Wednesday, March 11, 2015

2015 VOR Annual Conference Featured Speakers: Terry Farmer and Lois Sheaffer

VOR is a national organization that supports individuals with intellectual disabilities (IDD) and their families by advocating for a full range of residential and service options to meet their diverse needs. VOR will be holding its Annual Conference on Sunday, June 7, 2015 in Washington, D.C. See you there!
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(from the VOR Weekly Update)


Terry R. Farmer

Terry R. Farmer, the CEO of ACCSESS, a national organization representing “more than 1,200 disability service providers across the country as the Voice of Disability Service Providers,” will be a featured speaker at VOR’s Annual Conference on Sunday, June 7, 2015 in Washington, D.C.

Terry will speak on “National Disability Policy – Initiatives Impacting Employment Options for Individuals with Significant Disabilities.”

Emerging public policy is affecting the delivery of services and supports currently available to individuals with significant disabilities.  Federal and state programs and community providers are transforming their systems and operations in response to new laws, regulations and administrative actions.  Conference participants will learn how these forces are affecting employment programs for individuals with significant disabilities, and discuss strategies for engaging policy makers in a rapidly changing environment.

About Terry: Throughout his career, Terry has been affiliated with several state and national professional and trade organizations and has been recognized for his academic work and service to the field. His work experience includes direct service provision, behavior analysis (State of Florida Certified), program administration, policy analysis and executive level leadership in the fields of disabilities and human services.  He has administered programs of long-term services and supports, diagnosis and evaluation, community placement of people with severe developmental disabilities and mental illness, and issue advocacy. From 1991-2008, Terry served as the President/CEO of the Florida Association of Rehabilitation Facilities. In 2009, he co-founded Combat Injuries Project, Inc. with a group of veterans, professionals and business executives to serve veterans, especially those with service-connected disabilities, and their families.  He was appointed ACCSES CEO in April, 2011. 


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Lois Sheaffer

Lois Sheaffer will be presenting “Everyone Needs a little REST!” at VOR’s 2015 Annual Conference on Sunday, June 7, 2015 in Washington, D.C.
 

Ms. Sheaffer is the Founder, National Director and Master Trainer of Respite Education & Support Tools (REST). She also serves as the Director of Government Relations and Community Support for Marklund, a Medicaid Intermediate Care Facility for Individuals with Intellectual Disabilities (ICF/IID) in Illinois.
 

REST is a nationally-recognized train-the-trainer program that equips volunteers with the skills needed to support caregivers in their community through respite.
 

Ms. Sheaffer, a Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist, began her career in respite working with individuals who have special needs. As the coordinator of an in-home community respite program she hired, trained, and matched workers with families. She later became active in the Illinois Respite Coalition and served as President of the Coalition for five years. She continues to stay well connected with ARCH [Access to Respite Care and Help] and the National Respite Coalition.
 

Most recently, using the national respite guidelines, she developed REST, a respite training program for volunteers. 

In addition, Ms. Sheaffer, has worked in a variety of settings, including geriatrics, skilled care, and pediatric residential facilities for children and adults with Developmental Disabilities. Lois is a registered lobbyist and currently serves as the Director of Government Relations and Community Support for Marklund.
 

Please plan to attend VOR's Annual Conference and hear Ms. Sheaffer's presentation. Won't you join us? Registration is now open.
 

For complete conference details and a registration form, visit VOR’s Events link on our website.

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