New North Texas collaborative helps employers hire more people with disabilities

Two North Texas organizations are teaming up to open more doors to work for people with disabilities. The new North Texas Inclusive Employment Collaborative will connect employers with resources, education and opportunities for disability-inclusive hiring.

The initiative is a partnership between the North Texas Disability Chamber and My Possibilities, a Plano-based continuing education and job placement program for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. The goal is to encourage companies across the region to adjust their hiring practices and workplace culture so people with disabilities can find more job opportunities. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the unemployment rate for people with a disability in 2025 was double the rate for people without one.

Shelley Crowder, chief program officer for My Possibilities, said there isn't a program like this in North Texas or anywhere else in Texas. "Our population is one of the most underserved and underrepresented populations in the workforce," she said. "Bringing our resources together really helps us to be able to change that in our area." Crowder said the barrier is often that companies don't know how to put disability-inclusive hiring and employment practices into action.

The collaborative combines My Possibilities' existing eMPloy Network, which connects businesses with people with disabilities through job opportunities and support, with the chamber's corporate relationships. Participating employers can take part in educational programs, employer-focused events, site visits and other ways to get involved. The chamber has also worked to bring more recognition to Texans with disabilities through efforts like the Texas Disability Hall of Fame.

"North Texas is home to companies ready to lead on disability inclusion, and this Collaborative will give them a stronger pathway to learn, connect and act," said Dylan M. Marvin, the chamber's president and CEO, who said he hopes the partnership moves more employers "from interest to action."

This story is based on reporting by KERA News, republished by the Denton Record-Chronicle, with additional details from Local Profile.