Annual Report

FY25

Agency Impact

04 Commissioner’s Letter 20 Statewide Rehabilitation 06 A Year in Review Council Report

22 SRC Committee Reports 10 Partners in Possibly Employer 27 Home & Community Life

Event 29 Disability Determination

14 Fiscal Year at a Glance Services 16 Career Services

30 An Internship with MassAbility 18 Success Starts with MassAbility

From the Commissioner

Dear Friends and Partners,

Our Disability Determination Services (DDS) division faced unprecedented staffing vacancies, including critical shortages of examiners and psychological consultants. To address case processing delays caused by doctor shortages, the Social Security Administration made physicians from other states available to support our work. Processing this enormous volume of cases required every department working together with singular focus and collaboration.

Within our Career Services Division, we achieved far more than the numbers reflected in this report. This year, we conducted a comprehensive review of Career Services best practices and designed an ambitious roadmap for 2026 to advance employment outcomes for individuals with disabilities. We proposed significant internal service delivery improvements, including innovative approaches within Business Relations and Self-Employment services. Most notably, we redesigned a provider service model through our Comprehensive Integrated Employment Services (CIES) and Pre-Employment Transition Services (Pre-ETS) Request for Response, scheduled for release in 2026.

Our Home and Community Life Division achieved a milestone by transitioning over 150 individuals from nursing homes into community settings, where people with disabilities can truly live life on their own terms. Despite funding and staffing reductions, our Homecare, Supported Living, and Statewide Head Injury Services teams found creative solutions to maintain quality service delivery.

We remain eager to use technology to advance our work; Our newest division, the Department of Excellence and Innovation, continued to leverage technology to advance our mission. One such advancement is the use of AI-enhanced tools to streamline eligibility determination for participants, including the release of MassAbility Connect and its single application for multiple programs.

Real-time data validation, automated eligibility checks, and smart pre-fill features help to minimize errors and save time in the application process. Staff and participants have been able to adopt these tools with ease thanks to the user-friendly design, freeing up significant roadblocks. Our Assisted Intake software also saw improvements in our case management system, and for the first time, our analytics team can now review data and identify service trends across the agency.

Additionally, with the establishment of the agency’s first Clinical Director, we can now provide clinical consultation and emergency support for staff and participants within our Career Services and Home and Community Life Divisions. This will allow those we serve living with complex needs to receive more comprehensive, coordinated care and support. This commitment extended to our Learning and Community Engagement department where the team’s adaptability shined, resulting in robust training and consultation offerings for all staff across our divisions. And let us not forget, MassAbility’s Connect Team received the Manuel Carballo Governor’s Award for Excellence in Public Services!

Our ability to provide services is, in part, thanks the robust infrastructure we have built to support both staff and participants. This year, we addressed operational pain points and design interventions that modernize and standardize our procurement, contracting, and billing processes. This work is critical to strengthening our operations for years to come.

Finally, we cannot review this year without reflecting on the political and economic challenges we faced, like state hiring pauses and the longest federal shutdown in our nation’s history. Thanks to the strong fiscal infrastructure we have built over the years, we were positioned to support the 73% of our staff who are state employees funded by federal dollars. Despite federal inefficiencies and uncertainties, MassAbility remained steadfast and supported our providers and our participants without missing a beat.

As we look toward 2026, we draw strength from the resilience of the people we serve and remain steadfast in our determination to support their hopes and dreams for a better life in the Commonwealth. It is an honor to work alongside our staff, provider partners, employers, and our Statewide Rehabilitation Council—and to have the continued support of the Executive Office of Health and Human Services and the Administration. Together, we remain committed to our core values: everyone matters and deserves to live their best life.

With gratitude and determination,

MassAbility

A Year in Review

Our first full year as “MassAbility” featured milestone achievements of major initiatives like NextGen Careers and a year full of incredible outreach through collaborations in our communities.

interviewing the owner of Boda Borg Boston about intentionally designing accessible mystery challenge rooms, to a fully accessible Shakespeare play by Commonwealth Shakespeare Company, we helped spotlight models of entertainment that welcome everyone.

