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MCB internship program highlights employer partnerships, requirements and participant outcomes
Summary
MCB staff and a former intern described a decades‑running internship program that requires a minimum of 120 hours and offers a milestone stipend; staff highlighted employer partners, upcoming job fairs and a State House closing ceremony and shared examples of successful hires.
Justine and Carol Collins of the Massachusetts Commission for the Blind described the agency’s internship program and upcoming employer events to the Rehabilitation Council. Justine said the 2025 internship closing ceremony was held at the State House and recognized Google with an Employer Partner Award; she noted upcoming events including a Visions of Employment webinar on Sept. 10, reverse virtual job fairs Oct. 7 and Oct. 21, a White Cane Awareness event on Oct. 24 and an annual college information session at the end of October.
Former intern Deanne told the council that her internship experience helped her transition into web accessibility work and build a small business, Insight Access. "It was really meaningful to me that the Massachusetts Commission for the Blind was able to support me in that effort," she said, describing mentorship, follow‑on contracts and networking that extended beyond the internship.
Carol Collins summarized program rules and employer engagement: the minimum internship requirement is 120 hours, interns must attend soft‑skills training and opening and closing ceremonies, and many placements are paid by host employers. MCB provides a stipend tied to four milestones (soft skills training, opening ceremony, completion of 120 hours, closing ceremony); Carol estimated each milestone to be worth about $250 (approximate) to help offset expenses rather than to function as regular wages.
Carol highlighted a range of employer partners — including Draper, Sodexo and State Street — and said placements span private‑sector roles (retail, food service, finance, tech) and human services. She and Deanne emphasized that internships produce employer connections and repeat hires; Draper, she said, has rehired interns and later employed them in full‑time roles.
Council members asked whether internships run outside the summer; Carol said the program is primarily a summer program but off‑season placements may be possible on a case‑by‑case basis. Members also raised concerns about licensure and accommodation delays for teachers of the visually impaired and for applicants seeking assistive technology, noting that long waits can cause financial hardship for candidates.
Staff shared that MCB will circulate event flyers and registration links and that the agency supports a mix of paid host internships and stipend recipients. Several council members commended the program’s role in employer education and workforce development.
