Key Note Speakers Announced

Presentation:  

Competitive Integrated Employment: "If Not Now, When? If Not Us Who?" 

 Paul Wehman, Ph.D. is the Founding Editor of the Journal of Vocational Rehabilitation. His background is highly interdisciplinary and he is internationally known for his pioneering work in the beginning of supported employment in 1980, a rehabilitation intervention strategy that has facilitated millions of persons with neurodevelopmental disabilities, brain injury, mental illness, and spinal cord injury in countries all over the world to gain competitive employment for the first time. Dr. Wehman holds his primary position as a Professor in the Department of Special Education at Virginia Commonwealth University with a joint position in the Department of Rehabilitation Counseling and has a secondary appointment in the Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation in the School of Medicine.  He has researched, written, instructed and presented extensively on issues related to the transition from school to adulthood and special education as it relates to young adulthood.  He has published more than 220 articles, 131 book chapters, and authored or edited 43 books. 

In 2018, Dr. Wehman received the Distinguished University Research Award representing the School of Medicine.  He has been the recipient of the 2017 Leader of the Year Award from the Virginia Division of Career Development and Transition.  In 2014, Dr. Wehman was named the recipient of the  Princeton Lecture Series Fellowship through Eden Autism Services  Past honors include the Joseph P. Kennedy Jr.-Foundation International Award in Mental Retardation, Mary Switzer Fellow for the National Rehabilitation Association in 1985, and the Distinguished Service Award from the President's Committee on Employment for Persons with Disabilities in October 1992.  Dr. Wehman received the VCU Distinguished Service Award in 2001 and was recognized as one of the 50 most influential special educators of the millennium by a national survey coordinated by the Remedial and Special Education journal (December 2000).   

To learn more about Dr. Wehman you can visit: https://vcurrtc.org/about/bio.cfm?id=48

Presentation:  

A Journey through Postsecondary Employment Training 

Hello! My name is Shelbi Davenport. I was blessed with being told “NO” early on in my education. Doctors, counselors, and well-meaning teachers set the stage for me to overcome any obstacle in my path. Due to that simple word, I determined to be who I dreamed of being and fight to fulfill those dreams. After many struggles and victories, I graduated from Texas A&M University. My degree is University Studies with an emphasis in Ag Leadership. I minored in Communication and Youth Development. Being awarded the first Peer-to-Peer training certification in Texas on February 5th of 2017 was one of my greatest achievements. My passion is to change lives by teaching them to advocate for themselves and to dream big! I also desire to advocate for them and be the voice they cannot be. Envisioning a world where many more can feel safe, secure, and important keeps me striving toward my new goals. Since graduating, my leadership skills have been used in many areas and opportunities are arising right before my eyes. My first full time employment was one of those areas. I was hired as a Program Assistant for the HOPS (Horticulture Options in Plant Sciences) Program. HOPS is a one-year certification program that allows adults with disabilities the opportunity to be trained, educated and employed in the horticulture industry. Another major opportunity was when I debuted my very own “Shelbi Show” in early May 2022. This show is a dream of mine to be able to provide encouragement, support and hope to any and every one that faces difficulties. As it continues, I will be able to share my story, as well others. I will also be interviewing and show casing people from all over the nation that are involved in supporting and advocating for those with lived experiences. 

For Lora Brugnaro the physically and cognitively restricting cerebral palsy she acquired at birth

is an integral part of who she is, how she thinks, feels and lives. Living in a world that is not built

for, or considerate of her differing needs is second nature to her. Driven by a desire to be part of

her larger world she learned how to adapt and compromise at an early age; skills that she used

to build an independent, completely integrated and good life in a big city. She has been

employed since 18, mostly in human services; working in various direct service positions for

community organizations and the state. She dabbled in system change work for few years but

she excelled in 1 to 1 service to others. The theme of her career has been to improve the quality

of life of people with disabilities through supporting people in gaining maximum independence.

She currently works at Boston Medical Center with the older homeless population providing

stabilization services.

She lives through grit, humor, social acumen, and doing everything a little differently with a

winning smile. Her disability demands that she find alternatives in order to live in the main

stream and tries to ease the discomfort and discrimination that exists by sharing her experience

and wisdom. She has spoken at national conferences such as The American Association of

People with Disabilities and APSE and has been a contributing author for several Institute for

Community Inclusion guides on employment and disability. Her advocacy extends to the

classroom where she has spoken to classes of Northeastern, Boston College and Mass General

Institute students about accessibility and the experience of living with CP. She has been

recognized by the NE England Patriots Community MVP Award for her volunteerism and has

received multiple citations and awards for her dedicated work advocating for the people she

serves in her community. She has been on several boards including, Shriver’s Center, Mass

Council on Developmental Disabilities, Department of Mental Health Advisory Committee, and is

a founding member of Con Razon, a non-profit supporting children, elderly and people with

disabilities in Cuba. She writes poetry when the inspiration strikes and has a manuscript called

A Child’s Fire Escape, about the struggle to come to terms with living in world that does not

understand disability. Her passions include Assistive Technology and her work with MIT

students on co-design, travel, a horse named. Lola, North End lobster tail pastries and people

who keep up with her curious and sometimes mysterious popcorn mind.

BS, Cornell University; MSW, Rutgers University

David Hoff provides training and technical assistance on inclusion of people with disabilities into mainstream society to public systems, service providers, educators, individuals, and families. A primary focus of his work is on employment and economic inclusion, with related work on access to transportation. David has expertise on a wide variety of practitioner issues, with a particular interest in the impact of public policy on service practices and the lives of individuals. Much of his published writing is focused on presenting information in a way that is easily accessible and can be readily applied by service providers, individuals, and families.