Visibility and pride were also central themes in 2025. Despite the rain, our team proudly marched in Boston Pride, surrounded by rainbows, resilience, and community spirit. We also commemorated

We also supported adaptive recreation programs hosted by the Department of Conservation and Recreation and learned about assistive technology advancements at the Museum of Science. We stood with advocates at the State House in support of the first-ever state recognized CVI Awareness Day with Perkins School for the Blind and CVINow. Each of these moments reinforced the idea that access fuels creativity, innovation, and belonging.

the 35th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act, marching together through the streets of Boston to honor decades of progress while reaffirming our commitment to the work still ahead.

Investing in the next generation of leaders and creators remained a priority. We spoke directly with youth and artists with disabilities at events such as the Youth Leadership Forum and the MassCreative’s Disabled Artists Panel. There we shared resources, listened to lived experiences, and amplified voices and experts that are often left out of traditional spaces. We also attended disability expos and community events across the state, meeting people and stakeholders where they are and connecting people to services.

presentations, share resources, and build awareness in partnership with the Brain Injury Association of Massachusetts (BIA- MA). Through grant-funded outreach, our team at the Statewide Head Injury Program and BIA-MA conducted extensive community engagement through conferences, trainings, and presentations. Every session included a dedicated resources section, ensuring attendees knew how to connect with our programs and supports. Together, our total community reach exceeded 12,000 individuals! Notably, this year also marks the completion

Notably, this year also marks the completion of the NextGen Careers Program, a shortterm initiative focused on providing

specialized careers services for individuals with disabilities aged 18-30 years old interested in careers in STEM. Thanks to a grant from the Rehabilitation Services Administration (RSA), we were able to create new service models and improve the impact of career services for participants and identify key strategies to implement across departments.

To support this, NextGen partnered with UMass to research and study the impact on participants with the goal of using that data to inform the development of future Career Services programs and understand the significance of specialized career support.

Out of 862 participants engaged in NextGen program, 81 have achieved successful employment outcomes related to their career goals, and 168 participants are actively employed. Many of these individuals will continue with MassAbility’s Career Services unit as NextGen ends to provide continued support and success returning to work.

and how to access different tax incentives and reimbursements for pre-hire training periods and internships.

“I’m just not sure how to interact with an employee with a disability, what if I say something wrong?” is a common sentiment shared by people who are not familiar with disabilities. According to the National Labor Force, people with disabilities are employed at a rate of 24.7 compared to non-disabled individuals at 68.4%.

Misconceptions about disabilities can lead Attendees enjoyed an engaging panel discussion employers to feel unsure how to interact with with our panel of Employer Partners: Michael Tamasi employees with a disability. By understanding of Accurounds, Colleen Moran of Umass Memorial, the different experiences and possibilities Courtney Reggiani of Mass General Brigham, and of workers with disabilities, employers can Rick Laferriere from CVS. Each spoke to the support feel confident hiring qualified talent for their from MassAbility and provided personal anecdotes company and help to close that employment that underscored the value of hiring disabled talent. gap. Assistant Commissioner Joan Phillips noted that these leaders didn’t ask “Can we do this?” but Hrothgar and Drew lead employers in instead asked, “How can we do this better?” breakout group exercises to talk about these misconceptions, perceived limitations, and Employees hired through MassAbility received assumptions about different disabilities. the training and support needed to succeed upon

Championing Inclusive Hiring at placement. The result? Stronger, more committed

teams and workplaces that reflect the full potential of our communities.

Partners in Possibility

Following the thought-provoking conversation, employers were able to ask questions and gain MassAbility hosted its first-ever “Partners in Possibility” advice and insight from our panelists before splitting employer-focused event on September 24th at the Royal into breakout sessions led by MassAbility Career and Plaza Trade Center and Hotel in Marlborough. Business Supervisors Stephanie Dort, Hrothgar Lane, By bringing together employer partners and MassAbility and Drew Ritter. staff, folks explored inclusive hiring practices and In one session, thanks to Stephanie, employers championed the employment of qualified individuals gained a full understanding of the services that with disabilities. MassAbility provides to hiring teams, managers, and employees that we support, like On the Job Training, The morning kicked off with keynote speaker Becky Curran, who spoke on her experiences as a professional with a disability and her career journey, drawing upon stories from times when opportunities opened up to her and allowed her to break into the film and tv industry.

