There is a moment — one that the Career Services team at the James L. Maher Center knows well — when everything clicks. It is the moment a young person with an intellectual or developmental disability walks into their first day of work, badge in hand, uniform on, ready to show the world exactly what they are capable of. It is a moment of pride, of possibility, and of proof that with the right support, the right coaching, and the right opportunity, there is no limit to what our youth can achieve.
That moment is what drives everything the Maher Center’s Career Services department does — and it is happening more and more every single day across Rhode Island.
Meeting Young People Where They Are
The Maher Center’s Career Services team works directly with transitioning youth with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) in high schools across the state, meeting students where they are and walking alongside them every step of the way as they prepare to enter the workforce. This is not a one-size-fits-all program. It is deeply personal, carefully crafted, and built around the unique strengths, interests, and goals of each individual young person.
The process begins long before graduation. Career Services staff embed themselves in the lives of their students — working with them on job readiness skills, resume building, interview preparation, and career exploration. They help students discover not just what jobs are available, but what careers might genuinely light them up. What are they good at? What do they love? Where do their talents shine? These are the questions that guide the journey.
From there, students are placed in real jobs — with real employers, real responsibilities, and real paychecks — throughout Rhode Island. And the support doesn’t stop at the door. Job coaches walk alongside each young person as they learn their role, build their confidence, and find their footing in the workplace. The result is not just employment — it is belonging.
Real Jobs. Real Impact. Real Futures.
The proof is in the outcomes. Students placed through the Maher Center’s Career Services program are working in businesses and organizations across Rhode Island, contributing meaningfully to their workplaces and their communities. And for many of them, what begins as a placement becomes something more permanent — several Maher Center students have been hired on full-time following their graduation, turning a stepping stone into a career.
Why This Work Matters
Nationally, the employment gap for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities remains one of the most pressing challenges facing the disability community. Studies consistently show that only about one in three adults with IDD is employed — a statistic that the Maher Center is working every day to change, one young person at a time.
Employment is not just about a paycheck. It is about identity, dignity, independence, and community. When a young person with IDD goes to work, they are not just earning a living — they are building a life. They are forming friendships, developing skills, contributing to their community, and discovering their own potential in ways that nothing else can replicate. The Maher Center’s Career Services team understands this deeply, and it shows in everything they do.
A Community Effort
None of this work happens in isolation. The success of the Maher Center’s Career Services program is a testament to what is possible when schools, families, employers, and community organizations all come together around a shared belief: that every young person deserves the chance to pursue a meaningful career, regardless of their abilities.
We are always looking to grow — more employer partners who share our vision of an inclusive workforce, more schools eager to connect their students with transformative opportunities, and more community members who want to champion this work.
Get Involved
If you are an employer interested in partnering with the Maher Center’s Career Services program, a family looking to explore transition services for your young adult, or simply someone who wants to learn more about the incredible work being done right here in our community, we would love to hear from you.
Visit us at www.mahercenter.org, or reach out directly our team. For Opportunities in our career services department, reach out to Tristan Pennell at tpennell@mahercareer.org or for volunteer and sponsorship opportunities, reach out to Ashley Murphy at amurphy@mahercenter.org or call (401) 846-4600. Together, we can open more doors, create more opportunities, and help more young people take that walk into their first day of work — badge in hand, ready for everything ahead.
Because at the James L. Maher Center, we believe — with every fiber of who we are — that everyone deserves to live life to its fullest.
The James L. Maher Center is a nonprofit organization based in Middletown, Rhode Island, serving adults and transitioning youth with intellectual and developmental disabilities for over 70 years. To learn more, visit www.mahercenter.org.
