Achievements and Accolades

The program has hired many individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities and it has provided them with competitive wages and benefits. The average wage for supported employees is above the average wage for NYC. The 1-year retention rate of Project PossAbility hires, to date, is 100%.

Feedback on Project PossABILITY collected from supervisors and co-workers demonstrates multiple benefits overall, including:

• Increased department productivity.
• The addition of highly motivated and engaged employees.
• Improved workplace morale and cultural competence.
• Above standards reviews of work quality and ethics, ability to follow instructions, and attention to detail.

These benefits highlight that people with intellectual and developmental disabilities are talented, driven individuals who can positively contribute to the CUIMC workplace when allowed to do so.

Overall, Project PossABILITY at CUIMC has achieved numerous accolades and successes in providing meaningful employment opportunities for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Through its innovative approach, the program has set a national example for creating competitive and significant work opportunities in universities for this population. In March 2022, the Mayor’s Office for People with Disabilities recognized CUIMC for the Project PossABILITY Initiative.

Providing Opportunities

Supported employees have been hired into many different job types, including:

• Administrative Assistant
• Administrative Employee
• Human Resources Coordinator
• Comparative Medicine Assistant
• Laboratory Assistant

Participating Departments

These departments employ supported employees from Project PossABILITY:

• Surgery
• Pathology and Cell Biology
• Medicine
• Institute of Comparative Medicine
• Herbert Irving Comprehensive Cancer Center
• Heilbrunn Department of Population and Family Health - MSPH
• CUIMC Facilities
• CUIMC Finance