The Fort Atkinson Club, in collaboration with Paragon Community Services, will be holding an “informative talk” as part of its FACTalk series focusing on “the significant relationship between employers and individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities,” according to a recent release.
Within the release, the sponsoring organizations encourage business owners and members of their human resources staff to attend the presentation, citing its goal as educating businesses and employees about Paragon’s “innovative job coaching solutions, which can help bridge the gap and promote inclusivity in the workforce.”
The release further describes work undertaken in the field by Paragon Community Services and the Wisconsin Division of Vocational Rehabilitation, as “groundbreaking,” and offering an ability to “transform employment opportunities for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities.”
Kristine Leipold Leonard, who is described within the release as “a highly experienced professional with over 40 years of expertise in working with individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities, will lead the discussion.
According to the release, Leonard served as a special education teacher for 33 years within the Jefferson and Watertown school districts. During her tenure, she received the Herb Kohl Teacher Fellowship Award. She also has served as a respite and foster care provider, and has been responsible for the development of special education materials for Nasco’s special education department. She has led social clubs for adults with disabilities.
Following her career in education, Leonard next entered the “adult services world,” the release noted, where she worked at Watertown-based Bethesda, a nonprofit provider of home services, residential support, and short-term care, overseeing day programs, employment services, and college programs for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
Leonard is an employee of MyPath and Paragon Community Services.
The talk will be held at the Fort Atkinson Club community center, 211 S. Water St., E., Fort Atkinson, Wednesday, May 8, at 7 p.m.
The event is free and open to the public.
For more information about this, and other events held by the club, contact the organization by email: info@fortatkinsonclub.org.
Additional information, including “saving a seat” for the upcoming FACTalk, may be found by visiting the following link: https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/ev/reg/2yesp3p/lp/afef1911-c387-46c6-a08d-e59e6e246e06.
Kristine Leipold Leonard
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