Advocacy
Stacey Herman
Director, Post-Secondary Services
Kennedy Krieger Institute
Ken Capone
Self-Advocate; Public Policy Director
People on the Go Maryland
Tina Schmitt
Director, Talent Acquisition and Retention
Kennedy Krieger Institute
Maureen van Stone
Director, Maryland Center for Developmental Disabilities
Kennedy Krieger Institute
Kennedy Krieger Institute serves a diverse population of individuals with a variety of abilities. Transition-aged youth and adults entering the workforce face unique challenges that Kennedy Krieger is working to address. During this presentation, the four panelists from Kennedy Krieger will discuss post-secondary programs and services targeting transitioning youth and young adults; highlight the benefits of hiring neurodiverse individuals from a business perspective; and will provide an overview of relevant laws and statewide initiatives. The panel will consist of four professionals from different disciplines at Kennedy Krieger. An attorney will provide the legal framework, by explaining issues related to disclosure versus nondisclosure, accommodations, confidentiality, and self-advocacy. Thereafter, Ken Capone, a self-advocate, will share his perspective on the passage of the Ken Capone Equal Employment Act in Maryland, which eliminated sheltered workshops in favor of community-based integrated employment opportunities and employment first initiatives. Then, Kennedy Krieger’s director of postsecondary services will share information about Project SEARCH and CORE Foundations, initiatives targeting transitioning youth and adults. Finally, a human resources specialist will share the Institute’s vision to increase employment outcomes for individuals with neurological differences, including how best to support individuals with disabilities and employers to achieve successful, sustainable, and integrated workplaces. Kennedy Krieger is in a unique position to bring together a variety of disciplines from one organization that can support individuals and their families, throughout their entire lifespan. The ongoing collaborations among Kennedy Krieger institute disciplines will enhance the lives of individuals and their families.