Events
Inclusion & Support Services Speaker Series - Supported Employment and Post-Secondary Support Programs with Adam Kubler from The Arc of New Jersey Project HIRE, Josh Bornstein from Project SEARCH and Lauren Merrit from College Steps
Tuesday, April 6, 2021
7:30 pm - 8:30 pm
Virtual EventLearn about post-secondary vocational training and a supported college program opportunities for people with disabilities.
This program is sponsored by Freeman Law Offices, LLC.
Adam Kubler, director of the Arc of New Jersey's supported employment program, Project HIRE, brings over a decade of vocational rehabilitation experience to the agency. Mr. Kubler manages day-to-day operations while simultaneously planning for the future of the program according to industry standards and trends. These factors contribute to the continued success of Project HIRE, which is the largest and oldest provider of supported employment services in New Jersey. Mr. Kubler is proud of the agency he directs and is always eager to seek out new opportunities to enhance services for participants served. He embraces technology as a way to improve outcomes for participants and maximize efficiency for Project HIRE staff members which leads to even more direct services provided to New Jersey constituents. True to the mission of the Arc of New Jersey, the director of Project HIRE aims to be a source of information and guidance for anyone interested in learning more about the ever changing field of supported employment and how best individuals can navigate the various supports and services that exist to help those living with disabilities in obtaining and maintaining competitive employment.
Josh Bornstein has been a tireless advocate for the special needs community for almost 20 years. He currently serves as the Director of Special Projects at the Union County Educational Services Commission — a public, special services school district based in Westfield, New Jersey. Josh was instrumental in establishing the first ever Project SEARCH program in New Jersey at Overlook Medical Center in 2016. He also created UCESC’s Work Readiness Academy, a well-respected transition program focused on employment readiness that serves youth with disabilities ages 18-21. Josh has partnered with more than 25 businesses across New Jersey to create work-learning experiences for young people with disabilities including Summit Medical Group, Atlantic Health System, Kean University, Hilton Hotels, RWJ Barnabas Health, as well as countless small businesses. He is originally from Boston, Massachusetts where he earned his Master’s Degree in Special Education from UMass Boston’s Institute for Community Inclusion. He taught special education for ten years and earned his New Jersey Principal certification in 2016. Josh is also certified as an Employment Support Professional by Association of People Supporting Employment First.
Lauren Merritt is Chief Operating Officer and a founding member of College Steps and has overseen the growth of College Steps partnerships from a single college program in Vermont to a comprehensive model featuring partnership sites throughout the northeast and Mid-Atlantic States. Lauren is identified as a national leader in post-secondary education for individuals living with disabilities. Lauren’s professional memberships include the Post-Secondary Education Consortium, Autism Advisory Council for Connecticut, New York, Vermont and Massachusetts (Chairperson), Ability Now (Chairperson), Waitsfield Children’s Center (Board of Directors), Green Mountain United Way (Board of Directors), Autism Speaks, and Connecticut Association on Higher Education and Disability.
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