RE:CON 2025
PRESENTATION FILES

STEP Innovation Stage

Gesher Apprenticeships

Pioneer’s Solar Initiative: Sustainable Growth & Environmental Responsibility

Judson Center Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic

Be Our Guest: Discovering the Intersection of Hospitality and Human Services

PRESENTED BY: Travis Atkinson, MS, LPC, ad Michael Christy MBA

1 Hour, 1 CRC

“If hospitality is about making people feel seen, the best way to treat them is not like a commodity, but as a unique individual. Unreasonable hospitality means that one size fits one.”- Will Guidara

In this workshop, unlock the secrets of hospitality in service industries while discovering their relevance in human service settings. Learn how to put the elements of hospitality into practice while avoiding the pitfalls of an environment devoid of whole-hearted hospitality, growing from a culture of compliance to a culture of quality and care.

Break the Pain Cycle: Body-Based Tools for Stress Relief and Independence

PRESENTED BY: Patricia Marchal-Dumont

1 Hour, 1 CRC

Chronic pain and physical tension are common barriers to independence, focus, and emotional well-being—especially for individuals with disabilities and those who care for them. In this hands-on session, participants will learn simple, effective, body-based tools to relieve pain and manage stress. Drawing from proven holistic methods including myotherapy, foot zoning, and fascial release, Patricia Marchal-Dumont guides attendees through practical techniques that support physical comfort, mental clarity, and renewed energy. Whether you’re a direct service provider, advocate, or someone living with chronic pain, this session offers empowering, accessible solutions to help break the pain cycle and promote greater independence and resilience.

Beyond Survival: Ethical Advocacy and Best Practices for Supporting LGBTQ+ Youth Amid Civil Rights Crises

PRESENTED BY: LaVendee Fulton, LMSW, MA

1 Hour, 1 Ethics CRC

In today’s increasingly polarized climate, LGBTQ+ youth—especially those with disabilities—face mounting threats to their rights, well-being, and safety. This session equips educators and advocates with ethical frameworks and evidence-based practices to support these young people amid ongoing political, social, and civil rights upheaval. Drawing on the World Professional Association for Transgender Health (WPATH) Standards of Care Version 8, Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACES) data, and the Michigan Department of Education’s LGBTQ+ Student Support Recommendations, this presentation explores how schools and community partners can foster protective environments that affirm identity, promote mental health, and mitigate trauma.

Bridging the Gap: Strengthening Transition Services Through Collaboration

PRESENTED BY: John Foster, Rachel Mularz, Julie Colliflower, Valerie A. Maloney MSW BSW, Brittany Hamilton-Reed, MA, CRC, LLPC, Chandler C. Yuen, BSW, CESPTM

1 Hour, 1 CRC

This session will explore common gaps in transition planning and service delivery across education, vocational rehabilitation (VR), and provider systems. Presenters will offer practical strategies to improve early engagement, clarify roles, and align services from multiple stakeholder perspectives. Through discussion and real-world examples, attendees will gain tools to better coordinate efforts that support student success and employment outcomes. The session will also connect strong transition planning to long-term vocational results such as job development, WBLEs, and placement. This interactive, one-hour session brings together a Job Developer and two employers from different industries to share practical, business-focused insights on inclusive hiring and retention. The panel will explore what drives employers to invest in inclusive talent, the supports that make a difference, and how workforce partners can improve collaboration to meet real business needs.

Attendees will gain actionable tips for approaching employers, building long-term relationships, and aligning services with the realities of different industries.

Disability Policy and Legislative Advocacy

PRESENTED BY: Todd Culver, Malcolm Kletke

1 Hour, 1 CRC

POLITICS: General legislative priorities, including the state budget
2025 session recap, 2026 outloook
Legislative priorities on disability-specific issues
POLICY: Summary of current key issues
Advocacy and engagement strategies

Ethical Dilemmas When Working with Persons Served

PRESENTED BY: Christal Phillips, MS, JD

1 Hour, 1 Ethics CRC

This presentation addresses ethical dilemmas that arise when working with disabled groups in social work. These could include the use of medication to manage problem behavior, patients’ capacity to participate in their care plan, a lack of communication between multiple providers, a lack of patient input, and a lack of finances for respectful care. This can apply to disabled groups at home, school, medical clinics, and hospitals. These ethical issues become more complicated by financial constraints that do not offer social workers many options. This presentation is based on studies that analyze ethical considerations and practices with people who have disabilities

Harnessing Artificial Intelligence to Streamline Vocational Rehabilitation Tasks for Individuals with Disabilities: Stakeholder Perspectives

PRESENTED BY: Dr. Connie Sung and Dr. Matthew Smith

1 Hour, 1 CRC

This session will present findings from a study aimed at identifying routine tasks in transition and vocational rehabilitation services, such as job development, job placement, and job coaching, that could benefit from automation. Drawing on stakeholder input through focus groups with community rehabilitation organizations and school partners, the project explores how stakeholders perceive innovative technologies, particularly artificial intelligence, can be used to efficiently streamline repetitive tasks as well as their perceptions and recommendations. Participants will learn about the initial results from stakeholder brainstorming sessions, and practical examples of how AI-driven tools can reduce administrative burden and enhance support for individuals with disabilities. The presentation will also discuss ethical and implementation considerations for technology adoption in transition and vocational rehabilitation settings.

