Spaulding Celebrates Opening of New JobLab Training Center at Cambridge Location

(Cambridge, MA) – While the Massachusetts and National unemployment rates have continued to decline among ongoing economic success, the opportunities for persons with disabilities still lags far behind at more than twice the unemployment rate at over 8%. The reasons are many including real and perceived barriers to opportunity. A new center, JobLab, located at Spaulding Hospital Cambridge aims to provide space and resources to help prospective talent and companies connect in a fresh and productive way.

Recently, after several years in development and building partnerships to support the goals, a group of government, business and non-profit leaders gathered to celebrate the official opening of the JobLab training space. Rosalin Acosta, Secretary of Labor and Workforce Development for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, office supported the effort and shared comments ahead of its opening.

“Today is another wonderful example that shows how Massachusetts is working to be a leader in creating models that encourage equitable workforce development programs for all communities. For Spaulding to host this innovative experiment JobLab, along with their partners from government, business and the community, shows their deep commitment to enhancing the opportunities for all the citizens of our state and beyond,” said Secretary Acosta.

JobLab is an innovative training suite with classroom space, computers, interview rooms and a quiet work zone housed on the first floor of Spaulding Hospital Cambridge. There is no cost to participate and employers can get access to trained, employment-ready candidates with abilities trained, supported by and connected to community-based organizations. Among the organizations currently involved are CVS Health, Jewish Vocational Service, MassHire, Massachusetts Rehabilitation Commission, Partners HealthCare and Partners for Youth with Disabilities. The goal is to grow even more partnerships in the coming years.

“Core to Spaulding’s mission is finding ways for the communities we serve to achieve the highest quality of life possible. We understand how vital a job is to enhance a person’s overall wellness and dignity. Spaulding is so proud to join with our like-minded partners today to make JobLab a reality,” said David Storto, President, Spaulding Rehabilitation and Partners Continuing Care.

JobLab Goals Include:

• Employment Training: increase competitive employment outcomes for people with disabilities.
• Job Retention: improve function through ongoing support to maintain employment.
• Business and Government Relationship: educate and build on expertise and resources that each partner brings to the table.

“Our vision for JobLab is to foster a vibrant space where people in need of training can get the skills to provide them opportunities and for companies to get the exposure to the underemployed community with disabilities. By breaking down those barriers and creating these pathways to opportunity, I’m hopeful we can create a model for others to follow,” said Oz Mondejar, Senior Vice President of Mission and Advocacy.

JobLab is located at Spaulding Hospital Cambridge, 1575 Cambridge Street. Employers, community organizations or candidates interested or to learn more should contact: Colleen Moran, Director, Workforce Programs, Spaulding Rehabilitation, cmmoran@partners.org or call 617-365-7952.

About Spaulding Rehabilitation
A member of Partners HealthCare, Spaulding Rehabilitation includes Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital, with a main campus in Charlestown the 3rd ranked rehabilitation hospital in the country by U.S. News & World Report, along with Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital Cape Cod, Spaulding Hospital Cambridge, Spaulding Nursing and Therapy Center Brighton, and 25 outpatient sites throughout Eastern Massachusetts. An acclaimed teaching hospital of Harvard Medical School and home to the Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Spaulding is recognized as the top residency program in the U.S. in the 2019/2020 Doximity Residency Navigator. Spaulding also was recognized by the 2019 Disability Equality Index as a “Best Places to Work for Disability Inclusion.” For more information, please visit www.spauldingrehab.org.