The TIP Brief: Beyond the Surface
May 2026 Newsletter

Why Competitive Integrated Employment Matters to Business: The Bottom Line
Learn at Lunch

May 19, 12:00 pm – 1:00 pm ET

Presenter: Merry-Reid Sheffer
For too long, “special” has come to mean “separate”— and the cost of segregation is borne not only by people with disabilities, but by employers as well. As we move into 2026, organizations are grappling with a growing workforce crisis driven by mass retirements and a shrinking labor pool. Competitive Integrated Employment (CIE) offers a powerful, practical solution. By supporting people with disabilities to work alongside people without disabilities—earning comparable wages for comparable work—CIE expands talent pipelines while strengthening workplace culture. Join Merry Reid Sheffer, Director of Employment Services at Mattingly Edge, to explore what CIE is, why it matters, and how it’s reshaping the workforce for the better. 

This event is co-hosted by TIP and the Kentucky Employment First Council. There will be an opportunity for further discussion with TIP staff immediately following the presentation.

Community of Practice with the Training Innovation Project

June 23, 12:00 pm - 12:30 pm ET 

Come to share ideas, solve problems, build skills and create practical tools that support competitive integrated employment.  The  Community of Practice (COP) is meant to grow naturally over time, giving participants the chance to shape discussions and activities around what matters most to them and their work. More COP events will be held August 24 from 12:00 PM – 12:30 PM ET.  

Setting the Record Straight About Hiring and Retaining Disabled Workers: Debunking Myths
A TIP Master Class 

CRC Credit Pending

June 24, 2:00 pm– 3:00 pm ET

Presenter: Phillip Rumrill, PhD, CRC
This master class, led by Dr. Phillip Rumrill, will explore the progress made in creating a more inclusive and accessible American workforce for people with disabilities. It will also highlight persistent concerns among employers related to hiring and accommodating workers with disabilities. Finally, the session will share research-based evidence demonstrating that workers with disabilities perform on par with their non-disabled peers, underscoring the disability community as a valuable and often untapped labor resource.

Workforce & Employer Engagement Summit

September 22, 1:00 pm – 4:00 pm ET

On September 22, 2026, the TIP inaugural Workforce & Employer Engagement Summit will be held virtually. This event will bring partners together to share lessons learned, strengthen employer partnerships, and explore practical tools that can be adapted across settings. More details coming soon!

National Business Survey has Launched – Please share!

To better support businesses and strengthen workforce participation, TIP invites businesses to complete a brief anonymous survey about disability and employment. This will help up better understand what information is most wanted and needed. We ask businesses around the country to complete the survey by June 30. 

First TIP Community of Practice Event Held

The TIP recently hosted a Community of Practice session attended by 18 vocational rehabilitation professionals and workforce partners focused on advancing competitive, integrated employment opportunities for people with disabilities. The session created a casual, collaborative space for participants to discuss current challenges, identify future learning topics, and explore how immersive and assistive technologies such as virtual reality and simulations can support employment preparation and disability-inclusive workplace practices. The next Community of Practice is scheduled for June 23 at 12:00 noon ET. Learn more about TIP at tiptrain.com. Contact Beth.Potter@uky.edu if you have any questions.

New Resources Now Available on the Innovative Training Hub 

The TIP National Innovative Training Hub has added a searchable database that includes project developed resources. New content includes a report on the Employer Engagement Survey Results. This reflects findings from 453 respondents who completed our 2026 needs assessment. The Key Informant Interview Findings report summarizes results from interviews with 13 rehabilitation and workforce professionals.

The recording from the Learn at Lunch Enabling Employment Opportunity with Immersive Technology is also now available. To learn more about the Training Innovation Project, please check out our introductory webinar on the grant. Visit the resources section often, as we will continue to add new content.

Talk with TIP Defined

TIP offers informal, drop-in consultation with project staff for timely, practical support to talk through questions, challenges, or ideas related to employment, training, and systems improvement. Stay for a few minutes or the whole time --- whatever works for you. Talk through real-world challenges and problem-solving together with practical guidance, resources, or referrals. 

The next Talk with TIP will take place immediately following the May 19th Learn at Lunch. To join the Learn at Lunch and stay for Talk with TIP, register here.