When he was hired as a digital archivist for the PBS show American Masters in 2025, James P. found something he wasn’t sure was possible.
“It’s been one of the greatest, if not the greatest, work experiences I’ve had in my life,” James says. “I feel like my life has purpose to it, which I went for a while without feeling like I was contributing to the greater social good. Spiritually, that’s rewarding for me.”
Terence W. shares a similar feeling to James. For the past 18 years, Terence has made an independent life for himself, cooking with his roommates, watching TV, going on walks, and hosting parties.
Christian B., a lifelong wordsmith, has found a community of fellow poets through a collective of neurodivergent writers and performers who have repeatedly taken the stage at the prestigious New York City Poetry Festival.
Securing Employment for Those with Developmental Disabilities
James, Terence, and Christian are the hundreds of people who have found opportunities to thrive at work, at home, and in their communities with support from Job Path, a nonprofit that serves New Yorkers with autism and other developmental disabilities.
“When Job Path was founded in 1978, we were the first program of its kind in New York State and one of the first in the country,” says CEO Carly Teichman. “Almost five decades later, our mission remains the same – that everyone has gifts and talents, everyone has the right to make decisions about their own lives, and everyone deserves the freedom to express themselves.”
Employment opportunities remain one of the most challenging hurdles for the 2.21 percent of Americans who have autism. According to the A.J. Drexel Autism Institute, only 27 percent of adults with autism spectrum disorder who receive state services were employed, compared to 35 percent of adults with other disabilities.
Rather than starting with traditional job listings, Job Path uses a U.S. Department of Labor-endorsed method called Customized Employment. Staff work with job seekers to identify their skills and talents while also meeting with business owners to understand their unmet needs. The organization then matches the two. For example, a business struggling with a backlog of paperwork might be connected with someone who excels at routine tasks such as document scanning, filing, and shredding.
The approach has produced strong results. About 85 percent of employees placed by Job Path remain in their roles for at least a year. Disability inclusion also offers benefits for employers. Companies with high scores on disability inclusion metrics earn 1.6 times more revenue and are 25 percent more productive than their competitors, according to research firm Accenture.
More Than Job Placement
Beyond employment, Job Path helps individuals with developmental disabilities build fulfilling lives on their own terms. Its Community Connections program, which includes Christian’s poetry group, and Supported Living program, which supports Terence, provide personalized opportunities for people to pursue their goals and interests.
“Whether it’s finding a job, volunteering, obtaining an apartment, attending school, or joining a community group, the goal is to support people in leading engaged and active lives,” Teichman says. “In other words, to live the same kind of life everyone wants.”
This post was submitted as part of our “You Said It” program. Your voice, ideas, and engagement are important to help us accomplish our mission. We encourage you to share your ideas and efforts to make the world a better place by submitting a “You Said It,” which can earn a nonprofit that you champion a $1,000 grant from the Make It Better Foundation and eligibility for a Philanthropy Award, grant content partnership, and greater engagement with our audience.
How to Help
Every year, Job Path provides hundreds of New Yorkers with autism and other developmental disabilities with personalized support to find meaningful employment, connect with their communities, and live independently. Donations help make these opportunities possible.
Jennifer Hughes is a communications professional with roots in the world of newspaper reporting, broad experience as a fundraiser and event planner, and a passion for storytelling. Her favorite thing is to hold the microphone for someone who doesn’t feel seen or heard.
