• Director of Curriculum Development
Email
onell001@umn.edu
Phone
+1 612-624-7650
Address
Masonic Institute on the Developing Brain
Rm 2-319 [map]
2025 E River Pkwy
MInneapolis, MN 55414

Susan O'Nell has a variety of personal and professional experiences that bring passion and knowledge to her work at ICI. She spent the first part of her career in direct support to people living with autism and intellectual disabilities. During this time, she worked as a peer mentor and trainer, a frontline supervisor, and helped develop self-managed teams. She is also part of the peer support advocacy movement for people living with serious mental illnesses and their families. Since coming to ICI in 1995, O'Nell has used her experiences to support person-centered system change in organizations and communities, primarily through customized development and delivery of high-quality training and technical assistance. She is a Wellness Recovery Action Plan (WRAP) facilitator and Person-Centered Thinking trainer. O'Nell is the Director of DIrectCourse Curriculum in three key areas and all special projects related to DirectCourse curriculum developed at ICI including: direct support to people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (College of Direct Support - CDS); inclusion-based recovery-focused support to people with serious mental illnesses (College of Recovery and Community Inclusion - CRCI); and person-centered counseling practices in the aging and disability community (Person-Centered Counseling - PCC).

Projects

Project

DirectCourse

Offers a suite of competency-based, online curricula for professionals providing services to people with intellectual, developmental, physical, and psychiatric disabilities, and to older adults....

Project

Minnesota DHS Systems Change and Capacity Building Through Research, Training, and Technical Assistance Projects

Conducts research, training and technical assistance activities that enhance Minnesota's capacity to support community living for individuals with disabilities and/or mental illness. Primary areas …

Project

Research and Training Center on Community Living (RTC-CL)

Conducts a wide range of research, training, and technical assistance and dissemination projects related to community supports under its center grant and related project funding. The RTC-CL is …

Products

Partnerships for Success - Curricula for Supervisors, Managers, and Administrative Staff: Removing the Revolving Door - Strategies to Address Recruitment and Retention Challenges

A curriculum targeting frontline supervisors and managers regarding the use of effective recruitment, retention, and training strategies. Includes Facilitator Guide and Learner Guide.

Published: 2001

Partnerships for Success - Curricula for Supervisors, Managers, and Administrative Staff: The Power of Diversity: Supporting the Immigrant Workforce

A curriculum helping supervisors and other agency staff find, support, and retain immigrant workers. Includes Facilitator Guide and Learner Guide.

Published: 2001

Partnerships for Success - Curricula for Supervisors, Managers, and Administrative Staff: The Peer Empowerment Program (PEP): A Complete Toolkit for Planning and Implementing Mentoring Programs Within Community-Based Human Services Organizations

A planning guide and curriculum for supervisors and agency staff focusing on socialization and skill development for all employees. Includes Program Coordinator Guide, Facilitator Guide, and …

Published: 2001

Frontline Initiative: Credentialing

A newsletter issue for Direct Support Professionals offering various perspectives on effectively supporting individuals with disabilities by gaining the credentials to do so.

Published: Spring 2000

Frontline Initiative: Diversity

A newsletter issue for Direct Support Professionals offering various perspectives on effectively supporting diverse individuals with disabilities.

Published: Winter 2000

Frontline Initiative: Tribute to John F. Kennedy, Jr.

A newsletter issue for Direct Support Professionals offering a tribute to John F. Kennedy, Jr. (1960-1999), a great advocate for individuals with disabilities.

Published: Fall 1999

Frontline Initiative: Complex Needs

A newsletter issue for Direct Support Professionals offering various perspectives on effectively supporting individuals with disabilities with complex needs.

Published: Summer 1999

Frontline Initiative: Self-Determination

A newsletter issue for Direct Support Professionals offering various perspectives on effectively supporting individuals with disabilities as they decide for themselves how to spend their lives.

Published: Spring 1999

Frontline Initiative: International Issue

A newsletter issue for Direct Support Professionals (DSPs) showing how DSPs in other countries effectively support individuals with disabilities.

Published: Winter 1999

Frontline Initiative: Professionalism

A newsletter issue for Direct Support Professionals (DSPs) offering various perspectives on effectively supporting individuals with disabilities by becoming more professional in their work habits …

Published: Fall 1998

Frontline Initiative: Stress and Burnout

A newsletter issue for Direct Support Professionals showing how they can cope with stress while still effectively supporting individuals with disabilities.

Published: Summer 1998

Frontline Initiative: Communication

A newsletter issue for Direct Support Professionals offering various perspectives on effectively supporting individuals with disabilities by communicating better with them.

Published: Spring 1998

Frontline Initiative: Change

A newsletter issue for Direct Support Professionals offering various perspectives on effectively supporting individuals with disabilities as they cope with change.

Published: Winter 1998

Frontline Initiative: Training

A newsletter issue for Direct Support Professionals showing how training can help them more effectively support individuals with disabilities.

Published: Spring 1997

Frontline Initiative: Relationships

A newsletter issue for Direct Support Professionals showing how building relationships can help them more effectively support individuals with disabilities.

Published: Winter 1997

Frontline Initiative: Premier Issue

A newsletter issue for Direct Support Professionals offering various perspectives on effectively supporting individuals through this and future issues of the series.

Published: Fall 1996

National Validation Study of Competencies For Frontline Supervisors and Direct Support Professionals

A report examining organizational workforce outcomes; characteristics of and differences between managers, Frontline Supervisors (FLS) and Direct Support Professionals (DSPs); and workplace...

Published: 2007

Person and Family-Centered Approaches in Mental Health and Co-Occurring Disorders Training Project: Final Report

A report describing Developing and Engaging Training on Person-Centered and Family-Centered Approaches in Mental Health and Co-occurring Disorders , a training project that ICI performed for the …

Published: 2019

Topics

  • Direct support workforce
    • Supervision and mentoring
    • Retention and recruitment
    • Workforce development strategies
    • Training
  • Community life
    • Community supports and services
    • Parenting and family relationships
    • Person-centered planning and practices
    • Positive behavior support
    • Quality outcomes
    • Social inclusion
  • Culture and diversity
    • Cultural competence
  • Specific disability
    • Emotional/behavioral disorder (EBD)
    • Intellectual/developmental disability (IDD)
    • Mental health and/or chemical dependency