Council members press MOPD’s At Work program on staffing, 55‑a delays and waitlist

New York City Council members questioned the Mayor’s Office for People with Disabilities about the city’s At Work employment program for New Yorkers with disabilities, focusing on eligibility criteria, program capacity, and delays tied to the state’s 55‑a civil service approvals.

MOPD staff described At Work as a career-services program for "job ready" candidates with documented disabilities who are New York City residents and authorized to work in the United States. "We primarily focus on working with individuals who are job ready," a program representative said, adding that candidates should have an editable resume and be able to perform an independent job search with or without assistance. MOPD said candidates are referred by employers, nonprofit partners, Workforce1 centers, or state vocational rehabilitation agencies and that some applicants seeking general services may be placed on a wait list because of staff capacity.

Council members pressed officials on how long applicants typically wait. "Generally, 6 to 8 weeks. We work really hard not to have it extend past 8 weeks," a MOPD staff member said. Committee members asked how the office plans to reduce waits, expand outreach to employers, and measure outcomes.

Why it matters: At Work is intended to connect New Yorkers with disabilities to competitive employment across city agencies and private-sector…