Kimberly J. Osmani

Kim joined the Yang-Tan Institute as an Extension Associate in 2017. In her position, Kim supports the Center for Advancing Policy on Employment for Youth (CAPE-Youth). The Center works to improve employment outcomes for youth and young adults with disabilities by helping states build capacity in their youth service delivery and workforce systems. It conducts research, develops partnerships, and shares best practices. In addition, CAPE-Youth helps states identify new opportunities to expand career pathways, work-based learning, strategic partnerships, systems coordination and professional development for practitioners.

Kim also works on other projects related to training professionals in the field of disability and employment of students and youth with disabilities.

Kim has extensive experience in working with youth with disabilities—first as a special education teacher for 10 years, then as an Associate State Director of Special Education Services at the Oklahoma State Department of Education, and finally as the Statewide Transition Coordinator for the Oklahoma Department of Rehabilitation Services.

Kim is on the Policy Steering Committee of the Council for Exceptional Children and a member of the Division on Career Development and Transition (DCDT), where she serves on the Policy and Advocacy Committee.