From Inspired to Hired

October is National Disability Employment Awareness Month!

What does work provide to people with and without disabilities? Employment goes far beyond just a source of income for people with disabilities. It means independence; a better quality of life; cultivation of natural interests, skills, and abilities; social engagement; being part of a team; and being part of a fulfilling mission.

Whether working in an office, retail space, gas station, restaurant, or entrepreneurial venture, people with disabilities can succeed in any number of jobs either independently or with training and supports Starbridge provides.

In this issue, you’ll meet Chenille, who participated in the Starbridge Internship Program and is now successfully employed. Did you know people with disabilities can work and still receive needed Social Security benefits? Read on for more benefits information.

Collaborating for Success: Starbridge Helps Parent Achieve Meaningful Work

Chenille was a Rochester mom who was studying criminal justice and family law and struggling with a medical condition when she came to Starbridge. Her health needs had changed her short term and long term goals, and she needed support navigating how to work through that as well as secure future employment.

She had first approached NYS Adult Career and Continuing Education Services - Vocational Rehabilitation (ACCES-VR) who recommended Starbridge as a good fit for Chenille's needs.

When Chenille called Starbridge, she was “instantly connected to the support” she needed. First, the Starbridge Intake Specialist “sat down with me and really took the time to see the place that I was at in my life, understanding my medical condition, understanding what would be best for me health-wise, and also looking at my long-term goals.”

“Next, I worked with a Starbridge Employment Specialist who introduced me to Starbridge’s Internship Program. We explored a lot of different potential internship sites and really sought to

find something that fit just not my short-term goal of meeting my health needs or my long-term employment goal, but found something that was also a fit for me personally. She gave me the instruction, assistance, verbiage, and the support to know that I wasn’t alone. ‘I'm going to walk you through this.’

Chenille gained valuable experience at The Center for Youth where she initially interned, working at sorting, stocking, and organizing clothing, food, and other vital donated supplies. She was also introduced to one of the Crisis Nurseries and cared for children in need by changing diapers, preparing food, and providing entertainment and education.

The Center for Youth then provided Chenille with trauma-informed training in which she learned how to do detailed intake - handling calls from parents, guardians, foster care, Child Protective Services, and the police; organizing the children’s folders which detailed important facts such as allergies or behavioral concerns; and all the while learning to handle sensitive and emergency situations. Chenille believes her experience as a mother who faced many life obstacles helped her to be a good fit for the Crisis Nursery.

Eventually, Chenille was hired on as a Crisis Nursery Provider and has been working there for almost one year. Congratulations Chenille!

Visit your local ACCES-VR office to begin your journey to career and employment options.

Can People with Disabilities Work and Still Receive Social Security Benefits?

Starbridge Director of Employment Initiatives, Christina Eisenberg, offers the following comments on the misinformation surrounding employment and SS benefits.

There are a number of myths and misinformation regarding receiving benefits and working. For example, it is often assumed that a person cannot work and receive Social Security benefits such as Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and Social Security Disability Income (SSDI).

The truth is that for each of these benefits programs there are “work incentives” which allow a person to attempt to work without losing their benefits. Each program works differently. Some work incentives include:

9-month Trial Work Period in which full SS benefits are paid during the trial work period, regardless of how much is earned — as long as work is reported.
Extended Period of Eligibility which allows benefit recipients of SSDI to keep their benefits as long as they work over a certain amount in a given month. If they exceed that amount, their benefits will be impacted for that month.
Work Expenses Related to Disability, an out-of-pocket cost someone pays for, such as medication not covered by insurance or another item related to their disability or medical condition. Co-pays can count as well. These expenses can help to lower countable income.

It is important to understand which benefits programs you are enrolled in as each have their own criteria and rules.

For further information on work incentives, please see Working While Disabled: How We Can Help

Local Agency Offers Job Support and Benefits Counseling

Lindsay Murphy, RochesterWorks Disability Resource Coordinator and Work Incentives Practitioner, describes services offered to job seekers. Contact Lindsay at lmurphy@rochesterworks.org, 585-258-3500 x3513.

Under the NY SCION initiative (Career Services for Persons with Disabilities | Department of Labor), RochesterWorks’ Disability Services supports job seekers with disabilities by assisting with:

Reasonable accommodations discussions
Coaching and
Employer outreach

The program is led by a Disability Resource Coordinator and Disability Services Advisor, who can provide tailored job search assistance, coordinate with other agencies via Integrated Resource Teams, and lead disability-focused workshops (such as on Disability & Disclosure and Increase Your Income). They also offer benefits counseling to SSI/SSDI beneficiaries to educate on Social Security work incentives.

Here is a link to Disability Services on their website: Disability Resources & Services Program • RochesterWorks

A Word of Hope

Here is what Al Condelucci, a leader in understanding social culture, has to say about “social capital”(social connection).

“It is well documented that social capital is at the core of vocational success, both in obtaining, as well as keeping jobs. Studies are clear that the more people in your network, the more possibilities you may have of learning about job openings. Further, the more social and emotional experiences you have in relationships, the greater the likelihood that you will do well in your job once it is obtained. The majority of people get, and keep jobs based on their social capital skills.”

Introducing Hardcopy Version of Bridges!

We're excited to share that coming up in early 2026, we are introducing a new, quarterly, paper, version of Bridges! This new hardcopy version will provide you with a deeper dive into topics you care about as well as an expanded listing of webinars, workshops, and events hosted by our community partners.

