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MCB programs expand peer support, record employer webinar and launch vending partnership
Summary
Justine told the board the agency recorded a Visions of Employment webinar for employers, held a reverse virtual job fair (second on Oct. 21), expanded peer-support groups to 52 (and noted new groups bringing that number to 53 later in the meeting), and announced a partnership with Fooda to strengthen the Randolph‑Shepard vending program; staff completed 388 in‑service trainings between Sept 2024 and Aug 2025.
Justine reported a string of program updates to the Statutory Advisory Board. She said the Visions of Employment webinar on September 10 was aimed at employers and was recorded for registrants and broader sharing. "We had a great turn out for the event and this year for the first time we were able to actually record that session," she said.
Justine said the commission hosted the first of two reverse virtual job fairs that day; employers met job‑ready candidates who are legally blind, and the second fair is scheduled for October 21. She highlighted the agency’s upcoming White Cane Awareness event at the State House on Friday the 24th and encouraged registration because the event typically reaches capacity.
On peer support, Justine said four new groups launched in Canton, Hingham, Weymouth and Provincetown, bringing the total to 52 peer‑support groups statewide at that point in the meeting; a board comment later noted the count reached 53 during discussion. She said the groups are often coordinated through partners — MABVI oversees the majority and Sight Loss Services covers the South Shore — and that groups are generally open to people with low vision whether or not they are registered as MCB consumers. "There's no restriction to being a registered MCB consumer," Justine said.
Justine announced a new Randolph‑Shepard vending partnership with Fooda intended to increase earning potential for vendors and reestablish vending locations that closed during the pandemic. She praised the vending team’s work in securing the collaboration.
She also summarized outreach and training: between September 2024 and August 2025 staff completed 388 in‑service trainings across senior centers, employment collaboratives, Lions Clubs, multicultural centers, schools and other community venues. The agency is collecting attendance numbers and will report more detailed participant counts at a future meeting.
Board members asked whether peer‑support groups are listed on the MCB website; Justine and staff said they will coordinate with partners and the communications coordinator to improve web listings and links to partner pages.
