UMass Medical School’s Work Without Limits program will be honored by Partners for Youth with Disabilities (PYD) at its 30th Anniversary Benefit Party at District Hall in Boston May 7.
Work Without Limits will be one of 30 influential individuals, corporations, foundations, and organizations to be recognized at the event, which celebrates PYD partnerships that have made it possible for youth with disabilities to become contributing members and leaders of the Greater Boston community.
Work Without Limits, a statewide network of employers and partners, is part of the Disability, Health and Employment Policy unit within the Commonwealth Medicine division of UMass Medical School. The program aims to improve the employment rate of people with disabilities. In Massachusetts, only 33 percent of working age people with disabilities are employed versus 76 percent of people without disabilities, according to the American Community Survey.
As one of Work Without Limit’s founding partners, PYD provides access to candidates for Work Without Limits’ corporate customers, as well as training and consultative services that focus on mentoring and including young adults with disabilities in the workplace.
The PYD celebration will feature WCVB-TV’s Pam Cross as Master of Ceremonies and a keynote address from Hubie Jones, dean emeritus of the Boston University School of Social Work. Honorary co-chairs of the evening are Sens. Elizabeth Warren and Edward J. Markey, Mayor Martin J. Walsh and Commissioner Kristen McCosh.
For 30 years, PYD has been helping youth with disabilities reach their personal, educational, and career goals through unique mentoring, creative arts, life skills development, and career-readiness programs. PYD has also provided inclusion training and technical assistance to more than 100 organizations across the country to help them become more inclusive toward people living with disabilities.
If you would like to join in honoring Work Without Limits and celebrating with PYD and the community on May 7th, event details including information on how to purchase tickets can be found on the PYD web site.