
Care Expert Speaker Series Spring 2023
Dispelling Myths: SSI, SSDI and Work
Winnie Siano, CWIC and Work Incentive Coordinator at Work Without Limits
Wednesday March 22, 2023 6-7:30 p.m. - Virtual via Zoom
This webinar will review the basics of disability benefits offered by the Social Security Administration for individuals with disabilities, such as Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI), including eligibility requirements, major differences between the two programs, and the effect of work income on these benefits. We will also review and discuss some of the most common myths associated with working while receiving Social Security and other public benefits. Finally, we will establish that work is possible while receiving disability benefits, and review some of the community resources available to assist individuals to transition to work while successfully managing their benefits.
Register for Dispelling Myths: SSI, SSDI and Work
Questions?
Please feel free to contact Ashleigh Hillier by email: ashleigh_hillier@uml.edu with any questions.
About Winnie Siano
Winnie is certified by the U.S. Social Security Administration as a Community Work Incentive Coordinator (CWIC) assisting individuals with disabilities to view the complex world of their Social Security disability benefits with a better understanding that work is possible. Winnie is also a certified SHINE (Serving the Health Insurance Needs of Everyone) Counselor, assisting Medicare/Medicaid beneficiaries with disabilities to better understand their healthcare options. Under Work Without Limits Benefits Counseling program, Winnie provides individualized benefits and work incentives counseling services to individuals in Massachusetts and New York. Additionally, Winnie develops and conducts training for employment specialists and case managers on how income from work affects eligibility for public benefits. Winnie has over thirty years of experience in the field of health and human services and more ten years of experience providing employment and benefits assistance to individuals with disabilities. Winnie is committed to helping Social Security disability beneficiaries realize their dreams of returning to work and supporting them throughout their journey.
Employment and Education in Neurodiversity Webinar
In collaboration with Neurodiversity Horizons
Wednesday April 5, 2023 6-7 p.m. - Virtual via Zoom
University of Massachusetts Lowell Center for Autism Research and Education (CARE) and Neurodiversity Horizons are collaborating to host an Employment and Education in Neurodiversity Webinar! We are bringing together a panel of neurodiverse advocates to talk about their experiences regarding employment and higher education. Neurodiversity is a rising advocacy, and we encourage everyone to join and learn about making our world more inclusive. Many autistic adults are unemployment or underemployment, including those with a college degree. This is an important problem that we need to fix by battling the stigma against neurodiversity. To learn more about this and make our world a better place, join us on April 5 from 6-7 p.m. EST on Zoom! You will receive the Zoom link when you register for the event.
Employment and Education in Neurodiversity Webinar Registration
Questions?
Please feel free to contact Ashleigh Hillier by email: ashleigh_hillier@uml.edu with any questions.
Building the Road to Successful Supervision: Blueprints, Construction, and Maintenance Schedules
Jill Harper, Ph.D., BCBA-D, LABA, CDE®, Senior Director of Professional Development, Clinical Training, and Research at Melmark New England
Monday April 10, 2023 4:30-6:30 p.m. - Virtual via Zoom
Following a brief review of the Organizational Behavior Management (OBM) literature on systems development, this framework will be applied to the development of effective supervision systems.
Questions?
Please feel free to contact Ashleigh Hillier by email: ashleigh_hillier@uml.edu with any questions.

About Jill Harper
Jill is a director at Melmark New England, a multi-state provider of ABA services for autistic and intellectually or developmentally disabled individuals and their families. She earned her Ph.D. in Psychology from the University of Florida. Her research interests include staff training and interdisciplinary collaboration, neurodevelopmental disabilities, acquisition of daily living and health skills for autistic individuals, and functional analysis and other research methodology. Jill continues to lead Melmark in its mission to enhancing the lives of disabled people through evidence-based behavioral interventions.