Job Path

There’s still time to join us as we honor Job Path’s Associate Executive Director, Aimee Althoff at the Spring Benefit next week. (Don’t forget - tomorrow is the deadline for digital ads, which start at just $100!)

https://www.jobpathnyc.org/benefit/

Aimee, on the left, is seen here with two Job Path participants, Jaide D. and Will F. Together they conducted a panel discussion about workplace disability inclusion at the Fall 2025 New York State DREAM Symposium, which was sponsored by a coalition of more than a dozen state agencies.

The panel was “Making the Right Match through Customized Employment: Journeys to Meaningful Work,” - which is a perfect fit given that Aimee has dedicated the past 20 years to that mission here at Job Path.

At the panel, Jaide said: “I have a voice, and it should be heard even though I have a disability.” Aimee is one of those people who has spent her life making sure that Jaide - and hundreds like her - can be heard, and can find jobs and thrive in the workplace.

Join us as we honor her and support this work for the years to come!

“With the end of March, we’ve officially concluded Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month and we are now moving into April as Autism Awareness Month.

Both commemorative months were officially established almost 40 years ago, but the sentiments behind them are more important than ever - and more than a hashtag at Job Path.

Every day of every month at Job Path is a celebration of what people with autism and other developmental disabilities can do, and how they make their workplaces and their communities a better place!”
-Job Path CEO Carly Teichman

-Job Path CEO (tag) Carly Teichman

The 2026 Customized Employment Awards hosted by and New York City Mayor's Office for People with Disabilities were a fantastic event yesterday! Thanks and congrats to honorees Julia Kelly, Director of Employment and Meaningful Community Activities New York State Office for People With Developmental Disabilities and Martha Jackson, Executive Director, Center for Workplace Accessibility and Inclusion, NYC Office of Talent and Workforce Development.

CCE is a project of Job Path that brings together 14 New York City social service agencies to expand the reach of customized employment to serve even more New Yorkers with developmental disabilities.

Photo captions:
1: Martha and Julia with their awards.
2: Martha takes a photo of the audience.
3. The CCE team - Karen, Wendy, and Kelly.
4. Job Path CEO Carly Teichman chats with Goodwill’s Aaron Shmueli and Emanuel P., who works for New World Stages and was the opening emcee.
5. Julia with her team.
6. Martha with her team.
7. Wendy with Randy B. who has been a porter at Restaurant Associates Corporate Dining for 12 years.

One week from tonight -- Join us! And thank you so for hosting us!

At any one of her shifts at Shake Shack, Maria Z. might be restocking in the dining room, cleaning up, greeting guests, or - as someone with years of experience - training new employees.

“I like all the different roles I play. I like how I have to wear different hats throughout my shift - I’m everywhere! Plus, I’m very social; I really like to talk to people.”

Not long ago, Maria celebrated 10 years at one of Shake Shack’s Queens locations - an accomplishment that she says makes her want to “dance up a storm.” Maria’s supervisor Luis Duran praised her for being empathetic, hospitable, and always willing to go above and beyond for both guests and other team members.

“She brings a positive attitude and really lifts everyone around her,” he says.

When it comes to her role training new staff, he says: “She’s exceptional because she breaks down every task step-by-step, ensuring every new team member feels confident. She also gives plenty of feedback, making sure everyone masters each station before moving on.”

Shake Shack is one of the most active employer partners for The Consortium for Customized Employment. Since the partnership began in 2012, CCE has been responsible for 44 jobs at 19 shacks in 4 boroughs, Long Island, and Hoboken, NJ.

Congratulations to Maria and Shake Shack!

CCE is a project of Job Path that brings together 14 New York City social service agencies to expand the reach of customized employment to serve even more New Yorkers with developmental disabilities.

We celebrate this month - and every month!

“I like to help people out who need it. I like to help people so they don’t feel alone. I love to give people a friendly vibe." - Leo E. (Seen here in the first photo.)

Leo is one of two Job Path participants thriving at their new jobs at two different locations for the paint, window treatment and hardware chain, Janovic Paint and Decorating Center. He and Zeiad E. both excel in maintenance and stocking tasks and have quickly become valued members of their teams.

Janovic President and CEO Rich Gaudino says that in hiring, "success is related to aligning the right individual with the proper location and responsibilities."

"A great example of this is Leo," Gaudino says. "He brings an engagement and energy that we often lack. While he does not have complex high level company responsibilities, he takes his job seriously and is so dedicated in his role, which has a positive influence on the team around him. Leo brings a contagious smile and makes our workplace better for everyone around him."

Zeiad (seen here with the hand truck) says he loves his job and has adopted a co-workers’ catchphrase about working smarter, not harder. (“Take it eeeeeazzzy!”)

“People like me here,” he says. His supervisor, Manager Cyrus Gewecke had high praise.

“He helps clean everything up and keep things organized. He does a lot of things that wouldn’t get done without him, which is a huge help.”

Thank you NY Alliance for your incredibly important work.

The first week of February is a solemn one for the I/DD community, as it marks the anniversary of the airing of Geraldo Rivera’s expose on Willowbrook: The Last Great Disgrace. While it did serve as a lynchpin for major reforms in the sector and the eventual shutdown of Willowbrook, the fact that the horrid treatment of those in Willowbrook was allowed to continue for so long, combined with the harrowing images the expose revealed to the world, leaves a cultural scar to this day.

https://cdd.ny.gov/remembering-willowbrook

From our CEO, Carly Teichman:

There is nothing quite like being in a room full of people dedicated to social impact. Tuesday night’s Vision to Reality 2.0 event with Community Resource Exchange (CRE) was a fantastic reminder of the power of learning.

I had a wonderful time attending with our Associate Executive Director, Aimee Althoff. A huge highlight of our evening was running into Job Path NYC board member Taina Sanon Epps—it’s always a treat to connect in person and reflect on the incredible work happening across our sector.

Congratulations to the CRE team on the launch of the new book! I’m looking forward to taking a deeper dive into the insights. 📚

This fantastic article lays out the argument for why companies should position themselves ahead of the curve when it comes to disability inclusion in the workplace. One of many fascinating facts: “Creative agency Misfit Media’s analysis of more than 500 brand campaigns … found that 84 percent of consumers trust brands more when disability is represented, and 73 percent would switch to a more inclusive competitor — even at a higher price.”

One of the world’s fastest-growing economic forces is still flying under most companies’ radar: the disability economy.

Over 2 million blind and low-vision adults are employed today, along with millions of deaf and hard-of-hearing workers. Full-time disabled workers earn a median of $48,937. Disabled Americans control an estimated $490 billion in disposable income, and globally, disabled purchasing power is an estimated $8 trillion.

Disabled America is not a monolith but a constellation of niche consumer communities with unmet needs and strong loyalty to brands that finally address them.

Read more in the comments below ⬇️

Job Path supports adults with autism and other developmental disabilities at all stages of their career and life paths. Yismel is part of the amazing team that works with some of our younger participants who are just getting started. It's an exciting time!