- Massachusetts Commission for the Blind
The Massachusetts Commission for the Blind proudly concluded our 2024 Summer Internship Program with a closing ceremony held at the State House on August 14. This year’s program welcomed 45 interns, marking a significant milestone: approximately 900 interns have now participated since the program's inception in 2003.
Internships are crucial in bridging the gap between education and employment, offering valuable real-world experience, and fostering professional growth. Our program is designed to equip individuals who are legally blind with essential skills, confidence, and connections for their future careers.
The ceremony, hosted by Deputy Commissioner Justine Muir, featured a distinguished lineup of speakers. Commissioner Oliveira opened the event by highlighting the program's impact on the people the agency serves. Human Services Undersecretary Mary McGeown and State Representative Steven Owens also delivered inspiring speeches. Undersecretary McGeown emphasized that internships provide invaluable experience in communication, teamwork, and time management, and encouraged interns to leverage their network of mentors for advice and support. She also praised employers for their role in fostering a diverse and thriving workforce. Representative Owens urged the interns to be ambassadors and educators, ensuring that the Legislature considers the impact on the disability community.
The keynote address was delivered by Erich Manser, Digital Accessibility Consultant at Harvard. Manser’s insights into digital accessibility resonated with the audience, offering valuable perspectives on technology and inclusion. He expressed pride in the interns for stepping outside their comfort zones and shared key takeaways: cherish job opportunities, seek help when needed, maintain diverse mentorships, be patient, understand disability rights, and approach your work with a collaborative spirit.
The event featured testimonials from current and past interns. Joicee Gordillo, an intern at the MBTA, shared her experiences and the skills she developed. Sam Borek, a former intern at Zildjian, reflected on how the internship shaped his career and personal growth.
Employer partners played a significant role as well. Ashley Lewis from the Boston Neighborhood Network Media spoke about the positive impact of their interns and their contributions to the community. The Employer Partnership Award was presented to Riverside Community Care, with Kristianne Widman accepting the honor on behalf of the organization, recognizing their exceptional commitment to providing meaningful internship and employment opportunities.
The event concluded with the announcement of the winners of the “Reach for the Stars” contest, where interns shared their thoughts on how artificial intelligence will impact the future workforce.
This program not only highlighted the incredible potential of our interns but also underscored the importance of continued support and partnerships in fostering a more inclusive and accessible workforce.
2024 Employer Partners
Ahoi!
Anvaya Feats
Audio Journal
Bay State Community Services
Boston Neighborhood Network Media
Cambridge Health Alliance
Cardinal Cushing Centers
Central Mass Employment Collaborative (one of the six Riverside Employment Collaboratives)
Cooperative for Human Services
Cote Financial Management
Disability Policy Consortium
Draper
Federation for Children with Special Needs
Get Braille
Il Forno Restaurant and Catering
Institute for Human Centered Design
Jacobs
Kelley Media
KODE Connect
Mass Audubon
Massachusetts Association for the Blind and Visually Impaired
Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority
Narragansett Regional School District
National Braille Press
Northeast Animal Shelter
Northeast Independent Living Program
Office of Boston City Council President Luijeune
Pedal Point Solutions
Perkins School for the Blind
PIP Consulting Group
Riverside Community Care
Tantasqua Regional High School
The Brien Center
The Carroll Center for the Blind
The Lucky View
The Weiss Summer Research Program (College of the Holy Cross)
YMCA Southcoast
Photo Caption: (Top row, from left to right) John Oliveira, Mary McGeown, Steven Owens, Kristianne Widman (Bottom row, from left to right) Justine Muir, Erich Manser, Joicee Gordillo, Sam Borek, Ashley Lewis
