My Possibilities Employment Innovations School

We are addressing the systemic challenges faced by adults with disabilities as they transition from school into adulthood. The current support system is fragmented and fails to provide a cohesive pathway to economic mobility. Once individuals with disabilities leave the structured environment of the school system, they often encounter a lack of coordinated services, limited career navigation support, and minimal access to meaningful employment opportunities.

In North Texas, where over 206,000 adults with disabilities reside, these systemic gaps lead to unemployment rates exceeding 80%. Vocational training programs tailored to their needs are scarce, and supported employment services are accessed by only 7% of eligible adults in Texas, compared to 22% nationally. Employers are often unprepared to provide accommodations, and misconceptions about the capabilities of individuals with disabilities further hinder their inclusion in the workforce.

Without clear career pathways or holistic wraparound services, adults with disabilities face bleak prospects, leaving them isolated and dependent on public benefits. Our solution integrates holistic vocational training, career exploration, supported employment, and employer engagement to bridge these gaps. By fostering employer coalitions and providing training, we create a sustainable system that empowers individuals with disabilities to achieve economic mobility and thrive in competitive, inclusive careers.

Our solution is a comprehensive workforce development model that empowers adults with disabilities, including Autism, Down syndrome, Traumatic Brain Injury, Cerebral Palsy, and over 100 other diagnoses, to achieve competitive, inclusive employment. Through our Employment Innovations School (EIS), we provide holistic vocational training tailored to industry needs, career exploration, hands-on learning opportunities, and internships. The program includes wraparound supports such as mentorship, caregiver education, and early transition services in collaboration with school districts for individuals aged 14-22. These early services ensure career exploration and readiness before participants age out of the school system and lose critical supports.

The EIS incorporates assessments for adaptive technology and provides training supports for employers on workplace accommodations and inclusive technology usage. These tools empower participants to thrive in the workplace and enable employers to create accessible environments. Early data shows measurable growth in participants' skills, increased caregiver confidence, and enhanced employer understanding of the value of inclusive hiring.

Designed as a replicable model, the EIS is positioned to become the national standard for workplace inclusion, bridging the gap between education and employment for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. This program transforms individual lives and reshapes the workforce to embrace diversity and equity.

Our solution serves individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD), including Autism, Down syndrome, Traumatic Brain Injury, and Cerebral Palsy, alongside their families, employers, and the broader community. These individuals, often transitioning from school systems into adulthood, face systemic barriers to employment and independence. Many lack access to career exploration, vocational training, and the support needed to succeed in the workforce, leaving them isolated and economically dependent.

Through the Employment Innovations School (EIS), participants gain more than job skills—they gain confidence, independence, and purpose. Early transition services for youth aged 14-22 ensure they discover their potential before aging out of school supports. Internships and supported employment provide pathways to integrated employment rather than sheltered workshops, opening doors to economic mobility and greater community inclusion. Families experience hope as they see their loved ones thrive in inclusive environments, equipped to contribute to society.

Employers benefit from hiring dedicated, loyal, and skilled employees who bring unique perspectives and abilities to their organizations. With training and resources to create inclusive workplaces, employers not only meet their workforce needs but also foster a culture of innovation and diversity. Our program transforms individuals’ lives while building stronger, more inclusive communities and workplaces.

Our team is uniquely positioned to deliver this solution due to our deep connection to the community we serve and our lived experiences with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). Many team members, including leadership, have personal ties to the IDD community as parents, caregivers, or individuals with disabilities themselves. For example, our Director of Vocational Services is on the Autism spectrum, providing a firsthand understanding of the challenges and opportunities individuals with disabilities face in navigating the workforce.

Our solution is shaped by continuous engagement with our participants, their families, and employers. We regularly conduct surveys, focus groups, and one-on-one conversations with over 600 participants and their caregivers annually. These insights have driven the creation of early career exploration services for youth aged 14-22, wraparound supports for caregivers, and vocational tracks that align with both participant strengths and industry needs. Caregiver feedback highlighted the need for internships and job coaching, leading us to enhance these aspects of our programming.

Employer input also plays a critical role in shaping our approach. Through our Corporate Engagement Council, which includes partners like JPMorgan Chase and Bank of America, we collaborate with employers to identify skills gaps, customize training, and develop inclusive hiring practices. These partnerships ensure that our solution not only prepares participants for competitive, integrated employment but also equips employers with the tools to support a diverse workforce.

Our program's design is grounded in the belief that meaningful change happens when solutions are co-created with the communities they aim to serve. By integrating the voices of participants, families, and employers, we have built a replicable model that empowers individuals with IDD, strengthens families, and fosters inclusive workplaces. Together, we are creating a future where everyone has the opportunity to contribute and thrive.

We selected the Growth stage because our Employment Innovations School (EIS) has established a proven model transforming lives. Since launching in October 2023, EIS has developed an assessment and enrollment phase to identify participants' strengths and career aspirations, ensuring personalized vocational training pathways.

