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MASWM Fall Conference: Jam-Packed Event for Missouri Workshops

(This article has been updated as of Oct. 8 with PowerPoint presentations, photos and videos, including several linked items in our password protected Resource Library.)

Over 80 workshop representatives enjoyed one of the most information-rich conferences ever, with topics from critical national issues threatening workshops to practical advice on shop fundraising and marketing.

Held at the Oasis Hotel and Convention Center in Springfield, Sept. 29-Oct. 1, the event began with a reception Sunday night hosted by Dave Dunn, manager of SWI Industrial Solutions in Springfield.

Starting with Monday morning’s Board of Directors meeting, the conference focused extensively on workshop challenges, including some that threaten their existence nationally, like a Department of Labor regulation change or attacks on extended employment. On the positive side was an upcoming $2-milllion grant program announced by legislative consultant Lynne Schlosser and DESE Workshop Division Director Dan Gier.

Legislative Chair Kit Brewer presented information on expected DOL changes and efforts by the Coalition for the Preservation of Employment Choice to blunt such moves.

“There’s a lot up in the air,” Brewer said. “All of these things are swirling around…and seem focused on placing additional restrictions on our programs.” Both he and Advocacy Chair Heather Pugh stressed the need for workshops, parents and guardians to be prepared for submitting public comments quickly when details are announced. “Numbers will matter,” Brewer said. He also noted that federal legislators are home on recess now through much of October.

Both Pugh and Katie Jones cited the success of liaison efforts with the Missouri Developmental Disabilities Council and the Governor’s Council on Disability. The results are not all positive, but increased communication is helping in several areas.

Practical and Informative

Keynote speaker Dr. John Bruno provided an information-packed presentation on autism and how best to help employees who are on the spectrum. He noted that dealing with individuals who have autism can be extremely frustrating without knowing things like the sources of bad behavior.

“When you focus on their behavior, you’ve stopped trying to solve the problem,” he explained. “If you know why they are doing things, it’s much easier to address the causes.”

Bruno presented in-depth information on how autism affects individuals and why it impacts behavior so dramatically. “It’s a communication issue,” he explained. “Those affected don’t process information the way others do.” He said that people with autism can be isolated in profound ways, and as a result they are often in a state of anxiety, even near panic. Solutions can include simply explaining things that others take for granted.

With over 30 years in education, consulting and research, Bruno recalled one man he helped who greeted everyone he encountered, even when they were busy or simply passing by. This often led to confusion and, for the man, hurt feelings when the responses weren’t as expected. Bruno addressed the problem by telling the man to wait for others to make eye contact as a sign they were receptive to a greeting. This simple tip helped the man end a lifelong pattern of frustration.

“We changed an old habit just by telling him to look for the eyes,” Bruno recalled. “It was dramatic.”

DOL Details

Department of Labor Investigators Lindsey Corona and Erica Simon presented insight into their work with workshops on Section 14(c) compliance and certifications. If there was an overall theme, it was to always keep records.

“There’s no such thing as too many details,” Simon said. “You have to think about everything they’re doing, the skills they are using and the equipment.”

Corona noted that frequent issues occur in areas such as time studies where dissimilar people or jobs are compared or detail is lacking. “Task analysis is a lot like a recipe,” she said. “It must be extremely detailed.”

Corona cited a description of making a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. Someone suggested starting the description by “putting jelly on bread,” so Corona placed a jar of jelly on top of a loaf of bread. While that was obviously wrong, it “followed” the description as written. She said many job descriptions for DOL often fall into the same trap with oversimplification and vague assumptions.

“You must be so detailed,” she said. “You must talk about what the staff has to do and what the employee has to do.”

Breakout Sessions

Another highlight to the conference involved nine breakout sessions on social media and websites led by board member Kimbal Mothershead; grant writing by Vicky James of Lafayette Industries; fundraising, awareness and community events with board member Charlie Fischer; strategic planning and/or objectives with Rob Libera; hiring led by EMPAC human resources director Rachael Shaffer; succession planning with DESE Dan Gier and retired manager Ginger Williams; advocacy letter writing by Mike Macauley of Heartland Industries; starting your A-Team by MASWM Secretary Natalie Couch; and crafting your advocacy elevator speech by parent advocate Tammy Flores.

These short but intense sessions were repeated so that everyone had an opportunity to attend all of them. Several featured lively dialogue between managers and staff who shared their ideas and expanded on strategies presented by the volunteer leaders.

MAM

Executive Director Michael Eaton of the Missouri Association of Manufacturers (MAM) had a simple message: There are 8,000 manufacturing operations in Missouri, and there’s likely to be one or more near a workshop that needs work.

“They desperately need you all,” Eaton said. “That’s a target-rich environment for you.”

In 2022, MASWM joined Missouri Lt. Gov. Mike Kehoe, leaders of the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education and the Missouri Association of Manufacturers, along with “Buy Missouri,” to sign a Memorandum of Collaboration (MOC) formalizing a partnership between the organizations.