Becky, alongside a panelist of employer partners, highlighted that the true barrier to employment is not disability, but inaction. The employment gap persists not because of a lack of talent or drive, but because opportunity hasn’t always met ability.

Employers were able to share their misconceptions and asked questions in a space to learn without judgement, which empowered them to engage and learn about the varied experiences of people working and living with disabilities. Employers realized their own assumptions about an employee with a disability do not reflect on the capability of an individual and ultimately create a roadblock in employment.

In one example, an employee with hearing loss wasn’t invited to in-person team meetings because of an assumption that they wouldn’t be able to hear the conversations. But this employee needed context from the meetings that was often lost in follow-up emails. The solution was simple: in team meetings, people would take turns talking, not talk over one another, and face the group while speaking.

As Hrothgrar pointed out, most accommodations requested by employees with a disability are not costly. Drew ended the presentation with the sentiment that it’s not the disability that presents a barrier, but rather the assumptions others can have. It is important to work on addressing our own assumptions about disability to ensure a smooth-working environment for all employees.

When Becky shared stories from her life, she shared that her journey was possible because of her willingness to succeed and the others around her who helped to enable that success. She had advice for the employers in attendance, highlighting the positive impact of creating

opportunities for disabled employees to rise into responsibility.

When you compare the National Unemployment Rate for individuals with disabilities to nondisabled individuals, the difference is more than doubled; a staggering 10% versus 4.3%. These statistics underscore the importance of creating equitable employment opportunities and the role employer partnerships play in closing these gaps.

The Partners in Possibility event was a powerful reminder of the impact we can make when we collaborate across sectors. By working together, we can break down barriers and unlock the potential in every individual. Assistant Commissioner Joan Phillips delivered closing remarks and ended with a call to action: “Let’s not just imagine what’s possible—let’s build it. Together, we can create a Commonwealth where everyone has a chance to thrive.”

“It reinforced my belief that building workplaces where everyone can thrive isn’t just the right thing to do. It’s a strategic imperative for innovation. and growth.”

Ivy Mah, Tecomet INC

Burns Fortes Consulting (BFC) & MassAbility: A Transformative Partnership

One notable success story involves a client referred by MassAbility to BFC to attend our Recovery Coach Academy. After completing the 3-week training, they returned as an Intern and are now on a path to employment with our organization, this individual was able to bring in with them both lived experience and professional training to inspire others.

This full-circle moment exemplifies the power of MassAbility’s approach and the real-world outcomes it fosters. Working with the MassAbility team has felt like an extension of our own values. Their responsiveness, deep expertise, and genuine investment in client success have made them an invaluable partner.

Fiscal Year at a Glance

Career Services

16,477 participants enrolled in training/education

23,321 participants receiving career services

10,396 new individuals determined eligible for services

Cost for individual served $4,708

36.8 years old

Home & Community Life

10,920

participants served

Funding Source

60,305

75,241

Disability Determination Services

claims processed for individuals applying for SSI/SSDI benefit

Cost for individual served $9,272

95.9%

claims processed accurately

| FY25 Funding

FUNDING AREA	Funding Source
	STATE	FEDERAL	TRUST	CAPITAL	TOTAL
Career Services	$40,020,452	$50,288,482	$4,805,429	n/a	$95,114,363
Home & Community Life	$87,613,040	$3,239,350	$6,597,817	$3,801,159	$101,251,366
NextGen Careers	n/a	$5,794,702	n/a	n/a	$5,794,702
Disability Determination Services	n/a	$42,300,750	n/a	n/a	$42,300,750
Commissioner's Office	$417,244	n/a	n/a	n/a	$417,244

Agency Funding Total

Career Services 39% Home & Community Life 41% NextGen Careers 2% Disability Determination Services 17% Commissioner’s Office 0%

State 52% Federal 41% Trust 5% Capital 2%

Career Services

Our Career Services team worked together with public colleges and universities, professional training programs, and employers statewide, helping 85% of participants achieve successful employment outcomes through valuable trainings and education.

