State Awards $900,000 to Help Young Adults with Disabilities Prepare for Employment
BOSTON — The Healey-Driscoll administration announced $900,000 in grants to fund nine organizations that provide job training, employment placement, and post-placement support for 275 young adults with disabilities. The administration also released the People with Disabilities Workforce Data Dashboard, which offers a comprehensive view of employment-related insights, encompassing disability type, geographic variations, remote work opportunities, unemployment rates, labor-force participation, and more.
“It’s imperative that we recognize the diverse talents and contributions of individuals with disabilities,” Gov. Maura Healey said. “This dashboard not only sheds light on existing barriers, but also highlights the immense potential of this segment of our workforce.”
Of the nine grant recipients, one is located in Western Mass.: the Corporation for Public Management (CPM) in Springfield, which will receive $10,000. In partnership with the New England Farm Workers’ Council, the Latino Economic Development Corp., and Mass2Miami Consultant Group, CPM aims to address the critical employment needs of young adults with disabilities in the Springfield area by focusing on childcare and food-service occupational training for 20 participants. This project seeks to fill a crucial gap in existing workforce programs that lack intensive services tailored to the specific needs of this demographic.
The Employment Program for Young Adults with Disabilities, funded through the FY 2024 budget and administered by Commonwealth Corp., is part of the administration’s strategic investment to attract and build diverse, skilled talent to meet the needs of Massachusetts employers across industries and statewide. Awardee initiatives are led by community-based organizations with demonstrated success and expertise in preparing young adults with disabilities for employment, job placement, and post-placement support focused on employment retention.
“Using data to better understand formidable barriers faced by individuals with disabilities in securing employment, as well as providing targeted support and resources through the employment program for Young Adults with Disabilities Program, has been a major focus for our administration,” said Lauren Jones, secretary of Labor and Workforce Development. “Through these initiatives, we are breaking down barriers and creating pathways to meaningful employment for individuals with disabilities across Massachusetts.”