Healthy Visions as APSE National Conference Presenters

Nineteen disabled students had the enjoyment of hearing Healthy Visions speakers Tym House and Mike Hertsenberg give a presentation on the theme ‘You are Valuable, Lovable and You matter’ on Sunday June 19th. This presentation was part of the APSE (Association of People Supporting Employment first) National Convention Student Day at the Hilton Cincinnati Netherland Plaza Hotel, which was also sponsored by Project Search. Tym and Mike were asked to present based on the resounding success of in-classroom presentations given to classes with students with disabilities over the past year.

APSE supports Employment First to facilitate the full inclusion of people with disabilities in the workplace and community. They are having their National Convention on June 21 to 23, which had a pre-conference ‘Student Day’ on both Sunday June 19th and Monday June 20th. The Student Day is a unique, two-day program for high school students with disabilities. The program teaches students career strategies and provides hands-on experiences to prepare them for independence and success in the workplace. In order to deliver an engaging and dynamic presentation, Tym and Mike pulled from their experience speaking to several Project Search and Career Based Intervention school programs in Hamilton, Butler, and Warren Counties of South West Ohio over the past year. Tym also was the keynote speaker at Butler Tech’s Career Based Intervention Program 2016 Student of the Year, where he spoke to the 19 students being honored and 200 guests in attendance.

The outstanding success of the presentation is best witnessed by the students own words. An 18 year old male said, “What I learned today is that no one is perfect. So when I get mad at myself for making mistakes I have to just tell myself no one is perfect and I’m OK.” A 22 year old female said, “if you reject everyone with a closed fist, you can never receive the gift that is offered to you. You have to open up your fist, extend yourself to others for them to extend themselves to you.” Evan said “Just what you have on the screen. I am valuable, I matter and I am lovable. Today made me like myself more.” A professor from Bowling Green said, “it (the presentation) was wonderful. I am in awe how these 2 young men created such a safe environment where the students spoke freely about their experiences and what they learned” Two sign-language interpreters thought it was very good, “The two speakers helped so the students wouldn’t get bored hearing one voice. We especially liked the warmth of the two speakers who created such an open and safe session, that the attendees wanted to participate. We liked that when the attendees spoke of obstacles they overcame, the two speakers and the attendees applauded them for their courage and bravery and for sharing their stories.”

To schedule a presentation for your students with disabilities, contact Carole Adlard, Healthy Visions 513-793- 7268 or text 513-484- 1506 or 

ca****@he************.org