An $8.8 million investment made in 2023 to help 2,500 New Yorkers with disabilities find, prepare for, and connect to jobs and career-track employment is already paying off. The funding, which supported the launch of the Center for Workplace Accessibility and Inclusion (CWAI), is intended to extend over the next three years. Last month, New York City Mayor Eric Adams, the New York City Mayor’s Office of Talent and Workforce Development (NYC Talent), and the New York City Mayor’s Office for People with Disabilities (MOPD), celebrated being “ahead of schedule” of their first year goal of connecting 350 people with disabilities to jobs.
They have already connected 500 individuals with disabilities to career training, support services, and employment.
In addition, thanks to a $1.5 million investment from the New York State Department of Labor, the City will launch the New York Systems Change and Inclusive Opportunities Network (SCION) at 18 Workforce1 Career Centers, run by the New York City Department of Small Business Services (SBS) to train staff to better serve and prepare individuals with disabilities for careers.
“For too long, people with disabilities have either been left behind or entirely forgotten as the city developed its workforce,” said Mayor Adams in a statement. “In our administration, we have brought everyone to the table to learn from the past so we can build a better, more inclusive future.”
For New Yorkers with disabilities seeking city government opportunities, NYC Talent announced they will be expanding their Partnership for Inclusive Internships (PII) program to place 100 additional people into paid internships and possibly full time positions over the next three years.
According to American Community Survey data, two-thirds of adult New Yorkers with disabilities were unemployed or not in the labor market last year, experiencing poverty at a much higher rate than adults without disabilities: nearly 30% compared to 17%. The city seeks to address these challenges head-on with its latest round of investments.
CWAI will help oversee programming and work across city agencies, private partners, and businesses to identify and eliminate barriers for people with disabilities.
Those who are interested in applying or learning more about job opportunities for people with disabilities can visit NYC: ATWORK, which exists within MOPD and recruits, pre-screens, and connects New Yorkers with disabilities to jobs and internships with established business partners in both the public and private sectors.
“By breaking down barriers and investing in tailored support, we are not only exceeding our goals, but also paving the way for a more inclusive and equitable workforce,” MOPD Commissioner Christina Curry said in a statement. “We are very happy to support and collaborate with our partners at NYC Talent, SBS, and DCAS (Department of Citywide Administrative Services) in this vital mission. Our commitment to this goal remains unwavering as we continue to create pathways to success for all New Yorkers with disabilities.”