The Independence, Alabama APSE, Summer Edition, Volume 4, Issue 4

Inside this issue: The Summer 2010 Conference

The Summer 2010 Conference, co-hosted by the Alabama Council for Developmental Disabilities, was a huge success! Approximately 250 individuals attended this year’s event held at the Montgomery Renaissance Hotel & Spa at the Convention Center. The conference got off to a great start with a pre-conference day on June 23. Denise Bissonnette was the guest speaker. Her presentation was titled “Beyond Traditional Job Development..The Art of Creating Opportunity”.

She wowed the crowd with her unique delivery which was packed with passion and enthusiasm. Denise recited poetry and told personal stories throughout her presentation which left the attendees mesmerized and wanting more. That’s just what attendees got the following day when Denise provided the opening keynote, followed by three breakout sessions. Those that completed the conference evaluation gave Denise some of the highest marks ever for an AL-APSE presenter. Read this Edition

AL-APSE Seeks Board Members

Al-APSE is currently seeking hard working members to serve on the Board of Directors. If you would like to become a leader within AL-APSE please submit your letter of interest with the following information to Beth Hanks and Byron White by July 31st: Membership ID number and how you are connected to the enhancement of employment for people with most significant disabilities. The Board meets every other month via conference call with two face to face meetings per year - June and December generally. Deadline to submit: July 31. More information

The AL-APSE, The Network on Employment was formed in 1997 as a chapter of APSE, The Network on Employment. It is our goal to improve and expand integrated employment opportunities, services, and outcomes for persons with disabilities through employment with supports (supported employment). AL-APSE is a membership organization with members from all part of Alabama. This website is designed as an Internet resource to:

• Facilitate Alabama's supported employment process for people with disabilities
• Provide useful employment related information for Alabamians with disabilities
• Encourage the hiring of people with disabilities on a statewide level