2016 Employment First Summit  Trailblazing:  Charting Our Employment Path

A Job You Want Equals the Life You Want

This class is for people with disabilities. It will be interactive. We will be using tools to help identify your goals, preparing for a job, then create an action plan on how to make it happen!

Julie Petty is an accomplished self-advocate from Arkansas and has been a leader in the self-advocacy movement in Arkansas and nationally for several years. In 2011, President Barack Obama appointed Julie to be a member of the President's Committee for People with Intellectual Disabilities and then appointed chairperson in 2014.  She is a 2004 graduate of the University of Arkansas journalism department.  She is the past President of SABE (Self Advocates Becoming Empowered) from 2006-2008. In 1998, she established Arkansas People First and helped it grow statewide.  She has served on boards and advisory councils related to disability policy. Julie has keynoted many national and state conferences to spread the word about self advocacy.  Julie joined the staff at Partners for Inclusive Communities, the Arkansas University Center on Excellence for Disabilities, in August of 2008 where she works on various projects to educate people with disabilities. She is married to Brian Petty and they have 2 sons, Logan and Warren.