We will have the same issue in digital version posted on our website.

Would you like to receive a paper copy in your mailbox? Do you know someone who would benefit from receiving a paper version? Are you an agency or local business who is looking to collaborate to show your inclusive events? Look for updates with the
opportunity to register in upcoming issues!

Upcoming Events and Workshops

Starbridge Events

October

Keys to Success for Students Identified with a Specific Learning Disability and an IEP webinar. October 27, 6:30pm-8:00pm. The Special Education Task Force presents Annmarie Urso, Ph.D., who will introduce data-based individualized intervention framework. Learn what happens once a student becomes eligible for an IEP for a specific learning disability; how schools can use intervention processes to ensure students are on track to make rigorous progress; and how parents and schools can effectively share information to support student progress. For further information, please contact cknaak@starbridgeinc.org or call 585-371-6742.

November

Advocacy Steps and Effective Communication webinar. November 5, 9:00am-11:00am. Do you come away from meetings not saying what you intended or feeling as though your viewpoint is misunderstood? Do you listen to what other team members say? How do you respond? Communication is key to effective partnerships. Learn to recognize the barriers in communication that can get in the way of collaboration and positive outcomes. Strengthen your advocacy skills by learning effective and collaborative communication strategies. This workshop is a collaboration with the Family Resource Network. For further information, please email cknaak@starbridgeinc.org or call 585-371-6742. Registration is required!

Understanding the IEP for Families of Preschoolers webinar. November 5, 12:00pm-1:00pm. This presentation is designed to provide parents, families, and caregivers with an overview of the process for developing an Individual Education Program (IEP) using a collaborative approach. The training provides a review of the areas of the IEP and the information that a parent, family and/or caregiver can share with the Committee on Preschool Special Education (CPSE) regarding their child’s performance and disability related needs. Presented by the Mid-West Family and Community Engagement Center.. For further information, please email cknaak@starbridgeinc.org or call 585-371-6742. Registration is required!

Special Ed Task Force - Understanding Restraint and Timeout: What Families & Educators Need to Know webinar. November 11, 4:00pm-5:00pm. Join us for an informative session on students’ rights and schools’ responsibilities when it comes to restraint and timeout practices. We’ll explore how these interventions impact students—particularly those with disabilities—and school staff. The presentation will also cover how families and schools can respond, including potential updates to behavior plans and IEPs. Please note: While we welcome your participation, this webinar is intended for general information only. Due to the sensitive nature of the topic, individualized cases will not be addressed during the session. Presented by Laura Marks; Staff Attorney with Disability Rights New York. For further information, please email cknaak@starbridgeinc.org or call 585-371-6742. Registration is required!

Family Fun & Empowerment at Play Zone. November 19, 4:30pm-6:00pm. Join us in building connections and friendships to one another at the YMCA Fun Zone! Parents can play in the Play Zone, and, or can meet and connect with other parents. For further information, please email kcayton@starbridgeinc.org or call 585-259-4576. Registration is required by November 12.

Community Events

October

Homesteads for Hope Trunk or Treat. October 25, 12:00pm-2:00pm. 2185 Manitou Rd., Rochester, NY 14606. For further information, please contact alexis@homesteadsforhope.org.

Halloween at the Market 2025. October 26, 3:30pm-8:00pm. Public Market, 280 N. Union St., Rochester, NY 14609. For further information, please contact Evan.Lowenstein@cityofrochester.gov or call 585-820-4068.

2025 NYS DREAM Symposium with Job Fair. October 28 – October 29, 8:00am-5:00pm each day. Empire State Plaza Concourse, 100 S. Mall Arterial, Albany, NY 12242. Registration is free but required. Disability Rights and Employment Awareness Month (DREAM) Symposium will acknowledge the rights that people with disabilities are entitled to, celebrate the extreme value that New Yorkers with disabilities bring to the workforce, and assist in matching prospective qualified candidates with employers.

Parent to Parent of NYS Presents: Let’s Take a Crash Course on Understanding How to Read an IEP Webinar. October 28, 6:30pm. Join Parent to Parent of NYS and Education Advocate Namita Modasra for a friendly, informative session on how to read and understand your child’s IEP. We’ll walk through each section and explore how to advocate for the right supports—so the IEP truly reflects your child’s strengths and needs.

November

Wayne Finger Lakes BOCES Transition Programs & Agency Fair. November 10, 5:30pm-7:00pm. Wayne Finger Lakes BOCES, Conference Center, 131 Drumlin Court, Newark, NY. For further information, please contact petrea.rae@wflboces.org or call 1-315-332-0234.

2025 LivCo Special Education & Disability Resource Fair. November 15, 1:00pm-4:00pm. Avon Middle School. 191 Clinton St., Avon, NY. For further information, please contact RebeccaStewart5710@gmail.com or call 585-755-0551.

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Coming in the December issue

The Importance of Caregivers and Good Support Systems

Share your thoughts and experiences with us! Email us at marketing@starbridgeinc.org

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Go Monroe - Get Where You Need to Be

School meetings, community & recreational events, even just going out as a family for fun…Go Monroe can help!

For Eligibility Requirements, please click on Go

Monroe (English version ) or Go Monroe (Spanish version)

jmay@starbridgeinc.org.

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