HIVE Leadership Conference 2026

When access to formal employment services like Utah Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) and Division of Services for People with Disabilities (DSPD) is limited or unavailable, supporting meaningful employment doesn’t stop. So how can providers, support coordinators, and natural supports continue helping individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD) succeed? This session provides practical strategies for supporting employment outside traditional systems—especially during service gaps such as waitlists, funding limitations, or orders of selection. Drawing on real examples, participants will explore:

• Creative, low-cost job development strategies that don’t rely on formal services
• How to leverage community connections, including local businesses, events, and personal networks
• Effective approaches to building employer relationships and customizing opportunities based on individual strengths
• Practical tools for immediate use, along with strategies to empower individuals and document progress outside formal systems

Whether you are navigating a service gap or expanding your toolkit, this session will provide actionable ideas to help individuals take greater control of their employment journey and be better prepared to maximize opportunities when services become available.

1. Understand the Value of Ombuds Programs: Explain how the core characteristics of Ombuds work support effective resolution and enhance the customer experience within the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS).
2. Explore the Disability Ombuds Program: Gain specific knowledge about the features and functions of this vital program.

In July 2022, the launch of 988 transformed how Americans access mental health support. However, a three-digit number is only as effective as the services waiting on the other end. This presentation explores the "Utah Model"—a comprehensive crisis continuum designed to provide Someone to Call, Someone to Respond, and Somewhere to Go. We will examine the integration of the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline with Utah’s unique assets, such as the SafeUT app, statewide Mobile Crisis Outreach Teams (MCOT), and specialized Receiving Centers. Attendees will learn how Utah utilizes legislative support and cross-agency collaboration to divert individuals from emergency rooms and the justice system, ultimately creating a more compassionate and efficient pathway to care.

SmartMonitor provides connected assistive technology solutions designed to enhance safety, independence, and quality of life for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). Through Inspyre, powered by Acuma Health, and AllWell, SmartMonitor helps enable more proactive, person-centered support for individuals living independently, in supported living environments, or receiving remote support services. Available on Apple and Android smartwatches as well as standalone wearable devices, the solutions offer features including unusual movement and heart rate monitoring, fall alerts, help button functionality, real-time location tracking, safe zone notifications, reminders, and customizable alerts delivered via text, call, and email. SmartMonitor’s HIPAA-compliant organizational portal also empowers remote and direct support providers with centralized oversight, event history, downloadable reports, and real-time visibility across client populations. These technologies can often be funded through Medicaid waiver programs and align closely with waiver goals focused on independence, community integration, safety, and efficient service delivery for the IDD population.