Eaton said almost every manufacturer needs help from reliable, high-quality outsourcing services like packaging. For the most part, these are not huge corporations. Seventy-five percent of these 8,000 business have 25 or fewer employees. A surprising number are also located in small, rural communities.

He recommended that workshops contact leaders of these businesses and introduce themselves, offering help if needed. Many manufacturing operations have tours and other events open to the public that are great networking opportunities. He also said that MAM holds two major events annually, a trade show and conference, plus an environment and safety meeting.

He also offered to help. “Give me a call if you’re struggling to attend,” he said. “And we’re really open to ideas.”

National Focus

Tuesday’s conference events began with a Zoom dialogue by leaders of the Coalition for the Preservation of Employment Choice, a national organization focused on protecting Section 14(c). MASWM’s legislative chair Kit Brewer serves as vice president of the group and led the conversation with Craig Lean of K&L Gates, the coalition’s legislative consultant; Hugo Dwyer, director of the Voice of Reason; and coalition president Colleen Stuart.

The coalition is the major national group working to protect workshops and similar organizations from increasing attacks. Among many initiatives, they are tracking rumored plans by the Department of Labor to change regulations for 14(c) certification with a possible goal of phasing out the program entirely. The coalition has formally requested documents associated with this topic and generally made it clear the decision is being monitored, and possible legal action may follow any decisions considered illegal or unconstitutional.

“This is extraordinarily important,” Lean said, noting 14(c) opponents often believe everyone with a disability can be served by community integrated employment. “On every front, we’re doing everything we can to defend 14(c).” Along with DOL, coalition efforts have also focused on the Department of Justice and the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights.

Stuart leads a Pennsylvania organization that has seen firsthand what happens when workshops are forced to close in the name of “community integration.”

“I had individuals who looked at me and said, ‘You’re breaking up my family.’” she recalled. “Only one person found employment. That’s an example of what happens when you have to shut down a workshop.”

All the panel members stressed that a major step everyone should take involves preparing for an intense letter-writing campaign in advance. Dwyer shared recent action by two Arkansas senators who issued statements strongly supporting 14(c). “Did they do that because they wanted to?” he asked. “No. They did that because the people of Arkansas responded.”

Former MASWM President Bruce Young, Columbia, regularly joins the bimonthly meetings and recommends all managers listen in. “I really want to urge other managers to tune in,” Young said. “They are doing so much; we’ve got to participate. Just attend one meeting and you’ll see.”

A video of the coalition roundtable is now available on the Fall Conference page in our password-protected Resource Library

Advocacy

Advocacy Chair Heather Pugh followed with a reminder that the committee and its sister organization A-Team Missouri are growing. She acknowledged that building advocacy groups with employees, parents and guardians is not easy.

“I know it’s hard to get there, but you need to be there,” she said. “The 5,000 people who work in our shops need you.”

She urged managers to join the monthly, 30-minute Zoom meetings held by A-Team Missouri, which this month is focusing on National Disability Employment Awareness Month, NDEAM. The meetings are held the last Wednesday of each month.

MACDDS

Executive Director Nancy Pennington of the Missouri Association of County Developmental Disabilities Services (MACDDS) addressed the group with candid comments on workshop and SB-40 board relations. She noted a few workshops and SB-40 boards have experienced issues that may have contributed to termination of workshop services in a small number Missouri counties.

Pennington earned applause by recommending a solution: better communications. “The more we can engage with each other the better,” she said.

MASWM President Tim Poepsel said that managers should invite SB-40 board members into their shops for tours. “If they haven’t been in there, they don’t know what we do,” he said. “Make those opportunities happen.”

And Still More

As proof of the conference’s deep agenda, even all of this was only some of the topics. Other highlights included DESE Dan Gier and Past President Rob Libera presenting information on Missouri Neighborhood Assistance Program (NAP) grants. Gier said workshop applications are always funded within a cycle or two. The next round of grants has a deadline of March 30, 2025. Grants need to focus on specific projects like a new building or addition, a new program or expansion. The two suggested reviewing past grant recipients for ideas.

Missouri legislative consultant Lynne Schlosser said she is expecting a more functional Senate, and hopefully a more productive legislative session in 2025 compared to recent years. Workshop funding was maintained in the budget and no cuts are expected next year. She also introduced a new grant program for workshops which was established to assist workshops wanting to offer skills training, and/or for workshops looking to differentiate or modify product lines or the goods and services they currently offer along with infrastructure needs for them to do so. DESE is currently working on the grant applications, guidelines and eligibility. MASWM will disseminate the information, application and process to apply once it is finalized.

A particularly notable session included four special education teachers from the Springfield School District who have developed a simulated workshop classroom in cooperation with the Springfield workshop. Springfield workshop Executive Director David Dunn said the effort has helped students prepare for employment after high school.

One of the educators put it in human terms. “They’re seniors so they’re not too excited about anything, but that changes in this class,” she said. “They are proud, they are excited. We see things we haven’t seen for years.” She added that other school districts are hoping to mirror the program.