Training Opportunity-Customized Self Employment for Entrepreneurs with Disabilities

Medicaid Infrastructure Grant

Staff Development for Supported Employment Personnel

Winter- Spring 2012

Customized Self-Employment for Entrepreneurs with Disabilities

As an initiative of the Medicaid Infrastructure Grant, AHEDD is coordinating reimbursement to PA for the following online courses through Virginia Commonwealth University’s Rehabilitation Research and Training Center (VCU-RRTC): 

This online course is being offered by Virginia Commonwealth University's Rehabilitation  Research and Training Center in collaboration with Griffin-Hammis Associates.  Discussion  groups will be led by nationally known experts in self-employment from Griffin-Hammis and Associates.
 

 The course will cover these important topics on self-employment and more:

• Strategies for Exploration and the Discovery Process
• Writing a Business Plan
• Conducting a Feasibility Study
• Accessing Community Supports
• Identifying Funding
• Using Work Incentives

Lesson One:Self-Employment Overview    
Lesson Two: Social Security Work Incentives, Medicaid Waivers, and Self-Employment
Lesson Three: Accessing Support Services from Vocational Rehabilitation and Community Rehabilitation Programs
Lesson Four: Community Supports for Self-Employment
Lesson Five: Quick Launch Business Start-Up

Overview Information: ALL instruction is web based. The lectures are  in audio format, and you must have the technical requirements for the course as described  below to benefit from the course. Information for a specific lesson will be available by 9:00 am (eastern) on the first date listed for any given lesson. The course includes five lessons. Each lesson lasts two weeks and should take approximately four to five hours to complete. Weekly lessons include an online discussion forum, audio lectures, and select readings. All participants will be assigned to groups. These groups will be asked to correspond with each other during the course on the course bulletin boards.

Participants can earn 2.5 CEUs or 25 CRCs upon course completion. A  certificate of completion will be issued to all participants who participate in the  discussion boards and complete all of the course assignments. Participants must finish  all required assignments within the specified time frame in order to be eligible to  receive CEUs, CRCs and/or the certificate of completion from Virginia Commonwealth University.

Technical Requirements: You will be able to log on to the course at any  time of the day and access the audio lectures. Each person MUST have an individual e-mail  account, or we cannot accept your registration. If the individual does not already have an  account, a free one can be set up through https://login.yahoo.com or other free services.  We send updates on the course activities and feedback on course activities through e-mail  contact. Participants must be able to receive and send messages in order to benefit from  this online experience.
 

TO REGISTER:  Participants/agencies who want to participate in this reimbursement program must complete this form and send a check payable to AHEDD for each participant on or before February 24,2012 (address provided below).   Please note that reimbursement funds are limited so we are accepting on a first come basis.   AHEDD will register participants and submit a master list of attendees and block payment.  Unfortunately, if you do not complete the form and payment by this date, you must register yourself and  will not be eligible for reimbursement.   At the completion of the training, we will reimburse for each staff who completes the course.  For questions about the reimbursement program, contact Lori Tyndall, AHEDD (717) 763-0968 ext 130.  For questions about the course curriculum available through VCU-RRTC see www.worksupport.com/training/index.cfm

TO RECEIVE REIMBURSEMENT:  Forward a copy of certification of completion or email verification to AHEDD (address provided at bottom of form) from VCU no later than June 22, 2012.  **Please see attached document for registration information**