Experience Summary
Nicole LeBlanc
1705 East West Highway Apt 705 Silver Spring MD 20910 (802) 505-0253
nleblanc677@gmail.com
Job Objective- To find a position in research or disability policy at the national or international level in the non-profit sector..
HIGHLIGHTS:
Reviewed Curriculum of tools for people with disabilities Advocated for people with disabilities
Researched issues impacting people with disabilities Trained on the use of people first language
Made recommendations to improve healthcare in Vermont Worked with diverse stakeholders
Evaluated tools for people with disabilities Strong research and analytical Skills
Prepared executive summary on healthcare project Facilitated monthly grant meetings
EMPLOYMENT EXPERIENCE:
Association of University Centers on Disability Current
Paul Marchand Public Policy intern.
Contribute articles for weekly disability policy news updates; represent and take notes for AUCD at congressional hearings and Hill briefings; participate on Hill visits to deliver educational materials; work with staff to produce Tuesdays with Liz video policy newsletter; help to write accessible policy briefs for self-advocates, including policy position papers for the new Administration and Congress. Attend and participate in Consortium of Citizens with Disabilities monthly taskforces on social security, long term services and supports, housing, and employment. Advertise breaking news in the field of disability policy by posting short updates on Facebook and Twitter.Research facts on new Administration and other political appointees.. Perform conference preparation tasks that included making name tags, preparing folders and handing out awards during award ceremony. Attended AUCD conference and networking event’s.
Green Mountain Self Advocates (GMSA) Montpelier, VT August 2012-August 2016
Advocacy Director
Legislative advocacy and policy-maker education. With active support for: Union Bill for Independent Direct Support Providers, Respectful Language Bill, Walk With Your Class for Special Education Students, revision to the Vermont Developmental Disabilities Act and the VT Achieve A Better Life Experience (ABLE ACT) bill .
Participation in numerous task forces and advisory boards including: The Vermont State Program Standing Committee for Developmental Services; the Self Determination Alliance; Imagine the Future, a planning process to re-envision developmental services 20 years after the closing of Vermont’s state institution; and a legislatively established study group reviewing care models for developmental services.
Development of accessible training materials including: A Guide to Paying for Think College; and video blogs about Medicaid for Working People with Disabilities, the Pass Plan, and How to apply for Developmental Services.
Public speaking including presentations about self-managed services, money, sexuality, conflict resolution, sheltered workshops, and improving healthcare for people with developmental disabilities.
Project Assistant for Inclusive HealthCare Partnership Project-IHPP. This grant is designed to develop and locate tools to train doctors and other healthcare providers on how to provide high quality accessible healthcare to people with Intellectual & Developmental Disabilities. Duties include researching existing tools, curriculum’s and trainings for self-advocates, parents, healthcare providers and direct support professionals. Other duties include making meeting materials and reports cognitively accessible, as well as preparing self-advocate team members for monthly IHPP meetings.
Statewide Innovations Model HealthCare grant as part of the SIM grant I have written numerous modules for an online training curriculum for Care Coordinators on the following topics: Respectful Language, Presume Competence, Accessibility, Core Values of Disability Culture, Nothing About Us Without Us, and Mandated and Non-Mandated reporting.
VT Achieve a Better Life Experience taskforce member. Provided feedback to the treasurer on the IRS ABLE Act Regulations. Give input into the implementation of the VT ABLE Act. Provide peer mentoring services to adults with disabilities.
Self-Advocates Becoming Empowered (SABE) January 2011-October 2014
Independent Contractor
Co-facilitated five regional summit focus forums for Autism Now
Gathered data on community based employment, level of supports, relationships and core values
Presented on the core values of SABE
Participated in Autism Now webinars
Developed self-advocacy tools and curriculum
Member of the Autism Now advisory committee
Produced Video Blogs for Autism Now website on the topics of healthcare, what is Autism, presuming competence, and closing institutions
Reviewed potential website materials for accessibility and content
Created webinars on self-managed services
Wrote essays for an employment toolkit
Autistic Self-Advocacy Network (ASAN) Spring 2014-Present
Independent Contractor
Edited the guides Let me Vote, Voting on Election Day, and another on voter identification to ensure that they were cognitively accessible to all users
Wrote a guide on Legislative Advocacy.
Presented on National Webinar on Legislative Advocacy and Speaking up at the statehouse.
Presented workshops on the effect of employment on benefits and legislative advocacy at Tennessee Leadership Academy in September 2014.
Administration on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (AIDD)Washington DC Summer 2012
Summer Intern
Researched New Jersey housing and Developmental Disability waiver services and drafted a constituent response letter from the Commissioner.
Participated in the development of AIDD’s contribution to the Administration for Community Living (ACL) newsletter , News U Can Use
Synthesized detailed written documents into shorter, concise use for data analysis.
Assisted in organizing data that was used in an in-depth program analysis.
Conducted research on supported decision making and guardianship for AIDD’s response to the Department of Justice’s testimony to the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee regarding the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities
Presented to the staff on the Administration on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities
Co-Presented a comprehensive review of the Americans with Disabilities Act to the staff of the Department of Health and Human Services’ Administration on Community Living.
KEYNOTE PRESENTATIONS:
People First of Missouri Kansas City, Missouri
Control Your Own Destiny or Someone Else Will July 2013
People First of Alabama Birmingham, Alabama
Control Your Own Destiny or Someone Else Will August 2014
ADDITIONAL EXPERIENCE:
Bernie Sanders Campaign volunteer
As a volunteer for the Sanders campaign I have participated in canvassing by knocking on doors. In addition I have also attended phone banks where I made get out the vote calls to help the campaign see where voters are learning in the 2016 primary election season.
Arc of the United States - Center for Future Planning advisory council.
Attend quarterly conference calls and give feedback on how to make the Center for Future Planning website more accessible. 2015 – Present
Self-Advocates Becoming Empowered (SABE)- Self Advocacy Resource & Technical Assistance Center Advisory Committee member – December 2016 – present . Duties include attending annual face to face meeting, reviewing and rating materials for SARTAC website, creating best practice tools to strengthen self-advocacy, writing papers and providing advice on self-advocacy issues that are important for people with developmental disabilities.
EDUCATION:
University of Vermont Burlington, VT
Continuing Education, Certificate Program Graduated August 2012
Washington Center Summer Internship Program Washington DC Summer 2012
CCV Interpersonal Small Group Communications Course Montpelier, VT Fall 2013
My Hobbies
Baseball, football, hiking, exercising, reading, surfing the net, traveling, keynoting at conferences, ice skating
Other Comments
I very much enjoy working in human services and helping people succeed.