Committee announces Strength and Support event for youth with disabilities at State House

The Massachusetts Legislature has announced a significant event aimed at enhancing employment opportunities for youth and young adults with disabilities. Scheduled for June 23 at the State House, the "Strength and Support" networking and resource-sharing event will focus on connecting young individuals with job coaches and personal care assistants (PCAs) to discuss success stories, challenges, and career pathways in inclusive workplaces.

This initiative comes in response to a growing need for job coaching and support services within the community. The event will feature speakers from various organizations, including Partners for Youth with Disabilities, MassAbility, and the Arc of Massachusetts, which has recently launched a campaign to recruit direct support workers. The collaboration aims to address the shortage of personnel in the health and human services sector while promoting inclusive employment practices.

Participants will have the opportunity to engage directly with PCAs and job coaches, gaining insights into the employment landscape for individuals with disabilities. The PCA Council will also provide a directory for those interested in becoming personal care attendants, streamlining the application process compared to traditional job platforms.

The meeting underscored the importance of collaboration among agencies and highlighted the ongoing efforts to improve job coaching services. Attendees expressed enthusiasm for sharing information with the Health Equity Compact to further extend the reach of these resources.

As the event approaches, stakeholders are encouraged to participate and take advantage of the resources available, reinforcing the commitment to fostering inclusive employment opportunities for all.