It Starts with Saying Hi! Diversity, Equity and Inclusion training for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities

It Starts with Saying Hi! is an interactive class created in response to the challenges faced with talking with people receiving services about the importance of understanding people of different races, religions, sexuality, and ability. The class was created input from people receiving services, self advocates and DSP’s and is designed to be co-taught with a self advocate and a staff person, virtually or in person.
~ Leanne Mull, BTS Co-Director
~ Jesus “Chuy” Campuzano, BTS Consultant

Bridging the Gap between Dreams and Reality and What about When Dreams are Hard to Understand

Imagine a service system that is based on peoples dreams instead of their deficits and available services.  With person centered planning that system is in sight.  More people than ever are being asked about their wants, needs and desires met because of information learned during the person-centered planning process. But, what about people with communication differences whose dreams may be hard to understand?

In this session we will discuss best practices in understanding the dreams of people receiving services, particularly those who communicate differently. Additionally, we will discuss a team approach to creating a meaningful life with and for people who need intensive supports.
~ Leanne Mull, BTS Co-Director

Dare to Dream

For many people with disabilities, the concept of having a dream or vision for their lives is not something they have ever experienced.  From their first Individualized Educational Plan (IEP), they are taught all of their “deficits” and the reasons why they will never accomplish… fill in the blank.

The Dare to Dream workshop, created with a grant from the Illinois Council on Developmental Disabilities, uses an interactive format to help people with disabilities begin to dream for their lives. In this train the trainer session participants will how to facilitate this training for the people receiving services in their organization.
~ Leanne Mull, BTS Co-Director

Disability and Sexuality

Despite many gains in community access for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD), barriers still exist regarding the topic of sexuality and sexual expression. People with disabilities are often overlooked when it comes to providing sexuality education, yet they are at higher risk for abuse and sexual violence. This session will examine why these barriers remain and how specific strategies can be included in programs to address the topic in safe, healthy and respectful ways. Topics will include dating, sexual rights, innovative and accessible strategies to promote healthy sexuality and relationships, sexual abuse prevention and sexual self-advocacy. This interactive session will keep you engaged and will include resources you can use and the opportunity to discuss real case examples.
~ Linda Sandman, BTS Co-Director ~ Krescene Beck, BTS Co-Director

If You Have GREAT Staff, You Have a GREAT Life!

In the lives of people with disabilities who live in residential settings direct service staff (DSP’s and QIDP’s) are in a position to make the biggest positive difference in a person’s life. As executives, managers and supervisors hiring the right staff makes all the difference in lives of the people we support regardless of the type of residence.  Learn what people receiving support say is important to them, learn ways to include the people served in hiring and training, ensuring that new staff understand that we value the input and opinions. This motivational session will empower staff and leadership to continue to make a difference in the lives of the people they serve.
~ Leanne Mull, Co-Director

Introduction to the Helping Professions

Regardless of what career path you follow, when you are discussing your products or services, one of your first questions should be ‘How will this be used by, or affect, people with intellectual and developmental disabilities?’.
~ Leanne Mull, BTS Co-Director

Rights: Restrictions and Restoration

Many people with disabilities, particularly those who receive full life services, require behavior supports at some point in their lives. At times those supports may include modifications to a person’s rights. In this session we will discuss ways to support people on a path to having rights restored including explanations of restrictions prior to implementation of a behavior support plan.

As providers it is our responsibility to ensure that before a rights modification is used, we have exhausted every other possibility, modifications are time limited and agreed to by the person receiving services.

The Behavior Management and Human Rights Committees are key, not only to creative behavior supports more likely to result in better lives for people receiving services, but to guaranteeing that any rights restrictions are a last resort and come with a comprehensive plan for restoration. In this session we will discuss ways to support people on a path to having their rights restored including thorough and understandable explanations of restrictions prior to implementation of a behavior support plan.
~ Leanne Mull, BTS Co-Director

Self-Advocacy Matters!

Let’s learn about self-advocacy, why it matters, and how to make little changes that lead to big results in the lives of people with disabilities in your life and/or at your school/agency/organization including the power of power, shifting the power, opportunities for people power, and creating a culture of advocacy.
~ Krescene Beck, BTS Co-Director

Speak Up for Self-Advocacy!

Let’s work together to solve the self-advocacy puzzle by learning about the different pieces ~ who, what, when, where, how, why ~ needed to speak up and speak out for your life!
~ Krescene Beck, BTS Co-Director

Supporting the Dreams of the People We Serve: Why Person Centered Planning Makes Sense

For all of the logistical questions that come in to play when the topic of person centered planning comes up, the bottom line is, it makes sense.  The term person centered planning has, in some cases, become just the social services buzz word of the month but the thought behind those words is powerful and, when done correctly, can be life changing for a person in services. Isn’t it time for real change? This session demonstrates the transformative power of a dream centered life.
~ Leanne Mull, BTS Co-Director

Supporting Survivors with Disabilities

People with disabilities experience domestic and sexual violence at an alarming rate, yet many of the survivors are not identified and/or do not receive the necessary supports to heal. Service providers can play a pivotal role in helping survivors with disabilities access services. The first steps in healing include being heard, validated and supported.  This workshop is designed to enhance participants’ ability to respond to disclosures in a trauma informed manner and connect with survivors who may have difficulty accessing services.
~ Krescene Beck, BTS Co-Director
~ Leanne Mull, BTS Co-Director
~ Linda Sandman, BTS Co-Director

The Importance of Self Advocacy From a Business Perspective

Organizational support for self advocacy makes sense not only for the people who receive services but from a business perspective.  Supporting people served to learn to advocate on a personal, organizational, community, statewide and even national level is essential in the age in which we are providing services.

Non-profits supporting people with disabilities should ideally include a person with a disability on their board of directors. People who receive services have a unique perspective and can give input to improve services for people served. People who receive services can work together with agency staff on fundraising events, community presentations, staff selection and training, the possibilities are endless. Hearing from a person in services is powerful when changing legislation and policy at a local state and national level.  There are pockets where this is happening but including people in the life of an agency requires training not only for the person receiving services but the agency lest people become tokens. 

There are specific actions you can take to ensure inclusion and reap the benefits of the people you serve having a real voice. Examples include, training for people receiving services sitting on committees and boards as well as strategies to support said people. Training for people receiving services to participate in creation of their person centered plan.  Supporting people to speak in front of groups and effectively advocating for the services they want and deserve at a community and state level.
~ Leanne Mull, BTS Co-Director

Trauma and Resilience in the Lives of People with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities

Working effectively to support people with intellectual and developmental disabilities who are experiencing a mental health crisis can seem like an overwhelming challenge. How do we address challenging behaviors? How do we identify what factors may be contributing to the escalating cycle? This interactive training will explore the ways a mental health crisis may look differently for those who have an intellectual/developmental disability. The role power dynamics and trauma play in feeding the crisis will be addressed. An array of effective strategies that have been adapted to better support people with intellectual and developmental disabilities will be reviewed, including ways to support a person’s own strength and resilience.
~ Linda Sandman, BTS Co-Director ~ Krescene Beck, BTS Co-Director

Your Rights! Your Responsibilities! Your Life!

Have you ever wondered what rights are really about? Learn about the different kind of rights that we have as people and what kind of rights you have as someone with a disability.  We will spend the day doing a lot of activities to learn what rights are, how to talk to people about your rights and what responsibilities go with exercising rights!
~ Leanne Mull, BTS Co-Director