About
Work Without Limits is an initiative of ForHealth Consulting, the consulting and operations division of UMass Chan Medical School. Our goal is to position Massachusetts as the first state in the nation where the employment rate of people with disabilities is equal to people without disabilities.
Who We Are
Work Without Limits is a network of employers, educational institutions, employment service providers, and state and federal agencies.
Through collaboration and partnership, our goal is to increase the employment of people with disabilities until it is equal to those without disabilities.
Work Without Limits programs and services are geared to meet the needs of businesses that actively recruit people with disabilities, individuals with disabilities who are seeking jobs, and the employment providers that serve them.
We provide training and consulting services to help build the capacity of employers, employment service providers, state agency personnel, and educational institutions in advancing workplace disability inclusion.
Work Without Limits coordinates a Business Network that shares best practices and builds confidence and success through their commitment to the inclusion of people with disabilities as employees, customers, and suppliers. Private and public-sector businesses join Work Without Limits by becoming a member of the Work Without Limits Business Network.
Our Benefits Counseling service assists individuals with disabilities to understand how work earnings or wage increases affect eligibility for public benefits, such as SSI, SSDI, Medicaid and/or Medicare.
Our Employment Network (EN) provides the administrative functions that allow community based organizations to access payments through the Social Security Ticket to Work program. The EN also offers on-going benefits counseling to support Social Security beneficiaries as they work and increase their earnings.
We offer educational and networking events for employers, employment service providers, and individuals with disabilities. Our events have included our Raise The Bar HIRE conference and Career Fair for Individuals with Disabilities, as well as Disability Mentoring Day where member companies host job seekers for a day of career exploration, mentoring, and networking.
Our History
In 2008, members of Massachusetts state government, the University of Massachusetts Medical School (UMMS), and other key stakeholders formed a partnership with the help of a federal grant. They began a strategic planning effort to maximize employment opportunities for people with disabilities in Massachusetts, and to address the barriers keeping them from finding work. From these efforts, Work Without Limits was established.
In 2010, Work Without Limits established a B2B Network with a handful of leading employers looking for a peer-to-peer network in which they could, as a business community, positively impact the employment of people with disabilities.
In 2012, Work Without Limits introduced its corporate sponsorship program and the first twelve companies joined to become the B2B Network’s Founding Corporate Partners. Each of these organizations share a commitment to disability inclusion and include BCBSMA, Clarks Companies, Eastern Bank, Fidelity Investments, John Hancock, Harvard Pilgrim Health Care, MIT Sloan School of Management, National Grid, Professional Staffing Group, State Street, TJX Companies, and UMass Chan Medical School.
In 2016, the Work Without Limits B2B Network became the Massachusetts affiliate of the US Business Leadership Network (USBLN) and became the MABLN. In 2018, the USBLN changed its name to Disability:IN and the MABLN became Disability:IN Massachusetts.
In 2021, Work Without Limits dis-affiliated with Disability:IN to further expand our footprint beyond Massachusetts borders. Our robust Business Network remains and continues to grow!
Thanks to the unwavering support of UMMS, our Founding Corporate Partners and all our Corporate Sponsors and Business Network Members, we have not only been able to sustain Work Without Limits beyond the initial federal grant funding but have also expanded our programs and services to help achieve our goal of equal employment for people with disabilities.
2018
BENEPLAN REBRANDS
Work Without Limits Benefits Counseling and now serving seven counties in New York
USBLN RE-BRANDS MABLN
now Disability:IN Massachusetts
50th EMPLOYER TRAINING
Over 2,000 HR associates and supervisors trained
Work Without Limits Hosts 1st Higher Ed Career Fair
For College Students and Recent Graduates
2019
Work Without Limits Hosts Business Roundtable
In coordination with WorkAbility Subcommittee of the Joint Committee on Children, Families and Individuals with Disabilities
USBLN Rebrands as Disability:IN
MABLN Rebrands as Disability:IN Massachusetts
Disability Supplier Diversity Program
Work Without Limits hosts 1st DSDP Forum in MA
Affiliation with Governor Baker’s Learn to Earn initiative
In partnership with Horace Mann Educational Assoc., MA Regional Employment Collaboratives and MassHire Central MA
2020
Partnership with MA Commission for the Blind
To create 2020 Employer Challenge campaign and Disability as a Qualification for Employment practice brief
Coronavirus Pandemic
All Work Without Limits trainings and events go virtual
Partnership with Polus Center
To promote Employment Now Initiative
Partnership with Viability, Inc.
To build capacity of Viability staff to provide benefits counseling services to customers
2021
State Law establishes Commission on the Status of Persons with Disabilities
Work Without Limits appointed as permanent member
Partnership with Our Ability, Inc.
For Jobs Ability jobs board
Disability:IN Massachusetts
Rebranded as Work Without Limits Business Network
Refreshed Business Network Membership and new Sponsorship model introduced
Work Without Limits AEN
Rebrands as Work Without Limits EN
Over $1M in Revenue Generated
By Work Without Limits EN under Social Security Ticket to Work
Partnership with Riverview School
To engage employers in pilot customer service training for high school students with disabilities
2022
Partnership with Creatives Rebuild New York
Provide benefits counseling to artists across NY state
Partnership with MA Commission for the Blind
Identify in-demand occupations that can be performed remotely and provide career advancement
Toni A. Wolf ‘Power of Change’ Award
Work Without Limits was selected for exemplifying Employment Options’ mission to empower individuals in mental health recovery to thrive in their communities.
Partnership with KGA, Inc.
Provide disability inclusion training to KGA corporate clients
Over 100 Community Partners
Colleges and universities, American Job Centers, state agencies, nonprofits, and youth organizations
Employment Network
Reaches milestone 21 partners
2023
Appointment to the Massachusetts Commission on the Status of Persons with Disabilities
Director Kathy Petkauskos appointed chairperson of the Commission’s subcommitte on employment
Partnership with Mass Cultural Council
Provide benefits counseling for Individual Recovery Grant program
Over $1.8 M in Revenue Generated
By Work Without Limits Employment Network under Social Security Ticket to Work
Over 2,000 attended 60 Trainings
Meet Our Staff