The program offers industry-specific training in culinary arts, facilities, retail, administration, and hospitality—fields chosen for their high demand and alignment with the abilities of adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). Participants gain industry-required certifications, including workplace safety, and engage in a soft skills curriculum focused on communication, teamwork, and problem-solving. These tools prepare them for competitive, inclusive employment while fostering independence and confidence.

We are now supporting our first graduates with job coaching, job placement, and supported employment services to ensure long-term success. Additionally, our internal outcomes process, Deliberate Design, continuously refines program development and staff training based on measurable impact and participant feedback.

Through collaborations with employers and our Corporate Engagement Council, EIS bridges the gap between training and real-world application. This robust framework equips participants to thrive in inclusive workplaces and lays the foundation for meaningful, lasting change in their lives, the workforce, and the broader community.

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Our solution is innovative because it brings workforce development for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) into the modern era. Workforce development for this population has seen little change since the early 1990s with the introduction of supported employment services and the gradual shift away from sheltered employment. Despite these advancements, most programs still focus on basic resume writing or soft skills training, leaving adults with IDD underserved and unprepared for today’s workforce demands.

The Employment Innovations School (EIS) disrupts this outdated model with a nine-month, hands-on vocational training program that addresses both participant growth and employer readiness. EIS offers industry-specific training in high-demand fields such as culinary arts, facilities, retail, administration, and hospitality. Participants gain industry-required certifications, workplace safety training, and real-world internships, preparing them for competitive employment—jobs that pay fair wages and align with market standards—and integrated employment, where individuals with disabilities work alongside non-disabled peers in inclusive settings.

What sets EIS apart is its focus on workplace technology and accommodations. Through our Corporate Engagement Council, we collaborate with employers to design training that addresses technology needs, accessibility solutions, and workplace accommodations. Employers receive tailored guidance on implementing adaptive tools and creating inclusive environments, ensuring they are equipped to hire and support individuals with IDD effectively.

EIS represents a groundbreaking shift in workforce development, aligning participant training with modern employer needs. By addressing both skills development and workplace inclusivity, we create pathways to sustainable, meaningful employment for adults with IDD while inspiring broader systemic change. This model redefines workforce development, setting a new standard for inclusive employment that other organizations can replicate nationwide.

Our primary impact goal is to empower adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) to achieve competitive, integrated employment and economic mobility. We aim to transform the workforce landscape by equipping individuals with industry-specific skills, fostering inclusive employer practices, and driving systemic change in workforce development for the IDD community.

Key Goals:

1. Increase Competitive, Integrated Employment Ensure program graduates secure jobs that pay fair wages, align with market standards, and are in inclusive workplaces where individuals with disabilities work alongside non-disabled peers.

2. Improve Individual Growth and Independence Facilitate measurable growth in participants’ hard and soft skills, confidence, and independence through comprehensive vocational training, certifications, and hands-on experiences.

3. Transform Employer Practices Engage employers in adopting inclusive hiring and workplace accommodation practices through training, support, and partnership development.

4. Catalyze Systemic Change Position the Employment Innovations School (EIS) as a national model for modern workforce development tailored to adults with IDD.

Progress Measurement:

We use the following indicators to measure progress toward these goals:

• Participant Metrics: Number of graduates placed in competitive, integrated employment; number of certifications achieved (e.g., workplace safety and industry-specific credentials).
• Employer Engagement: Number of employers trained in inclusive hiring practices; number of active employer partnerships offering internships or employment.
• Individual Growth: Pre- and post-program assessments measuring participants’ skill acquisition, workplace readiness, and self-confidence.
• Systemic Impact: Expansion of the EIS model to other communities; recognition and adoption of inclusive practices by industry leaders.

These indicators allow us to track outcomes, refine our programming, and ensure sustained impact for individuals, employers, and the broader community.

Overall, My Possibilities employes a team of 98 Full time, 8 part-time and 7 contracted employees.

My Possibilities Leadership team is led by Tod Marvin, Chief Executive Officer and eight additional staff members.  

The Employment Innovations School has 11 Full time instructors and six support staff. 

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Vocational training has been a cornerstone of My Possibilities since our founding in 2008, alongside continued education, employment, and residential options. In 2018, we established our 20-acre Plano, TX campus to serve the Dallas metro area, opening the Lifelong Learning building, which provides pre-vocational training, independent living skills, social-emotional development, creative expression, and wraparound services like therapies and caregiver support. These programs laid the foundation for the Employment Innovations School (EIS), initially planned for 2020 but delayed by COVID-19. After raising an additional $2.5 million, we broke ground in May 2022, opening the 30,000-square-foot EIS in 2023.

At My Possibilities, diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) are core values embedded in our organizational culture. As a nonprofit serving adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD), we recognize the importance of reflecting the diversity of the communities we serve in our staff, leadership, and practices. Currently, 7% of our workforce comprises individuals with IDD, providing invaluable perspectives that enrich our programs and services.

Our leadership team includes individuals with diverse backgrounds and lived experiences, including family members of individuals with IDD and professionals with disabilities, such as our Director of Vocational Services, who is on the Autism spectrum. These perspectives shape decision-making, ensuring our solutions are inclusive and relevant.