Job-driven training

Service Offerings for Jobseekers

Interest and aptitude testing
Job placement assistance
Job placement assistance
Diagnostic evaluations

White 69.6%

Assistive technology
Financial wellness

By the Numbers

Communication access services: ASL interpreters, oral transliterators, CART, multiple language translation

Type of Disability

Race

Gender

Success Starts with MassAbility

In our mission to expand disability employment across Massachusetts, MassAbility is guided by one essential goal: increasing the number of employers who recruit, hire, and retain people with disabilities.

Across industries, employers face persistent recruitment challenges, increased competition for qualified talent, and rising turnover. Inclusive hiring directly addresses these priorities by expanding the talent pool and strengthening employee retention, engagement, and workforce stability.

MassAbility has worked tirelessly to elevate outreach to the Massachusetts business community. We’ve integrated business services into our overall processes and best practices, ensuring our Career and Business Relations Specialists work collaboratively to deliver a continuum of service for both individual and business customers.

Commissioner Toni Wolf explains,

“MassAbility is strategically positioned to find dynamic solutions to Massachusetts business workforce recruitment and retention challenges. Listening to the voice of business is essential to understanding workforce needs and challenges. That insight guides how we align services, talent pipelines, and support strategies to meet the evolving demands of employers across the Commonwealth.”

Inclusive hiring is not a risk—it’s a proven workforce solution. People with disabilities represent a skilled, motivated, and underutilized segment of the workforce. Employers who integrate inclusive hiring consistently report higher retention rates, improved productivity, and stronger team stability.

Courtney Regiannini, talent acquisition partner at Mass General Brigham, notes: “I’ve worked with a lot of other staffing agencies, and MassAbility really stands out with being able to have their candidates prepared.”

Campaign Performance and Impact:

These strategies facilitated direct interaction with business leaders, human resource managers, and talent acquisition professionals, strengthening their understanding of MassAbility’s value and workforce development connections.

1.3m+ impressions

62,000 clicks

55,000 print impressions through the Boston and Worcester Business Journals

Campaign Insights:

Most people who interacted with the campaign did so on their phone.

Technology & Manfucaturing professionals with backgrounds in infomration technology and various technological and mechanical manufacturing fields interacted with the campaign on Linkedin the most, indicating great interest in alternative staffing agencies and disability employment possibilities.

Mobile Phones Most people who interacted with the campaign did so on their phone.

Statewide Rehabilitation Council

The SRC is an advisory body that gathers representative voices from the disability community to provide input to MassAbility’s Career Services

The Council’s collective and individual thinking plays a substantive role in how the agency operates and contributes to the innovation of career and counseling services. Members of the SRC collaborate with MassAbility in developing goals and priorities for the state plan, and offer input and consultation on policies, practices, and procedures that impact jobseekers. If you are an employer, individual with a disability, family

member, advocate, service provider, and/or someone who wants to make a difference in people’s career-goals, this is the group for you!

Kate Biebel Deputy Commissioner Ex-Officio

Matthew Bander Disabilities Rep

Vision

FY25 SRC Members

We envision a world where all individuals with disabilities are supported to live their best lives, through person-driven, meaningful, competitive, and integrated employment and sustainable careers.

Mission

We work to promote competitive and sustainable employment for all people with disabilities, including those marginalized by inequalities.

Paula Euber Career Services Rep

Dawn E. Clark Labor / Business / Industries

Naomi Goldberg Client Assistance Program (CAP)

Steve Higgins State Independent Living Center Rep

Tay Silveira Client / Applicant Seat

Doug Mason Disability Rep

Vacant Business/Labor/Industries (3)

We also support self-employment strategies for job seekers and strengthened the employment outcomes for recipients of the Adult Community Clinical Services program.

