CSDE-RESC Alliance Introduction to Customized Employment in CT
2025-26 Introduction to Customized Employment in CT
The Connecticut State Department of Education (CSDE), in collaboration with the RESC Alliance, is sponsoring an Introduction to Customized Employment (CE) in CT training for special education teachers, providers, and administrators working with transition-age students with disabilities. These sessions are designed to increase capacity and a shared understanding of the CE process in CT, which may lead to competitive integrated employment, for students with the most significant disabilities. Participants will understand the components of CE (e.g., Foundational Knowledge, Job Discovery, Job Development, Post-Employment Support), become familiar with the job discovery process, and learn how special education transition services and activities, as identified on a student’s IEP, could be aligned to and support CE job discovery activities.
This interactive and engaging virtual training is scheduled from 9:00am to 2:00pm (two 2-hour sessions, with a break for lunch). Optional asynchronous activities are also available to participants interested in learning more about CE.
This training is free, virtual, and hosted through Zoom. All materials will be made available in Canvas, a learning management system. Information about Canvas will be sent after you are registered.
| Virtual Session Date/Registration Link | Time | RESC |
|---|---|---|
| Session 1: Thursday, January 22, 2026 | 9:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. | LEARN/ACES |
| Session 2: Tuesday, March 10, 2026 | 9:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. | LEARN/EdAdvance |
“Customized Employment means competitive integrated employment, for an individual with a significant disability, that is:
- based on an individualized determination of the unique strengths, needs, and interests of the individual with a significant disability;
- designed to meet the specific abilities of the individual with a significant disability and the business needs of the employer;
- and carried out through flexible strategies."
[34 Code of Federal Regulations §361.5(c)(11)]
For content questions, please contact one of the RESC CE Trainers:
ACES: Christine Peralta – cperalta@aces.org or (203) 407-4420
CREC: Claudia Provenzano – cprovenzano@crec.org or (860) 839-4513
EASTCONN: Rose Jaffery – rjaffery@eastconn.org or (860) 576-2537
EdAdvance: Sheri Staranchak – staranchak@edadvance.org or (860) 480-2223
LEARN: Tim Doyle – tdoyle@learn.k12.ct.us or (860) 237-7727
For difficulty with Protraxx registration, Canvas, or ZOOM, please email:
registration@aces.org.
(Use #CT.IntroToCE in the subject line).