CRP Winter Bulletin
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The Lighter Side of Business
Batten down the hatches, stock up on as much milk, bread, and eggs as your frozen hands can carry, and for the love of all that’s cold, don’t forget your phone charger at the office.
Speaking of all those groceries, what do you call that person who is able to score French toast for a week, the day before a winter storm is predicted? The Breadwinner!
The Supported Employment Training Project (SETP) Team hopes you enjoy this dose of laughter and find ways to incorporate a laugh (or more) into your daily routine. Why? Laughter is important because it strengthens our connections, reduces stress, and boosts overall well-being. It releases endorphins, the body’s natural “feel-good” chemicals, helping us relax and shift our perspective, even during challenging times. Sharing a laugh builds trust, fosters positivity, and reminds us not to take life too seriously. In short, laughter is good for both the heart and the mind! It’s a simple yet powerful way to recharge, connect, and maintain balance.
How will you share a laugh today?
Assessments in Supported Employment
Does Administering Assessments to Job Seekers Count as Billable Hours in Supported Employment?
Discovery is the first and foundational phase of Supported Employment. During this process, the Employment Specialist gets to know the job seeker through observation and conversation, rather than relying on standardized assessments. Traditional assessments are not used because they were not designed for individuals receiving Supported Employment services, many of whom may not have prior work experience to reflect upon or may not perform as intended by the test developers during testing.
Instead of using assessments, we use Discovery in Supported Employment. Discovery provides a personalized and strengths-based approach to understanding the individual. The Employment Specialist explores the person’s interests, skills, abilities, and support needs in real-life settings such as the home, community, or volunteer activities. This individualized process enables the collection of meaningful vocational information, leading to a well-matched and successful job placement.
Ask The Experts
Lisa Carrico, Technical Assistance Facilitator at the Supported Employment Training Project, stated that her most common objection from employers about hiring one of her consumers was that there were no jobs available.
We asked Lisa how she responded to employers with the "no jobs available" objection, and here is what she said: "I would tell them that I understand they may not have any openings right now, but certainly things change. I would like to explain that I represent a range of candidates and would appreciate the opportunity to better understand the nature of their hiring needs. I would explain that, actually, this is often the best time to connect. When companies are fully staffed, it’s easier to take a closer look at daily operations and identify smaller tasks or projects that might be good matches for someone with specific skills. That way, when they do have hiring needs, I’ll already have a good understanding of what works best for their team. I would also conclude by requesting to set up a time to talk about the company, what they do, and what kinds of positions they typically look to fill."
Lisa went on to explain that the objective is to determine whether the company genuinely has no positions available or whether they simply don't have any positions that they believe a person with a disability could perform.
In addition, we always want to have the opportunity to learn about a company, what is important to them, the types of work they do, and typical hiring practices. By learning more about the company, you can also have the opportunity to more fully explain what you do and how you do it. By understanding both employer needs and employee offerings, you can create a good match, not just a placement.
Meet The Team
Amanda Hutchison is the curriculum designer at the Supported Employment Training Project. Prior to working at the Human Development Institute at the University of Kentucky, she served as a job coach for young adults who had experience in foster care.
Fun fact: Amanda also compiles this quarterly newsletter.
You can reach Amanda via email at amanda.hutchison@uky.edu
Asked and Answered
How do Employment Services Work with Waivers?
Curious about how Kentucky’s Michelle P. (MPW) and Supports for Community Living (SCL) waivers can help people with disabilities find and keep meaningful jobs? Or how the Office of Vocational Rehabilitation (OVR) works with Waiver Services? You can learn the answers by checking out the Supported Employment Service Provision through Medicaid Waivers video.
After watching the video, you can learn how these programs can fund Supported Employment (SE) services, from discovery and job development to on-the-job supports, and how providers can make the most of available resources.
You can also find the required forms and guidance on the Supports for Community Living (SCL) Employment Forms page.
