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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">TO: All District and ESD Special Education Directors<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">The message below is being sent to you on behalf of:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Sarah Drinkwater, Ph.D.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Assistant Superintendent<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Office of Learning - Student Services Unit<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">______________________________________________
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">September 10, 2013<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Welcome to the first
<b><i>Oregon Employment First News & Information for You</i></b> message! You can expect to see regular updates as we move forward to implement Governor Kitzhaber’s Executive Order (<a href="http://www.oregon.gov/gov/docs/executive_orders/eo_13-04.pdf">http://www.oregon.gov/gov/docs/executive_orders/eo_13-04.pdf</a>
) on Employment First and our ongoing commitment to integrated employment for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD).
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">As most of you know, Oregon has been a leader in providing supported employment services to individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities in community residential
settings and has set an example for other states by demonstrating its express commitment to the benefits of transitioning individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities into integrated, community residential settings.
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Back in April, the Governor appointed me as the statewide Employment First Coordinator to oversee and coordinate the Oregon's Employment First policy, including all activities
required by the Governor's Executive Order. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">In my role, I will be working with the DHS Office of Developmental Disabilities Services, the DHS Office of Vocational Rehabilitation Services, Oregon Department of Education
staff and the Oregon Council for Developmental Disabilities to expand access to supported employment services. That work is already underway, and I’ll provide more about that in the days to come. Sometimes these messages will come from me, but you’ll also
see messages from other partners in this work.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Today, I’d like to use our first message to talk about Oregon’s history of leadership and innovation in services to those with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
Let me begin by saying that although Oregon is one of the top states for integrated employment, we can do better.
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Individuals with disabilities persistently face higher rates of unemployment than their non-disabled fellow citizens. As Oregon’s economy continues to recover from the 2008
recession, we must strive to ensure that all Oregonians benefit from the recovery, including those with intellectual and developmental disabilities. While the state cannot guarantee a job to any Oregonian, the state can and should consistently work to continue
to improve its provision of employment services to provide the best possible opportunities for success and choice for individuals receiving those services.
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Improving Oregon’s delivery of employment services, with the goal of achieving integrated employment for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities, consistent
with their abilities and choices, will benefit individuals with disabilities, their families, our communities, the economy, and the state.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Back in the 1980’s, Oregon was able to expand the number of individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities in paid, integrated employment settings. . By 2008,
Oregon ranked 16th of 39 states reporting on integrated employment. At the same time, however, the population receiving funded adult developmental disability employment and day services nationally has expanded to an estimated half a million persons ,
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">The population being served has changed in other ways. Oregon downsized and ultimately closed its two state residential institutions for individuals with intellectual and developmental
disabilities, returning more I/DD individuals to the community. .<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Oregon, like many other states, began to work toward improving employment outcomes for people with I/DD. This work included significant input from stakeholders and partners.
In 2008, Oregon adopted an Employment First Policy, making it one of the first states to do so.
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">In April 2012, Oregon was awarded a competitive grant from the United States Department of Labor to provide resources to assist in the strategic planning and implementation
of the Employment First Policy, one of only three states awarded the grant. Employment First is grounded in a framework of Oregon Revised Statutes and Oregon Administrative Rules which identify increased productivity, integration, and independence as the desired
outcomes of services and supports for adults with developmental disabilities. The policy also is in alignment with the stated mission of the Oregon Department of Human Services: People are safe, healthy and living as independently as possible.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">The Employment First policy is rooted in the belief that meaningful employment for working age adults plays a major role in maximizing personal choices, achieving economic
self-sufficiency, and contributing to the sustainability of our communities.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Employment First emphasizes the importance of being a part of the workforce, contributing to the economy, and becoming as self-sufficient as possible, helping individuals with
intellectual and developmental disabilities to lead a meaningful and purposeful life.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Today, in order to fully realize the vision of the Executive Order, the state will partner with a variety of stakeholders to develop a plan for successful implementation, and
a major part of this plan will include statewide outreach and conversation with key partners. The result will include a significant reduction over time of state support of sheltered work and an increased investment in employment services.
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">If you have questions or comments, please contact me.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Thank you, and I look forward to continuing to provide you with the most accurate and up-to-date information on Employment First through these
<b><i>Employment First News & Information for You </i></b>messages.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Mike Maley, Employment First Coordinator<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Oregon Department of Human Services<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""><a href="mailto:Mike.j.maley@state.or.us">Mike.j.maley@state.or.us</a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="font-size:10.0pt">Ruby Sandberg, Executive Assistant
<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="font-size:9.0pt">Office of Learning/Student Services<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="font-size:9.0pt">Oregon Department of Education<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="font-size:9.0pt">503-947-5738 FAX: 503-378-5156<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><a href="mailto:ruby.sandberg@state.or.us">ruby.sandberg@state.or.us</a><o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-autospace:none"><i><span style="font-size:9.0pt">The Oregon Department of Education is an equal opportunity agency and employer.<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-autospace:none"><i><span style="font-size:9.0pt">Messages to and from this email address may be made available to the public under Oregon law.<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
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