Easterseals Massachusetts was awarded a one-year $100,000 grant from Comcast NBCUniversal for the Comcast NBCUniversal Digital Literacy and Employment Program. The goal of this program is to build a digital literacy and employment training program for young adults with disabilities that will result in skill building and a paid internship for participants.
Easterseals Massachusetts is one of three Easterseals affiliates across the country selected to participate in the program, each sharing a portion of the $368,000 grant. Along with National Easterseals, Easterseals Massachusetts is partnering with affiliates in Washington State and Indiana by sharing resources and best practices in offering digital learning opportunities.
“Digital literacy is critical for many young adults with disabilities to maximize their full potential at school, home, and at work, as they transition into the adult world,” said Kelly Penrod, Easterseals Massachusetts pre-employment manager and job developer.
The Comcast NBCUniversal Digital Literacy and Employment Program is for any young adult ages 18-24 with a diagnosed disability and has the ability to work independently in a competitive work environment. The project focuses on delivering targeted digital literacy curriculum in the classroom combined with an internship that will allow each participant to demonstrate what they are learning in a real work setting. The program is available to participants in central and western Massachusetts.
Participants will join in remote workshops that focus on digital literacy, digital safety, job readiness, and financial literacy. Additionally, these young adults will be placed in a paid 50-hour internship in an area of their interest and within their communities, to gain real world employment experience and build social skills for a work environment.
Digital literacy and access to technology are two areas of strategic investment at Comcast NBCUniversal that empower people and create opportunities for those who need it most. Easterseals and affiliates throughout the country have been chosen by Comcast NBCUniversal for many grants and programs throughout the years. In 2020, Easterseals Massachusetts was awarded $40,000 for its important work in providing assistive technology to children and adults, including veterans, living with disabilities.
“Once again, we thank Comcast NBCUniversal for its continued support of Easterseals and people with disabilities,” said Paul Medeiros, Easterseals Massachusetts president and CEO.
“This grant will help students with disabilities access their first work experience, which will remove a major barrier to employment when they are adults.”
Community members and businesses seeking information about how to sign up for the program should contact Kelly Penrod at kpenrod@eastersealsma.org.