We are committed to fostering equity by minimizing barriers to opportunity for staff. This includes offering flexible work schedules, providing adaptive technology, and implementing mentorship programs to support professional growth. Our staff also receive cultural competency training to ensure we maintain a welcoming environment for individuals of all abilities, races, genders, and socioeconomic backgrounds.

Our DEI goals focus on increasing representation from underrepresented communities and creating pathways for advancement within our organization. By actively recruiting from diverse talent pools and providing training on inclusive practices, we strive to ensure equitable access to opportunities.

Additionally, we engage our board and Corporate Engagement Council in promoting inclusivity by encouraging diverse representation and inclusive hiring practices across sectors. This collaborative approach helps create systemic change while building an inclusive workplace where all team members feel valued, supported, and empowered.

Through these ongoing efforts, we aim to model diversity and inclusion not only within our organization but also in the broader community, ensuring that everyone, regardless of background or ability, has the opportunity to contribute and thrive.

Our solution’s business model is designed to provide transformative value to adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD), their families, employers, and the broader community. By delivering high-quality vocational training and wraparound services, we create pathways to competitive, integrated employment while fostering systemic change in workforce inclusion.

Key Beneficiaries and Customers:

1. Adults with IDD: Our Employment Innovations School (EIS) provides vocational training, industry certifications, internships, and career services. Participants gain the skills and confidence needed to secure meaningful employment, fostering economic independence and social inclusion.
2. Families and Caregivers: We offer wraparound supports, including caregiver education and resources, to empower families in navigating the transition from school to adulthood.
3. Employers: Through partnerships and training, we provide employers with the tools to create inclusive workplaces, meeting their workforce needs while supporting diversity and equity.

Revenue Streams:

• Program Tuition: For 85% of participants, tuition is reimbursed through Medicaid waiver programs; the remaining 15% are private pay with assistance provided through fundraising.
• Donor Contributions: We receive funding from individual donors, corporate sponsors, and foundations.
• Events and Grants: Signature fundraising events and grant support contribute to sustaining and expanding our programs.
• Corporate Partnerships: Employers invest in inclusive hiring practices and collaborate on vocational training and internships, adding a reciprocal value exchange.

Delivery of Value:

Our services are provided through a state-of-the-art, 30,000-square-foot facility designed to address the unique needs of adults with IDD. Programs are tailored to participant strengths and industry demands, ensuring alignment between training and employment opportunities.

By bridging the gap between individuals with IDD and the workforce, our model drives impact through individual growth, employer engagement, and community transformation. This sustainable approach creates economic mobility for participants while meeting the evolving needs of the modern workforce.

To achieve financial sustainability, My Possibilities relies on a diversified revenue model that includes traditional fundraising, social enterprise, facility rental income, and earned income through program revenue. The majority of our participants (85%) use Medicaid Waiver funding to pay for the program; however, Texas ranks as one of the lowest-funded states for Medicaid Waiver services, with an average reimbursement rate of just $27 per day. This results in over $7,500 per participant that we must fundraise annually to cover the full cost of their participation. Therefore, we rely on a combination of earned income, grants, and donations to ensure program sustainability.

Key Revenue Streams:

1. Program Revenue (Earned Income): In addition to Medicaid Waiver funding, we generate earned income from private pay participants and other services such as clinical services, respite activities, and wraparound supports.

2. Fundraising (Traditional Donations): We engage in continuous fundraising efforts, including individual donations, grants, corporate sponsorships, and signature events, to fill the gaps in Medicaid Waiver funding.

3. Social Enterprise & Facility Rental Income: We offer social enterprise opportunities, such as providing training services to businesses, and generate income from facility rentals, helping support program sustainability.

4. Grants: We have secured significant funding, including $1 million over three years from the Moody Foundation’s Education M-Pact Fund to support the Employment Innovations School's expansion, as well as $350,000 from the Texas Workforce Commission for 2023 and 2024 to further advance our workforce development efforts.

This approach ensures My Possibilities can provide high-quality, inclusive services for adults with IDD while addressing financial challenges.

We are applying to the Truist Foundation Inspire Awards because the resources, mentorship, and visibility will help us expand our Employment Innovations School (EIS) and take our inclusive employment model to a national scale. With proven success in our current program, the support from the Inspire Awards will enable us to refine our approach, enhance operational capacity, and form strategic partnerships to grow and serve more adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD).

Becoming a finalist will allow us to access expert mentorship, workshops, and a peer-to-peer network, helping us streamline operations, improve sustainability, and address scaling barriers. By sharing program outcomes, employer and participant case studies, and other impactful data, we aim to demonstrate the power of our model and advocate for its adoption across the country.

Through the Inspire Awards, we plan to show that competitive, integrated employment for adults with IDD is achievable with the right training, employer engagement, and wraparound services. The support will strengthen our advocacy for workforce policy change and help build a sustainable, replicable model that fosters inclusion and economic mobility. With support, we can catalyze systemic change, inspiring communities to embrace inclusive employment practices, ultimately creating lasting impact for individuals with IDD.