Work Without Limits, a UMass Medical School initiative, is partnering with the National Organization on Disability to bring college students and employers together in Boston to identify more employment opportunities for students with disabilities.
“Given the need for effective models linking employers and qualified candidates with disabilities, along with Boston’s rich ecosystem of higher-ed institutions and employers motivated to hire top talent, the Campus to Careers pilot program represents a unique opportunity for our community,” said Work Without Limits Director Kathleen A. Petkauskos. “We are proud to be a part of this novel effort.”
The three-year Campus to Careers program, funded through a $200,000 grant from the Coca-Cola Foundation, will provide students with support to become job ready, facilitate connections between employers and students, and educate hiring managers about disability inclusion.
“Our nation’s universities have become increasingly skilled at ensuring accommodations on campus for students with disabilities; however, most are not as equipped at preparing students with disabilities for the workforce,” said Carol Glazer, president of the National Organization on Disability. “The result is that only 25 percent of college graduates with disabilities are working, either full- or part-time. With the Coca-Cola Foundation’s generous support, we can launch this innovative pilot program here in Boston to get these talented young men and women started in rewarding professional careers.”
Work Without Limits is a statewide network dedicated to advancing the employment of people with disabilities.