Navigating First Jobs: A Qualitative Exploration of Self-Determination Among High School Students with Disabilities

PRESENTED BY: Rommel Johnson, Ph.D., LPC, CRC, CAADC, NCC, and Stephanie Picazo, M.S

2 Hours, 2 CRCs

This presentation is based on a recent qualitative study (Summer, 2025) that explored the lived experiences of high school students with disabilities in Southwest Michigan as they navigated their first jobs. It addresses the gap in research that often overlooks the nuanced, personal perspectives of these students during this critical transition period. The study aimed to understand their perceptions, emotional responses, perceived barriers, and supports related to initial work experiences. Furthermore, it investigated how autonomy, competence, and relatedness—central components of self-determination—affected these students as they enter the workforce. Data was collected through semi-structured interviews and focus groups, with a purposeful sample of 10-15 students. Thematic analysis was used to identify patterns and themes related to self-determination. The findings provide in-depth insights into the contextual and interpersonal factors that shape the transition to employment, informing the development of more tailored and practical supports to enhance successful workforce integration for students with disabilities.

Supporting Job Seekers with Criminal Backgrounds

PRESENTED BY: Christa Martin, MRC, CRC

1 Hour, 1 Ethics CRC

This interactive dynamic presentation will guide participants through being able to better support job seekers with various criminal backgrounds. Individuals with disabilities are disproportionally represented in the adult criminal justice and the juvenile justice systems throughout the country, as well as the United State having the highest levels of incarceration in the world. This session will provide tools, resources, and tangible takeaways to assist clients becoming better self-advocates, along with the professionals that serve them being better advocates and allies. Improved self-sufficiency and job retention are key factors in reducing relapses and recidivism, so working to increase positive employment outcomes, combat stigmas, and providing the relevant resources needed are critical for clients with disabilities in overcoming this barrier to employment.

From types of background checks and how to interpret them, to expungements and non-disclosures, to filling out applications and answering interview questions, to felony diversion and federal bonding to the Work Opportunity Tax Credit, they are a plethora of ways to mitigate a criminal history impacting a person’s ability to meet their vocational goals. Through relevant real-world examples, lived experience, and expertise, this session will help you and your clients more effectively market themselves in the workforce and engage transformative employers in the process. We can equip our clients with the tools in the toolbox they need to form a foundation of many successes to come. This timely workshop will end with a facilitated discussion, as we often learn best from one another by sharing best practices and innovative ideas.

The Communication Frequency

PRESENTED BY: Shonda Rushing

1 Hour, 1 CRC

It is often said that it is not what you say, but how you say it. I would argue that what you say is just as important, if not more so. Before words have tone, they hold power. Words are as close to alchemy as we can get, and the spirit realm cannot distinguish between joking and seriousness. Therefore, the words we speak shape the reality we live in.
The incantation “abracadabra” is spoken by a magician before altering reality. It derives from a Hebrew phrase, “Ebri K’dabri,” which means “I create as I speak.” There is a direct connection between what you say and what you experience. If we want to change what we experience, we must first change what we speak.

The Future of Grant & RFP Writing: Leveraging AI Tools for Winning Proposals

PRESENTED BY: Heather Janci

1 Hour, 1 CRC

Struggling with time-consuming grant applications and low RFP success rates? In this session, we’ll explore how IDD organizations can use AI tools to streamline proposal writing, save valuable staff time, and boost your chances of securing critical funding. Whether you’re new to AI or looking to improve your current process, this webinar will equip you with practical tools to stay competitive in an increasingly demanding funding landscape.

The Necessity for Self-Care in Leadership

PRESENTED BY: Shonda Rushing

1 Hour, 1 CRC

This presentation will discuss the importance of self-care in leadership. As a leader, you must not neglect your personal well-being and growth while guiding others. Being a leader does not exempt you from facing real-life challenges. You are in leadership not because you lack obstacles, but because you have successfully navigated the difficult journey of confronting your own mental and emotional conflicts. We will explore how to overcome the pain and disappointments that come with leadership, and how to develop the wisdom to stop the bleeding, allowing you to lead with humility and wholeness.

BOOM is a statewide award ceremony recognizing individuals with a disability who have excelled. The goal of the BOOM Awards is to provide stereotype-busting role models for people with disabilities.

The apex awards recognize outstanding achievement in the following categories: Outstanding Employer, Outstanding Community Partner, Transformational Leadership, and Lifetime Achievement.