To deepen our partnership with MassAbility, the Council invited Commissioner Wolf to present the agency’s FY2026 priorities. This presentation helped the SRC align its upcoming recommendations with current agency initiatives. The Council will continue to request updates throughout the year to ensure our work remains informed and responsive.

A Letter from the Chair Heather Wood

For FY2026, the SRC plans to craft and develop instructional materials for participants utilizing the DETC and advise MassAbility on strategies to market the DETC to participants, vendors, and employers.

We’ll also partner with a MassAbility representative to strengthen selfemployment support based on national best practices and advise on strategies to expand resources and knowledge for employers seeking to hire individuals with disabilities in the Commonwealth.

These included a number of things, one was in developing new committee structures to improve efficiency, including a review and redefinition of all subcommittee summaries. The next, we collaborated with MassAbility on adapting to shifts in federal policies and reviewing strategies to market the Disability Employment Tax Credit (DETC) to potential employers or agencies and how to support small businesses in utilizing this tax credit.

Shifts in federal, state, and agency initiatives directly influenced how the Council approached its work. The year underscored the need for the Council to remain adaptable as these initiatives continue to evolve and affect the delivery of services across the Commonwealth.

Following our partnership with NASHIA in FY2024, the SRC applied our strengthened procedures and awareness of national trends to advance our FY2025 recommendations.

Committee Reports

REACH Committee

The REACH Committee serves as an executive body to help guide strategic operations within MassAbility. The REACH Committee consults with the Executive Team to explore unique challenges and barriers for collaboration, idea generation, support and creative solutions to assist in advancing agency goals.

We are also focused on recruiting and retaining a workforce that reflects the varied backgrounds of our communities, with a focus on veterans, as this is a population where MassAbility has not hit its targeted benchmark in recent

Membership consists of a representative from each Employee Resource Group as well as members of the public. Ideally, this allows for full representation of staff at MassAbility. Through collaboration with management, the Committee developed a Scorecard which is used to assign responsibility to specific individuals in order to monitor progress. It also allows the Committee to prioritize which actions that are necessary for implementation.

Historically, veterans have been underrepresented and that

Progress Membership consists of a representative from each

Executive Committee

collaborative planning and information sharing. Additionally, the Committee reviewed vacant appointment categories, maintained a list of candidates for consideration, and is revising committee summaries and objectives to support alignment with agency priorities and Council recommendations. At its monthly meetings, the Committee reviews Council operations, discusses strategic priorities, evaluates emerging issues, and prepares for the full Council’s quarterly meetings.

The Executive Committee continues to monitor and respond to ongoing challenges at the federal, state, and agency levels, ensuring that the Council remains adaptable and well-positioned to provide effective guidance to MassAbility.

The Executive Committee ensures the Council acts in accordance with federal and state vocational rehabilitation regulations; manages the affairs of the Council in the interim between meetings; reviews the appointment categories the Council has vacant and maintains a list of potential candidates to fill the vacancies; and submits selected candidates for the following year to the Governors for consideration.

The Committee looks forward to continuing its work in partnership with MassAbility and other stakeholders to ensure that Council operations remain effective and responsive. By maintaining regular oversight, reviewing emerging issues, and fostering collaboration across committees, the Executive Committee will continue to support the Council in achieving its goals. These efforts also help ensure that the SRC remains a strong and adaptable advisory body, guiding MassAbility in advancing its strategic objectives and providing participants with the resources and support they need to achieve sustainable and fulfilling employment.

Consumer Satisfaction/ Needs Assessment Committee

The Consumer Satisfaction/Needs Assessment Committee ensures job candidate perspectives are included in the process of

evaluating vocational rehabilitation (VR) or career services. MassAbility and the SRC jointly conduct an annual needs assessment; resultant information and findings are incorporated into the VR section of the Massachusetts WIOA Combined State Plan, strategic planning efforts, and the agency’s quality assurance activities. The Committee provides the agency with detailed information regarding the needs of participants served by MassAbility, and fulfills the federal requirements that the agency and the SRC jointly conduct a needs assessment at least every three years. As part of this process, a Consumer Satisfaction Survey is also sent annually to consumers with closed cases to gauge their satisfaction with Career Services received through MassAbility. The Committee continued to meet bimonthly to review participant

(1) collaborating with community transportation providers to explore opportunities for a more streamlined application and intake process, and (2) identifying strategies to reduce communication gaps between VR counselors and participants, particularly instances of unintentional loss of contact, did not move forward this year. The Committee plans to continue exploring ways to support participants in accessing clear information and resources that strengthen their connection to services.

