Massachusetts Commission for the Blind (MCB) Disability as a Qualification for Employment

The Massachusetts Commission for the Blind (MCB) was interested in learning more about the type and number of employment opportunities for which having a disability would help make a job candidate qualified.  MCB partnered with Work Without Limits to collect this information through focus groups and interviews.

Results:

People with disabilities have life experiences that can help them succeed in the labor market. These life experiences can benefit any workplace.  The main output of the project was a resource that educates, informs and empowers job seeking candidates with disabilities of the value they bring to the workforce.

Read the MCB Disability as a Qualification for Employment Report.

The goals of the project were to:

• Gain the perspectives of employers and employed individuals with disabilities
• Develop the business case for individuals with disabilities
• Provide a resource for MCB and other vocational rehabilitation professionals
• Educate, inform and empower job seeking individuals with disabilities

Key stakeholders engaged during the project included:

• Disability-inclusive employers
• Employed individuals with disabilities
• Employed individuals with visual impairments
• Former and current consumers of MCB vocational rehabilitation services

Methods of data collection and stakeholder engagement included:

• Focus groups and interviews conducted virtually via Zoom and/or by phone
• Outreach by Work Without Limits and MCB staff and providers

If you have any questions about this project, please reach out to Nathan Skrocki at MCB at 413-781-1290 x7817203 or Kathy Muhr, Work Without Limits, Director of Workforce Inclusion and Advancement at 508-856-3533.