AllWays Health Partners has recently partnered with Work Without Limits (WWL). WWL is an initiative by the University of Massachusetts Medical School (UMMS) that aims to increase the employment of people with disabilities. Their goal is to make Massachusetts the first state in the nation where the employment rate of people with disabilities is equal to people without disabilities. To achieve this, WWL has a host of programs and services to support businesses that actively recruit people with disabilities, individuals with disabilities who are seeking jobs, and the employment providers that serve them.
A snapshot of WWL's impact from their website
Disability employment facts
According to Cornell University’s disability statistics database, the U.S. employment rate of persons with a disability in 2017 was only 37.3%, while the employment rate for the overall population that year was 70.3%. Although the employment rate of persons with disabilities has been increasing, it is still too low. WWL was formed in 2008 when members of Massachusetts state government, UMMS, and other key stakeholders formed a partnership with the help of a federal grant. They began a strategic planning effort to maximize employment opportunities for people with disabilities in Massachusetts, and to address the barriers keeping them from finding work.
Opportunities for equity
As an organization committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion, AllWays Health Partners is proud to be supporting WWL as a Gold Sponsor. Through this sponsorship, our employees will have opportunities to get involved in WWL’s signature events, such as job fairs, trainings and more. WWL has many such events throughout the year, and we look forward to joining them in their quest to increase the employment of those with disabilities.
Disability accommodation and job seeking
WWL has resources available for both employers and job seekers. If you’re interested in making your practice more inclusive and accommodating to those with disabilities, WWL has many guides, including their Disability Etiquette Guide, Workplace Accommodation & Adjustments fact sheet, and more. If you have any patients who are disabled, they can benefit from WWL’s job seeker resources, including their LinkedIn Guide, as well as the many links to other organizations that can offer assistance to people with disabilities. See all of WWL’s resources here.