The Center for Employment and Inclusion is a project housed in the Institute for Disability Research, Policy & Practice at Utah State University. The Center provides training and technical assistance on topics related to promoting competitive integrated employment and meaningful inclusion in all aspects of a community.
Faculty and Staff
The Center for Employment and Inclusion:
Current Projects and Trainings:
- Basic ACRE Training
- Workplace Supports Training
- Customized Employment Training
- School to Work Project
- Community-Based Instruction Learning
Tim Riesen, PhD
Division Director of Research and Training
Dr. Riesen is the Division Director of Research and Training at the Institute for Disability Research, Policy, and Practice and research associate professor with an appointment in the Department of Special Education and Rehabilitation at Utah State University. Dr. Riesen has 30 years of experience working with people significant disabilities. He has worked for adult residential programs that support people with autism and intellectual and developmental disabilities, worked as a certified special educator serving 18-21-year-old students with disabilities, and has worked as a researcher and faculty member in institutes of higher education.
Tricia Jones-Parkin
Program Coordinator
Tricia has over 20-years of experience working with people with disabilities. In 2011, Tricia collaborated to craft the Employment First Language for Utah and has focused on capacity building and systems change efforts to increase the number of people employed and included in their local communities. Tricia is the Training Coordinator for the Customized Employment Training and is also the project director for Utah's School to Work Inter-agency Transition Initiative funded by the Administration for the Employment Systems Change grant. She is the co-state lead for Utah's partnership with the Office of Disability Policy's Employment First State Leadership Mentoring Program. Tricia was the recipient of the National Association of Persons Supporting Employment First (APSE) Dave Hammis Award.
Corban Remund, M.Ed
Program Coordinator - ACRE Training
Corban is the project coordinator and lead trainer for the Basic ACRE certification. He has a Masters in Educational Psychology. He has been conducting a variety of trainings for local community rehabilitation providers for over five years.
Hillary Hase
Training/Development Specialist - Workplace Supports Training
Hillary graduated from the University of Utah with an undergraduate degree in Behavioral Science, Family Studies, and Education and a minor in Disability Studies. Hillary has over seven years of experience working in Social Services providing assistance to a wide range of vulnerable populations including at-risk youth, veterans, individuals with disabilities, and individuals transitioning out of homelessness. She most recently worked at the downtown shelter for the Road Home, as their first Employment Specialist in a new pilot program. During her time there she also helped contribute to the "Dignity of Work" program and is a member of the Coalition to End Homelessness. Hillary has a strong background in vocational-related services and is excited to be the new Workplace Supports Coordinator.
Aubrey Snyder
Program Coordinator III
Aubrey graduated from Utah State University with a Bachelor's of Science degree in Political Science and has a Master of Education in Special Education at the University of Utah. Her interests include competitive integrated employment, postsecondary transition, adult services, and community integration. Aubrey is a twin-sibling of a brother with disabilities and has been working professionally in various roles with people with disabilities for over nine years. She is excited to continue her work at the Institute for Research, Policy, & Practice through research, training, and policy.
Kelie Hess
Program Manager - School to Work Project
Kelie Hess has been working with people with disabilities for 14 years. She is currently serving as the Program Manager for the Utah School to Work Project, a statewide system change initiative. This initiative focuses on cross-system collaboration for improving competitive, integrated employment outcomes for transition age youth with high support needs. She is excited to continue this work at the Center for Persons with Disabilities.
Emily Skadorwa
Training and Development Specialist
Emily graduated from Washington State University with a Bachelor of Science in Psychology with a minor in Spanish. She is the sibling of an individual with a disability. She has been working in Disability Policy for about 5 years and advocating for disability rights for her entire life. She recently moved to Utah from Seattle, Washington with her partner.
Emily is the founder of a nonprofit disability advocacy initiative titled "The SEED Project: Setting Expectations of Equity for Disabilities". In the future, she intends to pursue a doctorate in disability disciplines with a focus on competitive integrated employment for everyone.
Katie Emmett
Training/Development Specialist
Katie graduated from Utah State University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Interdisciplinary Studies. She has worked professionally with people with disabilities for over seven years. Her experience includes roles in education, respite, day program services, and job coaching. She is excited to bring her experience to the Institute for Disability, Research, Policy, & Practice.
