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From the CEO
The first Friday of each month the economic geek in me watches for the phone alert on new job growth.  I didn’t do well in high school economics and thankfully I didn’t have to take it in college. However, I recall enough to know that job growth, or lack thereof, can trigger responses from Wall Street and is sure to generate a tweet or two.

Recent numbers continue to show that the number of people filing for unemployment benefits is at the lowest level since I graduated from college (four decades!) More jobs are being added. Wages, even in Indiana, are slowly creeping up. We watch, waiting for comments about what is “full employment” and have people quit looking?  Seasonal fluctuations are evident.  What can I make of all of the numbers?
The first Friday in October brought additional numbers in light that this is National Disability Employment Awareness Month. The labor force participation rate for people with disabilities is up one percentage point over the same month last year.  This is the percentage of population working or actively looking for work. Good news…right?  The thing is that participation rate is 34.1% compared to 76.6% for people without a disability. It may not be great, but it is moving in the right direction and it has been a positive trend since early 2016. 
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Education Series Part 2

For a special education student to succeed, educators and caregivers must effectively communicate and do their part. In this five-part series, you will see the perspectives of both an educator and a parent on how to keep a positive relationship to benefit the student. This series will also give advice on how to prepare and work for each student’s success. In part 2 of this series you will read about the IEP process both as an educator and a caregiver. You can find part 1 of the series on our website.
Educator Perspective
By: Jenny Snyder
To be an active partner, parents must be informed. An IEP is a very overwhelming document, and this is coming from someone who had years of undergraduate and graduate classes learning about the legal components as well as years writing and developing IEPs with various team members. As professionals, we get frustrated and have a difficult time keeping up with the continuous changes to the documents and procedures even though this is a part of our daily work. Can you imagine how these documents make parents feel? 
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Parent Perspective
By: Risé Taylor
So, now that you know what to expect in a case conference, you may be wondering what an IEP entails. Aside from general information about your child (grade, diagnosis, parent/guardian, etc.), you will also find names and titles of those present in the case conference. Knowing these educators is important for proper communication to ensure your child’s success. The rest of the document, of course, lays out your child’s education plan, placing them in the least restrictive environment their course of study allows.
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Free CitiLink Rides on Election Day

Voting is an important part of advocating for yourself and your family. To ensure that everyone has access to their polling place on Election Day, we have covered all ride fares in Fort Wayne for the entirety of November 6th, 2018. Don't let transportation be a barrier for you to express your right to vote in this midterm election! For more info, go here.
Who are the Champions?
The lyrics from Queen’s We Are The Champions took on new meaning at the October 1, 2018 Northeast Indiana Human Resources Association (NIHRA) monthly meeting on inclusive employment.  More than 150 human resource professionals heard this call to action:  “Will you be the champion in your company to start the conversation about hiring individuals with disabilities?”
A panel discussion involving Greater Fort Wayne, Inc., Scherer Resources, Partners in Autism and a recent graduate from Ball State who has a disability challenged the group to be intentional in expanding hiring practices that included disability.  Greater Fort Wayne, Inc. added a disability employment coordinator to begin the dialogue with its member organizations.  Scherer Resources launched a training program on understanding disability and the business culture necessary to embrace and support inclusive employment.  Partners in Autism has an employment training program and builds relationships with employers to hire individuals with autism.  College graduates with disabilities are well-qualified with bachelor and master degrees in public service, library science, computer technology, and marketing and communication yet when the disability is disclosed an interview rarely occurs.

What can you do to champion inclusive employment in your organization?  Start by asking who knows someone with a disability.  You might be surprised how many people do.  Then ask about their employment status.  You might be surprised by those answers – “I don’t know or never thought about it.”  Expand the conversation and questions to your professional network, vendors and contractors.  More surprises?

As you read this, will you answer the call to action….Will you be the champion?
Priority Initiatives
Priority Iniatives
8515 Bluffton Road | Fort Wayne, IN 46809
Office: 260.222.5005 | Toll Free: 877.799.5656
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