The third recommendation focused on helping participants better understand what MassAbility can and cannot provide throughout the Career Services process. This aligned closely with a recommendation submitted by the Client Assistance Program (CAP), so the CSNAC will collaborate with CAP and MassAbility in the coming year to develop accessible fact sheets to orient career services participants to available supports and expectations.

Over the next year, the CSNAC intends to review and update its name and mission to better reflect its focus and activities. By continuing to collaborate and examine feedback from participants, staff, businesses, and providers, the Committee aims to help ensure that VR services remain responsive to the needs and experiences of those they support.

State Plan and Interagency Relations Committee

Chairperson: Joe Belil

The State Plan and Interagency Relations Committee (State Plan Committee) ensures the SRC meets its obligations regarding input from jobseekers in the development of both the MassAbility public career services/vocational rehabilitation (VR) State Plan and the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) Combined State Plan.

Committees Support and Strengthening the SRC Recommendation Process Throughout FY25, the State Plan Committee played

Throughout FY25, the State Plan Committee played a central role in advancing the SRC recommendation process. Members closely reviewed MassAbility’s responses to the FY25 recommendations and assessed the ongoing progress during each State Plan Committee meeting. This work resulted in a finalized FY25 SRC Recommendation document, shared with all members in October 2024.

The committee made it a priority to have thoughtful conversations about community and accessibility, understanding that these values are key to creating recommendations that are both all-encompassing and effective.

Improved Communication and Planning Strategies In February 2025, the committee introduced a more efficient, structured approach to communicating recommendations with MassAbility. This included a detailed schedule, clearly defined roles for the State Plan and Annual Reports, and updated guidelines for developing the FY26 recommendations. To better support these efforts, the recommendation

To better support these efforts, the recommendation timeline was adjusted to align with the new process, improving coordination and clarity across stakeholders.

Expanding Community Engagement and Outreach To strengthen community involvement, the committee once

Expanding Community Engagement and Outreach To strengthen community involvement, the committee once again partnered with the Office of Learning and Community Engagement. Through the Spring Newsletter, MassAbility Participants were invited to share feedback on how career services can better support people with disabilities.

The committee remains committed to improving the SRC recommendation process and ensuring it continues to reflect participant voices and the SRC’s and MassAbility’s values.

Business and Employment Opportunity Committee

Opportunity Committee

The committee received three reports from MassAbility on various self-employment efforts, including work with a consultant to identify best practices outside of the Commonwealth of MA. The committee contributed to and supported MassAbility consensus that it would be prudent to work with other states to learn about their effective practices to help the people seeking self-employment. It

practices to help the people seeking self-employment. It was noted that there is a lot of self-employments in the

was noted that there is a lot of self-employments in the state of Vermont, and the laws may differ somewhat there. The committee recommended that MBY emphasize helping participants get ready for self-employment, to enhance the likelihood that self-employment ventures will be successful.

The SRC Business and Employment Opportunity (BEO) Committee is responsible for reviewing, analyzing, and providing guidance to the MassAbility on methods and best practices for employment and employment services.

Develop practical strategies for sharing work Advise MassAbility on strategies to enhance business and employer awareness of the Disability Employment Tax Credit (DETC): a state-sponsored incentive to promote the employment of people with disabilities.

The Committee received reports from MassAbility at three intervals during the year regarding the numbers of people who had gone through the certification process. One of the committee members offered personal experience of having gone through the process.

