Deputy Director, TACE Southeast,
Burton Blatt Institute, Syracuse University
Jill Houghton’s creative spirit and passionate approach to the inclusion of people with disabilities comes from her core. While pursuing her bachelor’s degree from the University of Kansas, she interned for Senator Dole and the experience ignited the direction of her professional aspirations.
Jill is currently consulting with the U.S. Business Leadership Network (USBLN), Walgreens and AMERIGROUP. Specifically, she has been working with Fortune 500 companies to recruit, hire and promote employees with disabilities through building partnerships with state vocational rehabilitation agencies and employment service providers. Additionally, she is leading an effort to develop and implement a diversity/disability supplier program. Prior to working with Fortune 500 companies, Ms. Houghton served as the Executive Director of the Ticket to Work and Work Incentives Advisory Panel from February 2005 until its legislative sunset in January 2008. The bi-partisan Panel was comprised of twelve private citizens and was housed independently within the Social Security Administration in Washington D.C. The Panel’s charge was to advise the President, Congress and the Commissioner of Social Security on the Ticket to Work and Self-Sufficiency Program and issues related to work incentives programs, planning and assistance for individuals with disabilities.
Jill brings over 18 years of diverse work experience on behalf of people with disabilities from the federal, state and local level. Her career has included building relationships with employers while at the Florida Division of Vocational Rehabilitation, working with employers to found the Washington State Business Leadership Network, and leading the transition to community-based services at United Cerebral Palsy of King and Snohomish Counties (WA). She also worked at the University of Northern Colorado, Center for Technical Assistance and Training and served as the Executive Director of Support Services for Citizens with Autism, Inc.
Webinars
- Guest: Corporate and Organizational Strategy: Utilizing National Resources to Attract and Retain Employees with Disabilities
- Guest: Corporate Infrastructure: Centralizing the Reasonable Accommodation Process
- Host: Flexible Workplaces Benefit Everyone, Especially Persons with Disabilities