BOSTON (WWLP) – The Commission on the Status of Persons with Disabilities met on Wednesday to ensure that disabled Massachusetts residents are set up for success in their communities, the workplace, and beyond.
Currently, the primary function of this commission is to create partnerships with businesses and school systems to help people with disabilities have productive employment.
Over the last few months, the commission transitioned the state to a new type of assessment tool to identify the support needs of disabled people.
This new tool focuses on the strengths of the disabled person to set them up for success in the workplace.
“This new tool will come at the planning process not from the question of ‘do you want to work’ but it will come at it from the perspective of ‘what services and supports would you need in order to meet your employment goals,’” said Acting Commissioner of the Massachusetts Department of Developmental Services, Sarah Peterson.
The commission also discussed what their work will look like moving forward, with the chair of the commission bringing forward several issues to consider as their next priority.