Is Inclusion Enough? Employment for people with disabilites with Heather Hagen

Send us Fan MailThis conversation with Heather couldn't have come at a better time! This episode was recoreded early January 2025 and I'm so happy we had this conversation before everything in the US happened in later January 2025. This is not a time to stop fighting for our rights, fighting for DEI and all of our friends, family and neighbors around the country and the world! Thank you Heather for what you do in the disability world to help people get meaningful jobs in our workforce and throughout our communities! Colorado is doing a dang good job and we all can learn from them!Heather's BioHeather Hagen (she/her) proudly serves as the Assistant Director of Employment Services at Developmental Disabilities Resource Center (DDRC) in Colorado. Like many colleagues, Heather fell into the world of supported employment in 2010 by chance and found a passion for helping people pursue their career goals. Heather has had the privilege of experiencing employment services evolve significantly over the past 10+ years and is enthusiastic about Colorado’s commitment to Employment First! In her work, Heather is especially passionate about developing highly competent Employment Support Professionals who approach their work with a historical understanding of disability services and a passion to cause “good trouble” in pursuit of equity and true inclusion for everyone. A person with invisible disabilities, Heather is a recipient of the Association of People Supporting Employment First (APSE) Wendy M. Wood Emerging Leader award and DDRC’s Charlie Allinson award. Heather seeks to move the needle in the day-to-day work that we do with career seekers, and to ask for big change in state and national policies.Heather enjoys life in the Colorado mountains with her husband, son and two dogs. In her free time, you can find Heather hiking, baking, cross stitching and planning fun vacations with her family!Connect with Heather:LinkedInThis episodes ad break: Join my email list to: get behind the scenes, special videos, book launch date, book tours, discounts, freebies and so much more!www.kateyfortun.com/thebookStay in the loop with the new Different Ability® product I'll be launching!Sign Up Here!Shop new products here!Places you can reach me at:Website:https://kateyfortun.com/https://kateyfortun.com/podcastInstagram:https://www.instagram.com/kateyfortun/https://www.instagram.com/differentabilitypodcast/