Home + Community Life

Building a life on your own terms

MassAbility’s Home and Community Life services empower you to participate in your community and build a better life on your own terms. We partner with you to expand what’s possible for adults and youth with disabilities, providing you with the support, technology, and training you need to become selfsufficient. Together, we’re breaking down barriers to create a Massachusetts that’s truly equitable, accessible, and inclusive.

Home and Community Life services

Our programs and services include

Accessible housing registry
Turning 22 youth transition to adult human services
Assistive technology training, devices, and resources
Supported living and home care
Community-based residential, day, and support services for people with brain injuries
327 received protective services

By the Numbers

1,374 received services from the Moving Forward Program

Disability

Opening doors

If your ability to work is limited because of a disability, MassAbility’s Disability Determination Services (DDS) division is here to help determine if you are eligible for disability benefits.

You can apply for Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and/or Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) through the Social Security Administration (SSA). SSA works to assess your situation and eligibility. If you are determined eligible, SSA sends your application to DDS, and we will work with you to gather necessary information, make a determination, and return your application to SSA for you to get the assistance you need.

If you are found to be disabled, you may also be eligible for health care coverage through Medicaid and Medicare. For many Massachusetts residents like you, DDS is part of our team that can improve your quality of life by helping you live more independently.

Number of claims processed for individuals applying for SSI/SSDI benefit: 75,241
Number of initial claims processed by DDS: 49,445
Claims processed accurately: 95.9%

Massachusetts SSI/SSDI Summary

MA SSI Recipients, 2024: 163,339
MA SSDI Recipients, 2024: 184,939

My INTERNSHIP with MassAbility

Sarah Malone shares her experience working as the marketing and communications intern at MassAbility and her perspective as a NextGen Careers Participant.

I started my internship at MassAbility with the Communications team at the beginning of January 2025 after getting support from the NextGen Career Services program, and it turned out to be the perfect fit!

When I first found MassAbility, I was feeling defeated, having a new spinal cord injury, I lost all momentum in my career and recently lost my full-time job. Truly, I did not know where to start, until I saw an ad on social media for the NextGen Careers program, targeted to disabled folks between 18-30. I felt like I had nothing left to lose and I was craving the stimulation of work. I entertained the idea that doing coursework in bed while in pain would be better than simply laying there, and that if I could at least have something positive come out of all that time, it would be worth the effort.

My first step was going back to school to gain the certifications I needed to boost my resume. Like many disabled individuals, I had a non-traditional education experience and only received a GED and some college experience. I had never finished a degree. Eventually, I entered the workforce but began to hit barriers without the right credentials, despite having extensive work experience. This, combined with health issues and a diseased spinal cord, led to a very sudden loss of my jobs and income, and my identity. I love working and building communities and businesses through marketing and communications! That passion was a huge motivator to get myself back to work, but I knew that this time I needed extensive outside support.

Through my time as an intern with MassAbility’s Communications Department, I was able to step into a fast-paced role with a high level of responsibility. I spent the year directing our social and digital communications efforts and took on an outreach role by traveling across Massachusetts to different events. I visited different organizations to film collaborations for social media to amplify our missions as organizations to support the community in our state, and each visit connected me to more people!

Each of these opportunities gave me the chance to network and build bridges between different service providers that I met. It also gave me the chance to reconnect and re-introduce our agency to people who had known us before last year’s thoughtful rebrand to MassAbility.

Not only did I work on external communications, but I quickly stepped into the role for the internal staff communications and shouldered the big responsibility of our weekly internal newsletter, provided guidance for digital accessibility efforts, and gave direction on key messaging and partner collaborations between different departments and external organizations or partner providers. I had many opportunities to lead and work with different teams to meet deadlines and deliverables for various projects.

One thing I especially enjoyed was the agency-style work; my previous experience had been with small businesses and coordinating small packages of ad-creatives for other agencies. It’s refreshing to work in an agency where the teams are larger, there’s more shared responsibility, and I have coworkers who understand the disability experience and are willing to learn. Until MassAbility, I have never had a workplace where I feel respected and trusted for the value I bring to the team and not doubted for my disabilities. I am thrilled to share that I have been hired as the Communications and Marketing Coordinator!

Expanding equity and access for people