Wendy Strobel Gower

Overview

Wendy Strobel Gower is a project director at the Yang Tan Institute. She leads the Northeast ADA Center, the Diversity Partners Project, and fee for service work to educate managers and supervisors about including people with disabilities. Wendy holds a Master’s degree in Rehabilitation Counseling from the Medical College of Virginia at Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU). She has worked extensively in the application and training of issues around employment and reasonable accommodation in the workplace for people with disabilities. She has gained valuable experience in project management and project direction over the past ten years. Other areas of interest include person centered planning philosophy and tools, disability legislation and its impact on services, and the identification and accommodation of the functional limitations of disabilities across the lifespan.

Teaching Statement

Wendy occasionally lectures in disability and employment related courses.

Research Statement

Wendy is interested in understanding how to support culture change in organizations as it relates to people with disabilities.

Service Statement

Wendy provides training on the application of disability rights laws and employment of people with disabilities around the country on a regular basis.

Outreach Statement

Wendy Strobel Gower is an Extension Associate at Cornell University''s K. Lisa Yang and Hock E. Tan Employment and Disability Institute in the School of Industrial and Labor Relations. She currently leads a diverse team of professionals in the development and testing of innovative approaches to culture change in organizations as it relates to inclusion of people with disabilities. Wendy is the project director for the Northeast ADA Center and the Diversity Partners Project, both of which are funded by the National Institute for Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research. Wendy holds a Master’s degree in Rehabilitation Counseling from the Medical College of Virginia at Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU). She has worked extensively in application, training, and materials development for diversity and inclusion, employment of people with disabilities, and accommodation in schools and the workplace for people with disabilities.

Publications

Journal Articles

• Hannah H Rudstam, Margo Hittleman, Sukyeong Pi, Wendy Strobel. . Bridging the Knowing—Doing Gap: Researching a New Approach to Disability & Employment Programming, Journal of Vocational Rehabilitation .
• Carolina Harris, Ellice Switzer, Wendy Strobel, . . The Diversity Partners Project: Multi-Systemic Knowledge Translation and Business Engagement Strategies to Improve Employment of People with Disabilities, Journal of Vocational Rehabilitation . 46(3).
• Carolina Harris, Ellice Switzer, Wendy Strobel. 2017. The Diversity Partners Project: Multi-Systemic Knowledge Translation and Business Engagement Strategies to Improve Employment of People with Disabilities., Journal of Vocational Rehabilitation . 46(3):273-285. (DOI:10.3233/JVR-170862)
• Hannah H Rudstam, Thomas P Golden, Wendy Strobel, Ellice Switzer, Susanne Marie Bruyere, Sara VanLooy. 2014. Leveraging new rules to advance new opportunities: Implications of the Rehabilitation Act Section 503 new rules for employment service providers. , . 41(3):193-208.
• Hannah H Rudstam, Thomas P Golden, Wendy Strobel, Ellice Switzer, Susanne Marie Bruyere, Sara VanLooy. 2014. Leveraging new rules to advance new opportunities: Implications of the Rehabilitation Act Section 503 new rules for employment service providers, Journal of Vocational Rehabilitation . 41:193-208. (DOI:10.3233/JVR-140713)
• Hannah H Rudstam, Wendy Strobel, LaWanda Cook. 2012. Beyond Yellow Ribbons: Are Employers Prepared to Hire, Accommodate and Retain Returning Veterans with Disabilities., Journal of Vocational Rehabilitation . 36(2):87-95.

Book Chapters

• Wendy Strobel, Hannah H Rudstam, Judith Young. 2014. Job Development: Elements of Professional Practice. in Career Development, Employment and Disability: From Theory to Practice. New York, NY, United States: Springer Publishing Company, 2014. D. Strauser.
• Wendy Strobel, C. Oddo. 2009. Assistive technology and transitition. in Transition IEPs: A curriculum guide for teachers and transition practictioners. Austin, TX, United States: Pro-ed, 2009. Paul Wehman and Katherine Mullaney Wittig. (113-125)