Human Development Institute (HDI) Spotlight
Kentucky Post School Outcomes Center (KYPSO)
KYPSO is Kentucky’s most extensive source of data for post-school outcomes of students who received special education services, and a leading provider of technical assistance for transition planning. KYPSO develops and oversees the Youth One Year Out (YOYO), which is a formal student interview that collects valuable post-school outcome data. This data includes measures of post-secondary education and employment for students with disabilities one year after exiting high school. KYPSO analyzes data from former students' experiences with the intention of helping future students achieve post-school outcomes that are meaningful, integrated, and competitive. This data is used for research by both KYPSO, the Kentucky Department of Education (KDE), the Office of Vocational Rehabilitation (OVR), and other stakeholders.
The Kentucky Association of People Supporting Employment First (KY APSE) 2025 Conference: Engage. Include. Amplify.
Conference Highlights
The 2025 KY APSE Conference – Engage. Include. Amplify. was a huge success, bringing together professionals from across the Commonwealth who are passionate about disability and employment to Elizabethtown on December 8th and 9th. We extend a heartfelt thank you to the dedicated KY APSE Board Members for their countless hours of planning and leadership that made this event possible.
Katie Wolf Whaley, University of Kentucky (UK) Human Development Institute (HDI), President
Ashley Taylor, Office of Vocational Rehabilitation (OVR), Vice-President
Janell Turner, OVR, Treasurer
Kari Skaggs, OVR, Secretary
Jeff White, Division of Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities
Kitty Zachery, Coalition Forward
Laura Daws, Windrose Employment Services
Lisa Carrico, UK HDI
Lori Norton, UK HDI
Melissa Marvel, Zoom Group
Michelle Klingenfus, Options Unlimited
Congratulations to all of the 2025 award winners. Your commitment to quality employment and inclusive practices truly embodies the mission of APSE and inspires our entire community.
The Kimi's Kudos award recognizes those who show extra innovation, effort, kindness, and/or collaboration in ensuring that people in our field, people with disabilities, agency providers, Vocational Rehabilitation, and employers get what they need to WORK TOGETHER for good in the world. This year's winners include:
Kelly Mooney, OVR, Elizabethtown, Kentucky (KY)
Emily Vidoni, AspYre, Owensboro, KY
Dan Trabue, Edge Employment, Louisville, KY
Bobbie McClain, Impact Behavioral Health, Grayson, KY
The Nancy Hall Supported Employment Advocacy Award honors a rehabilitation professional who has demonstrated exceptional determination in motivating individuals with the most significant disabilities to achieve their maximum vocational potential through supported employment. This year's winner is:
Paul Meisenhelder, New Perceptions
The Jim Chesser Award for Advocacy was established in memory of Jim Chesser, a long-time self-advocate and friend of KY APSE.
The winner shall reflect the idea of advocating for the full inclusion of people with disabilities, including opportunities for employment. Preference may be given to persons who experience disability, but anyone who furthers the goal of inclusion will be considered. This year's winner is:
Bev Harp, UK HDI
The Sam Serraglio Community Employment Award recognizes an individual who fosters the ideals of self-determination, individual excellence, and independence, enabling individuals with disabilities to secure community employment successfully.
This is a person who demonstrates the ability to advocate for people with disabilities while building partnerships with the business community, service providers, family members, and the individuals themselves. This year's winner is:
Trey Smith, Four Rivers Behavioral Health
A special highlight of the conference was the keynote presentation by Amanda Owen, which set an energizing and thoughtful tone for our work ahead. Her message resonated strongly with attendees and sparked meaningful takeaways.
Thank you to everyone who attended, presented, exhibited, and supported this year’s conference. Together, we continue to Engage, Include, and Amplify employment opportunities for people with disabilities across Kentucky.
New Year, New Meeting Dates
Save the Dates, CRP Quarterly Meetings are Tentatively Scheduled
You can put your new 2026 calendar to use by penciling in the CRP Quarterly meetings.
January 15, 2026, at 10:30 a.m. Eastern Time (ET)
March 19, 2026, at 10:30 a.m. ET
June 18, 2026, at 10:30 a.m. ET
September 17, 2026, at 10:30 a.m. ET
Thank You!
Thank you to our providers who have expanded their services, increased their coverage, and added staff.
Since October 1, 2025, we have received a total of 12 CRP addenda.
Two applications have been completed this quarter: Guthrie Opportunity Center Foundation and Mammaw Sandi’s Kitchen, Inc.
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