During an interview for a security officer position at The Frick Collection in Manhattan in the spring of 2025, Travis Adams heard a phrase he told Able News potential employers had never said to him before: “Your resume looks great!”
Adams, a wheelchair user with a high school diploma, had been working part-time with a well-known security firm for about six years already, but began looking for a new position when his previous work conditions became untenable. His previous manager left the company, and his hours were suddenly cut; he wasn’t paid for the correct number of hours or receiving calls to work often. After years of trying to get off of government assistance programs, he had to re-enroll to pay for groceries and rent.
So, he left the interview at The Frick Collection hopeful for the part-time offer that came two weeks later. In the summer of 2025, Adams transitioned to full-time for the first time in his career. As a security officer at the museum, he watches over a designated room, directs patrons to specific paintings, and occasionally reminds them that museums are no-touch zones.
Struggles like Adams’ are common in the disability community, and statistics reflect that it’s harder for disabled people to find employment than it is for nondisabled people. In 2024, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that the unemployment rate for people with disabilities was 7.5 compared to 3.8 percent for nondisabled people. In New York City, 41 percent of disabled residents are employed compared to 48 percent of non-disabled residents, per the NYC Comptroller’s Office. But the mayor’s office is working to bridge the gap in Manhattan.
Adams was connected to The Frick Collection through NYC: ATWORK, an employment program for the disability community that runs out of the Mayor’s Office for People with Disabilities (MOPD) in Manhattan. Adams’ placement at The Frick Collection is part of an initiative to help 2,500 disabled people find employment with adequate pay by July 2026. Announced by Mayor Eric Adams in July 2023, MOPD has collaborated with like-minded local programs to help connect more than 1,350 people with disabilities to meaningful employment opportunities.
But this employment initiative is about more than numbers. Adams told Able News he didn’t realize he could work as a wheelchair user with a high school education until he got a random call from an employment agency and started taking steps to get certified as a security officer. “It was actually a moment of excitement and relief because now it’s like, ‘okay, there’s a way for me to have the life that I’ve wanted’,” Adams said. Following seven years of financial uncertainty, he’s excited to finally start saving for a vacation.
People with disabilities are an untapped source of talent
Adams advised disabled people who want to work but don’t know the first step to take to take advantage of employment assistance programs like NYC: ATWORK and America Works.
Abby Mayerhoff, the director of programs at NYC: ATWORK at MOPD, explained what job seekers can expect if they connect with the office. It’s a small team that primarily works on the employer engagement side of the process. The team works in tandem with programs like Workforce1 Career Services, where job seekers go to define their goals and develop the skills they need to become competitive candidates for positions they’re interested in. At MOPD, the team spends time developing relationships with potential employers who are committed to accessibility and inclusion. If a candidate fits a role, the networking and interview process for the candidate can begin with accessibility in mind. NYC: ATWORK stays in contact with workers for a year after they’re hired in case they need support to resolve issues, compared to similar programs that only stay in touch with people they’ve helped to place for 90 days.
New York City residents who are 18 years and older, legally authorized to work in the US, and job-ready are encouraged to contact NYC: ATWORK. Candidates should have basic computer literacy skills and be able to search for jobs and update application materials independently or with assistance from another service provider.
During National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM), there’s one message Meyerhoff has for employers. “We work with a lot of incredibly talented, skilled, and motivated job seekers, and they’re all ready to start working. We just have to connect them to the employers that are really the best fit,” she said, describing the disability community as an untapped source of talent.
“We’re just trying to work like everybody else. Look at us as more of an asset rather than a liability. We’re still people at the end of the day, just in different situations,” said Adams, when asked to share his message to employers who are hesitant to hire disabled people.