Professional Activities

• Non-Obvious Disabilities at Work: Best Practices. Presented to TXPelra. Texas. 2017.
• Implementing Section 503. Presented to ADA National Network. Denver, CO. 2016.
• Invisible Disabilities. Presented to ADA National Network. Denver, CO. 2016.
• What does culture have to do with it? Tools to increase disability disclosure and inclusion. Presented to AAAED. Washington, DC. 2016.
• NIDILRR Employee Grantees Strategies for Outreach to Business: Strategies to Inform the Design of Knowledge Translation. Presented to NARRTC. Washington, DC. 2016.
• Bridging the Gap: Using Systematic Knowledge to Support Business Partnership Skills. Presented to NCRE. Los Angeles. 2016.
• Champions of Change: Building Effective Partnerships. Presented to The ARC of Camden County, NJDVR, NJ SRC and NJ APSE. Trenton, NJ. 2015.
• Champions of Change: Building Effective Partnerships. Presented to Acces-VR. Corning, NY. 2015.
• The Cornell Just in Time Toolkit for Managers. Presented to Facilities Services. Ithaca, NY. 2015.
• Advanced Discussion Forum: Employment Issues. Presented to ADA National Network. Atlanta, GA. 2015.
• Impact of the New Section 503 Guidelines. Presented to ADA National Network. Atlanta, GA. 2015.
• Non-obvious disabilities at work. Presented to UUP. Saratoga Springs. 2015.
• Leveraging SEction 503 Regulations to Advance Employment Opportunities with Federal Contractors and Subcontractors. Presented to CANAR. Online. 2015.
• Accommodating an Aging Workforce. Presented to Northeast ADA Center. St. Thomas, USVI . 2015.
• Forming Effective Partnerships. Presented to Northeast ADA Center. St. Thomas, USVI . 2015.
• Transition to Post School Activities. Presented to Northeast ADA Center. St. Thomas, USVI . 2015.
• Accessible Healthcare: Legal, Human, and Practical Issues. Presented to Northeast ADA Center. St. Thomas, USVI . 2015.
• Accommodating an Aging Workforce. Presented to Northeast ADA Center. St. Croix, USVI. 2015.
• Forming Effective Partnerships. Presented to Northeast ADA Center. St. Croix, USVI. 2015.
• Transition to Post School Activities. Presented to Northeast ADA Center. St. Croix, USVI. 2015.
• Accessible Healthcare: Legal, Human, and Practical Issues. Presented to Northeast ADA Center. St. Croix, USVI. 2015.
• The ABC''s of the ADA. Presented to Northeast ADA Center. St. Croix, USVI. 2015.
• The ABC''s of the ADA. Presented to Northeast ADA Center. St. Thomas, USVI . 2015.
• Non-obvious disabilities at work. Presented to SUNY Oswego: UUP. Oswego, NY. 2014.
• Non-obvious disabilities at work. Presented to SUNY Oswego: UUP. Oswego, NY. 2014.
• Advanced Discussion Forum: Employment Issues. Presented to Northeast ADA Center. online. 2014.
• Title I Employment Guidelines. Presented to Great Plains ADA Center and Northeast ADA Center. Buffalo, NY. 2014.
• Title I Reasonable Accommodation. Buffalo, NY. 2014.
• Getting the Word Out: Marketing your Training Services. Presented to Northeast ADA Center. Online. 2014.
• The 24th Anniversary of the ADA: Access to Independence Celebration . Presented to Access to Independence. Cortland, NY. 2014.
• The Just-in-Time Program. Presented to ADA National Network. Denver, CO. 2014.
• Connecting Veterans with Disabilities with Employers. Presented to ADA National Network. Denver, CO. 2014.
• ADA And Social Work. Presented to NASW - NJ Monmouth/Ocean Unit. online. 2014.
• Accessible Healthcare: Legal, Human, and Practical Issues. Presented to Northeast ADA Center. Online. 2014.
• About Reasonable Accommodation. Presented to Maximus. Online. 2014.
• Accommodations on the Job Scenario Clinic. Presented to Northeast ADA Center. Ithaca, NY. 2013.
• The ADA: Getting it Right. Presented to NRA. Helen Hayes Hospital. 2013.
• ADA BAsics: What DSP''s need to know about the employment provisions of the ADA. Presented to Northeast ADA Center. Ithaca, NY. 2013.
• The Just-In-Time Model: Reaching Managers with the Right Knowledge at the Right Time . Presented to EEOC. Denver, CO. 2013.
• Leadership in a disability inclusive workforce: The Just-in-Time toolkit Project. Presented to NRA. Brooklyn, NY. 2013.
• The Just-in-Time Model: Reaching Manages with the Right Knowledge at the Right Time. . Presented to U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. Denver, CO. 2013.
• Disability in Today’s Workforce: New Approaches, New Tools, New Ideas.. Presented to NYS Inclusive Workforce Alliance . Albany, NY. 2013.
• Research Findings: Veterans with Disabilities in our Workforce. Presented to National ADA NEtwork. San Antonio, TX. 2013.
• The Just-in-Time Approach: Why this? Why now? . Presented to U.S. Dept of Educaiton. Washington, DC. 2013.
• Beyond a website; beyond training: Distance learning in the disability world. Presented to National Association of Research & Rehabilitation Training Centers. Washington, DC. 2013.
• Leadership in a disability inclusive workforce: The Just-in-Time toolkit Project. Presented to NARRTC. ARlington, VA. 2013.
