Who they are:
WorkSource is a licensed employment services provider affiliated with ServiceSource, serving adults with disabilities in Charlottesville, Virginia and the surrounding region since 1967. Their programs include Job Placement, which matches clients to employment opportunities and supports them through the hiring process, and Day Support, a center-based program combining education and recreation. WorkSource also participates in the AbilityOne Program, connecting individuals who are blind or have significant disabilities to competitive employment.
Persons met:
- Brenda
- Miriam
- Kenderly
- Denise
- Michelle
- Hamid
- Ashley
- Briana
- Davide
- Jenny
- Emily
- Shoutout to Mo, J, and M for giving such a wonderful tour of the Day Support Program
Their mission:
To empower people with disabilities to achieve meaningful employment, forge connections, and gain greater independence in their communities.
What stood out on the visit
- WorkSource’s reach extends beyond Charlottesville into the surrounding rural areas, bringing job training and employment support directly to communities that might otherwise be overlooked and serves as proof that access to opportunity shouldn’t depend on zip code.
- The warmth at WorkSource’s Day Support program was impossible to miss. Several participants ran to greet Brenda and Miriam the moment they walked in, an unscripted moment that said more about the environment than any brochure could. People here feel safe, welcomed, and truly supported.
- From job placement to day support, WorkSource’s programs are designed with a bigger goal in mind built around helping people build full, connected lives in their own communities, not just checking a box on employment.
- The Barnyard Sensory Gym is such a creative approach to sensory-based support. It’s open to the public, too, so this resource is there for families and community members well beyond their client base.