① The Key to Independent Travel: Ride Safe, Ride Smart - Frances Rankos (2 sessions 10:30 and 1:30) Riding Pierce Transit buses can give you more options. This session will give you information about how to be safe using the buses and how to use resources available to plan your trips.
② Preparing for Employment – Tara Zink (2 sessions 10:30 & 1:30 pm) Anyone who wants to work can work! Once you leave school, a variety of resources and supports exist to help you be successful in your employment search. This presentation covers employment resources and the supports they can offer and how to be preparing now for your future job. Come learn about the value of employment and why it is an option for everyone.
③ Respect in the Workplace – Ivanova Smith (1 session 10:30 am) Learn how to handle bullying in the workplace and how to interact with your co-workers and supervisors if harassment occurs. Helpful tips about these topics will be provided. Help us maintain respect in the workplace.
④ Looking for Love in All the Right Places – Tim McCue & Sam Starr (2 sessions 10:30 am and 1:30 pm) This session is by advocates for advocates. Come talk with other self-advocates who are married or dating about the ups and downs of dating. They will share stories and answer questions about healthy relationships. What to look for? How to set boundaries? What works in their relationships? What challenges they faced? And how they deal with those challenges and more…
⑤ Build Your Dream Map: Person Centered Planning – Michele Lehosky & Pierce Cohort (1 session 10:30 am) Come learn, listen and see a unique process that focuses on a person’s gift, talents and dreams. This can be around an area of their life such as one’s future independent living or one’s whole life and looking ahead! Using a process called Mapping, friends, family and others in your circle including yourself share information for your Dream Map!
⑥ Success Stories - Panel Presentation (2 sessions 1:30 and 3:30 pm) Crystal, Lashay, William and Blake will be among the presenters sharing their experiences with work, independent living, college and more! Listen and learn from their success and ask questions during this interactive session facilitated by Sky Chaffee.
⑦Self Advocacy at Work – Noah Seidel DD Ombuds office (2 sessions 1:30 and 3:30) Learn the ten best tips and tricks to advocate for yourself and speak up so that you can be successful on the job! Also, learn about the Office of Developmental Disabilities Ombuds and what it can do for you as an individual with a disability in the workplace.
⑧ Build a Better Resume– Rhonda Kristoff (2 sessions 1:30 and 3:30) This presentation will cover best practices for creating a resume: what are the best things to include on your resume to get noticed, and what should be avoided when putting a resume together. We'll also look at the differences between chronological and functional formats. Handouts will be available along with a resource sheet showing what Tacoma Public Library has available for job seekers.
⑨Self-Advocacy 101 – Ivanova Smith People First Pierce County & Tim McCue Self Advocacy Educator at The DD Ombuds Office. (1 session 3:30 pm) This is a presentation on self-advocacy skills we will cover how you can self-advocate and advocate for others in your community. Ways to get involved with your peers and in the statewide self-advocacy groups.
Thank you to all the school districts, youth, community members and organizations who attend and support others to attend the Tools 4 Success Conference.