• The Just-in-Time Approach to Disability Inclusiveness.. Presented to National Association of Research Rehabilitation Training Centers. Alexandria, VA. 2013.
• Different Worlds; Different Bridges: Imperatives for Knowledge Translation in the Field of Disability. Presented to NCRE. Washington, DC. 2012.
• Disability IS Diversity. Presented to Cardinal Health, INc. Columbus, OH. 2012.
• The Just-in-time Program: Disability Inclusivness in the PWC Workplace. Presented to PriceWaterHouse Cooper . Online. 2012.
• Beyond Yellow Ribbons: Employers'' Readiness to Employ Veterans with Disabilities. Presented to National ADA Network. Indianopolis. 2012.
• ADA Trainer Network Program. Presented to DBTAC Regional Network. Albuquerque, NM. 2010.
• Beyond Goodwill: Strategies for Employing Veterans with Disabilities. Presented to US Business Leadership Network. Chicago, IL. 2010.
• Organizational Trends in Hiring: Implications for Education, Training & Research in VR Practice.. Presented to National APSE. Milwaukee, WI. 2010.
• The news is not all bad:  Workforce trends disability service professionals need to know about. Presented to APSE National Organization. Atlanta, GA. 2010.
• Making the Difference: Testing a New Approach to Reach Employers about Disability Inclusiveness in the Workplace . Presented to NARRTTC. Washington, DC. 2010.
• Reaching Employers: New Intervention Approaches for Enhancing Disability Inclusiveness in the Workplace . Presented to NCRE National Organization. Los Angeles. 2010.
• Aging workers with Disabilities: Implications for Employers. Presented to National ADA Center. Webinar. 2010.
• Aging workers with Dsiabilities: Implications for Employers. Presented to National ADA Center. Webinar. 2010.
• Reaching Individuals with Disabilities: Accessibility in federal, state or municipal entities. Presented to City of Buffalo. Buffalo, NY. 2010.
• Reaching Individuals with Disabilities: Accessibility in federal, state or municipal entities. Presented to Chautauqua County Attorney''s office. Mayville, NY. 2010.
• ADA Trainer Network. Presented to DBTAC - Northeast ADA Center. St. Thomas, VI. 2010.
• ADA Trainer Network. Presented to DBTAC - Northeast ADA Center. St Croix, VI. 2010.
• Hidden Disabilities in Higher Education. Presented to Cumberland County community college. Vineland, NJ. 2009.
• Assistive Technology in the Schools. Presented to Depaul University. Chicago, IL. 2009.
• Preferred technology for students with learning disabilities: Research Results. Presented to ATIA. Chicago, IL. 2009.
• Building Partnerships: Policy, Reasonable Accommodations, and the Aging workforce. Presented to ATIA. Chicago, IL. 2009.
• Ten Tips: Getting Hired as a Person with a Disability. Presented to NJ Dept. of Human Services. New Brunsick, NJ. 2009.
• A path through the door: Navigating the hiring process as a job seeker with a disability. Presented to State of NJ. New Brunswick, NJ. 2009.
• ADA Amendments Act: Realigning with the original intent of congress. Presented to State of NJ. New Brunswick, NJ. 2009.
• Serving Customers with Disabilities in the Hospitality Industry. Presented to Holiday Inn Turf Hotel. Albany, NY. 2009.
• Mulitple Chemical Sensitivities. Presented to FLIC. Ithaca, NY. 2009.
• In Hard Times: The economic downturn and people with disabilities. Presented to DBTAC - Northeast ADA Center. Trenton, NJ. 2009.
• Learning Disabilities and Assistive Technology. Presented to DBTAC - Northeast ADA Center. Trenton, NJ. 2009.
• Transition Issues for Students with Disabilities. Presented to DBTAC - Northeast ADA Center. Trenton, NJ. 2009.
• ADA Trainer Network Follow-up. Presented to DBTAC - Northeast ADA Center. Trenton, NJ. 2009.
• ADA Ttrainer network - Northwest collaboration. Presented to DBTAC - Northeast ADA Center. Anchorage, Alaska. 2009.
• ADA Trainer Network Certification Program. Presented to DBTAC NW. Anchorage, Alaska. 2009.
• In Hard Times: The economic downturn and people with disabilities. Presented to DBTAC - Northeast ADA Center. Verona, NY. 2009.
• Learning Disabilities and Assistive Technology. Presented to DBTAC - Northeast ADA Center. Verona, NY. 2009.
• Transition Issues for Students with Disabilities. Presented to DBTAC - Northeast ADA Center. Verona, NY. 2009.
• Trainer Network Follow-up. Presented to DBTAC - Northeast ADA Center. Verona, NY. 2009.
• Organizational trends in hiring: Implications for education, training, and research in VR practice. Presented to APSE. Milwaukee, WI. 2009.
• Reaching Employers and Building Partnerships. Presented to NYS VESID. Owego, NY. 2009.
• Discovering Untapped Talent: Strategies for Disability Inclusiveness. Presented to College of St. Elizabeth. Morristown, NJ. 2009.
• Discovering Untapped Talent: Strategies for Disability Inclusiveness. Presented to Bergen County Community College. Bergen Co. NJ. 2009.

### Areas of Expertise

Disability

Disability and rehabilitation

Diversity and Inclusion

Learning disabilities

Supported employment

Technology and work