Posted on October 27, 2022

By Mary Kay Rizzolo, CQL President & CEO

Earlier this month we held our 2022 CQL Conference: Lightbulb Moments. It was a huge undertaking for us at CQL, since it was offered as both a traditional in-person event as well as a fully hybrid conference with all sessions being livestreamed via Zoom Events. And we couldn’t be happier with how it went!

Over the course of a few days, hundreds of attendees – both in-person and virtual – learned relevant, practical, and applicable information while discovering new resources to improve supports and services. Through the expertise of nearly 60 presenters, including 6 keynote addresses and 27 breakout sessions, participants were able to experience so many lightbulb moments that illuminate the very best in human services. There was also networking among attendees, opportunities to learn about the latest tools and offerings from sponsors and exhibitors, and our coveted Awards of Excellence recipients who embody cutting-edge practices in the disability services sector.

CQL Staff Share Their Lightbulb Moments

While it would be impossible to capture them all in a Capstone article, we wanted to share a handful of these lightbulb moments with you. We asked CQL staff to pass along just some of their takeaways after the conference. From the keynotes, to the breakouts, to the awards recipients, the information, resources, and links below can hopefully provide some inspiration you can use at your organization!

Creating A Person-Centered Culture

By Rebecca Kasey, CQL Director of Special Projects

During their presentation ‘Changing A Company Culture – A Collection Of Light Bulb Moments,’ Susan Arwood and Nick Filarelli discussed thinking of person-centered culture across the entire organization including all people receiving services, their families and employees. The lightbulb moment came when Susan and Nick discussed the ways that person-centered employment can result in better retention and less turnover, because the organization understands that the employees are people that need support, understanding, and tools to succeed.

Demonstrating Excellence

By Gretchen Block, CQL Director of Partner Engagement

Maybe not a lightbulb moment so much as many moments of inspiration and admiration – having the opportunity to celebrate with our award winners during the conference was wonderful. They did not let the pandemic nor staffing shortages stop them from making plans and dreams come true. They knew people could not and should not have to wait. They turned the lightbulb on and kept it shining. They supported one another, celebrated one another, and most importantly, listened to the people that chose them as their provider. They are truly heroes.

My hope is that they always keep their light shining brightly so everyone can see them, learn from their success and be inspired to create some magic of their own! You can read more about them here:

• ADAPT Community Network
• Briggs & Associates
• Dr. Syard Evans – Arkansas Support Network
• Miranda Kelley – Emory Valley Center
• Trinity Services, Inc.
• Susan Arwood – Core Services of Northeast Tennessee

“Disability Is Diversity”

By Brandon Jerla, CQL Quality Enhancement Specialist

In ‘Disability Ally Initiative (DAI)’ Nisha Tumber and Nicole DelPrete of Person Centered Care Services talked about advocacy and strengthening community learning and connections through education. There was so much positive discussion about workplace diversity, but specifically, a quote that stuck with me was “Disability is Diversity”. Typically, when it comes to workplace education, equity, diversity, and inclusion (ED&I) efforts are focused on ethnicity, gender, and sexuality, not necessarily disabilities, but it can be extremely powerful and educational if this is included in ED&I education. As we strive for continued social justice, disability demands to be included in these conversations. Educating our communities and helping them become more aware of people with developmental disabilities (DD) is all about building a rapport – seeing people with DD as equals who may just need a chance.

An App For Person-Centered Planning

By Barney Hubert, CQL Quality Enhancement Specialist

In her presentation titled ‘Renew the Promise of Person-Centered Planning Through Technology,’ Anne Ward from High Tide Press presented information on a person-centered planning app called “My Plan to Flourish.” The planning tool, which is rooted in “positive psychology,” is values-based, in the possession of the person, outlines clear, meaningful, and achievable goals, is separate from the person’s record, and is revisited and updated frequently. The plan includes a positive personal profile of the person and outlines goals for the future that include short-term, mid-range, and long-term goals, as well as goals recommended for the person by others.

Make Moments Memorable

By Rebecca Kasey, CQL Director of Special Projects

In their breakout presentation, Stephanie Behlke Leigh and Pam Van Hess of Trinity Services, Inc. discussed making moments memorable and cemented this by dressing up as Elvis during a video and surprising the group. Throughout the conference and around Las Vegas, whenever I saw or heard Elvis, I thought about this presentation and ways to present information with memorable moments.

