Open Sky’s Career Services helps adults with disabilities, and those facing other barriers, find and keep meaningful, competitive employment.

We focus on each person’s strengths, preferences, and goals, and work closely with partner agencies to make sure job seekers get the support they need to succeed. There is no cost to the participant, and meeting times can be flexible, 8am-6pm Monday-Friday or other times based on each person’s needs.

Our Approach

We follow the principles of Individual Placement and Support (IPS), an evidence-based model in our work. This means we:

  • Support anyone who wants to work (zero exclusion)
  • Honor each person’s job preferences and choices
  • Coordinate with everyone involved in the job seeker’s life
  • Prioritize competitive, integrated employment with equal pay
  • Offer benefits counseling
  • Start job searches quickly
  • Provide ongoing follow‑along supports

What We Offer

Career Counselors are flexible and tailor their approach to accommodate each person’s needs. Meetings can happen at home, in our offices, or in the community.

Job Readiness & Exploration

  • Interest and skills assessments
  • Career exploration, planning, and goal setting
  • Paid work experiences

Job Search and Placement

  • Resume building and writing cover letters
  • Help exploring transportation options
  • Navigate completion of online job applications and assessments
  • Disclosure training
  • Assistance with addressing criminal backgrounds
  • Connecting job seekers with local job training opportunities and resources
  • Interview preparation and mock interviews
  • Assistance with employer follow-ups
  • Networking with local employers to identify work opportunities
  • Support through onboarding

Job Maintenance

  • Ongoing follow‑along support to help job seekers maintain employment
  • Problem solving and conflict resolution
  • Advocacy on behalf of the employee
  • Wage reporting
  • Benefits counseling
  • Requesting reasonable accommodations

Eligibility

To participate, individuals must:

  • Want to find employment
  • Be 18+ and eligible to work in the U.S.
  • Be referred and determined eligible by MassAbility (have a documented disability) or DTA (be a TAFDC recipient or eligible non-custodial parent.

Service Models

Our services follow guidelines from both:

MassAbility (MBY)

  • Job development and placement
  • Ongoing employment supports

Department of Transitional Assistance (DTA)

For TAFDC recipients and eligible non‑custodial parents:

  • Assessment across the five Economic Stability Roadmap domains
  • Career and skills training
  • Connections to community resources (housing, child care, financial coaching)
  • 30‑day, 90‑day, and 180‑day job retention support