the first and primary option for persons with disabilities of working age who desire to become employed. Learn more and find resources to share:
How to Get Help Finding a Job
Share this How to Get Help Finding a Job flyer with people looking to go to work and not sure where to start.
Universal Employment Competencies
In 2019, the Association of People Supporting Employment First (APSE) updated the Universal Employment Competencies. This is a useful tool for understanding best practices in our field, measuring how your agency lines up, using it as a tool in employee reviews, and more.
Impact of Wages on Benefits
- Disability Benefits 101 – Kentucky
- SETP’s SSI/SSDI Fact Sheets and Additional Social Security Resources (scroll to bottom two headings)
Job Accommodation Network (JAN)
How to Describe Supported Employment Services
Plain Language
Think College and the Association of University Centers on Disabilities (AUCD) developed a plain language flyer explaining the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) of 2014 and Competitive Integrative Employment (CIE). Check out the WIOA Flyer in Plain Language.
Employment Files
The Employment Files YouTube Channel has lots of stories to share! This can be a useful tool in helping job seekers, family members, or other support staff think about employment possibilities.
Short Videos about OVR, Supported Employment, and Pre-ETS
Are you looking for ways to share information about OVR, Supported Employment, and Pre-ETS with those not familiar with the agency or supports? The Human Development Institute (HDI) and OVR have partnered to create 3 short videos:
Transportation
If you’re looking for transportation options, check out resources from HDI’s Transportation Initiative.
The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)
ADALive! is a free monthly show/podcast broadcast nationally about the Americans with Disabilities Act. Moderated by the Southeast ADA Center.
Questions about the Americans with Disabilities Act? Call the Southeast ADA Center at 1-800-949-4232 for expert guidance.
Questions?
Please don’t hesitate to reach out! The Supported Employment Training Project is here to offer training and technical assistance to providers across Kentucky. We are available to bring trainings to your agency and for individual conversations. Contact Katie Wolf Whaley at kwolf@uky.edu (or reply to this email).
With our expanded team, we look forward to offering more events and to having the ability to meet one-on-one with agencies and Employment Specialists. Let us know how we can help and support you in this work.
Thank you for all you do to move Employment First forward and help people find successful employment.
Katie