Outcomes-Based Models

By Tricia Wek Visker, CQL Quality Enhancement Specialist

The 2022 CQL Conference was filled with many remarkable “Lightbulb Moments.” Keynote speaker Thomas Pomeranz, in his session titled ‘Supported Routines – Best Practice Strategies for a Fulfilling Life,’ shined a particularly bright historical light, as he reflected on the evolutionary journey of our profession embracing outcomes-based models.

R-E-S-P-E-C-T

By Michael Clausen, CQL Director of Personal Outcomes

I had the opportunity to attend a breakout session from Blue Tower Solutions, Inc., presented by Jesus Chuy Campuzano, Leanne Mull, and Tavarus Wesley, “It Starts By Saying Hi!” This session inspired and delivered powerful messages from people with lived experience about racism, ableism, and discrimination. The message, respect, was impossible to ignore and further emphasized through stories and the entire group dancing at one point to R-E-S-P-E-C-T by Aretha Franklin. My lightbulb moment from this presentation is that whether or not you have lived experience with racism, ableism, or discrimination, we all share in the obligation to create a world that is more equal and welcoming for ALL people.

The Importance of Succession Planning

By Rebecca Kasey, CQL Director of Special Projects

Lucy Klym of Opportunities for Positive Growth, Inc. provided a lightbulb moment during her session focused on how succession planning should not just be about key leadership positions but should encompass all positions that can affect the quality of services for people. From Direct Support Professionals to Chief Executive Officers, organizations should constantly be focusing on succession planning, sharing information to improve continuity of services, and minimizing the effect turnover has on a person’s services.

Combatting Deep-Seeded Social Bias And Injustices

By Kristen Heichel, CQL Quality Enhancement Specialist

In his keynote, Max Barrows spoke about the intersectionality of ableism and racism. During the session, Mr. Barrows used the presentation platform Mentimeter to gather real-time responses from conference attendees – in-person and virtual – regarding how organizations can combat deep-seeded social bias and injustices. The seemingly hundreds of responses read aloud and posted on the big screens were a very powerful display of the shared journey for equality and advocacy. I felt so connected and humbled to be part of such a profound group and enlightening moment.

Supporting Independence Through Technology

By Barney Hubert, CQL Quality Enhancement Specialist

In their presentation ‘Technology as a Natural Support,’ Crystal Hicks and Miranda Kelley from the Emory Valley Center in Tennessee shared practical information about how to promote opportunities for increased independence for people using technology. Their presentation included several success stories involving people they support resulting in reduced supervision at home and at work, as well as techniques they’ve used to encourage buy-in from Direct Support Professionals and approaches they’ve used to promote acceptance of the use of technology to promote independence from protective family members.

“A” For Accessibility

By Leanne Mull, CQL Quality Enhancement Specialist

Presenter Marlia Fontaine-Weisse, in her breakout session titled ‘Sparking Support For Your Diversity, Equity, And Inclusion (DEI) Initiatives’ mentioned the importance of including an “A” for accessibility when talking about DEI. I started from that moment on including an “A” in my mind and in my writing.

Steps To Person-Centered Outcomes

By Lucy Klym, CQL Quality Enhancement Specialist

One of my lightbulb moments was from the breakout session titled ‘Evidence-Informed, Data-Driven Best Practices For Person-Centered Supports In HCBS,’ presented by Lindsay DuBois and Tonie Sadler of Shirley Ryan AbilityLab and Bevin Croft of the Human Services Research Institute (HSRI). Person-centeredness is something we talk about a great deal, but the session shared steps to follow as person-centered policies lead to person-centered planning, which leads to person-centered training, which leads to person-centered practices and implementation, and then ultimately leads to person-centered outcomes. This was presented as a workflow, but I found myself thinking different people, different services, and different departments fall on the chart at different times and these steps break it down as to where to go to next, when you’re stuck.

Putting The Personal Outcome Measures® Into Action

By Rebecca Kasey, CQL Director of Special Projects

Presenters Ryan Orcutt and Jon Opgrand from CHI Friendship demonstrated how if you conduct Personal Outcome Measures® Interviews and do not use the information, then all that is there is a flat document that has no momentum for change. Once the information starts moving with the person, then it can actually lead to changes to services.

Thank You For A Wonderful Event!

By Mary Kay Rizzolo, President & CEO, CQL

We’re so grateful to all of the conference attendees, presenters, sponsors, exhibitors, and more for making the event such a great experience. And even if you couldn’t join us at the conference, hopefully the information, tips, and links included in this Capstone offer some new ideas and inspiration to help you in your work! We look forward to seeing you at future CQL events!