Theme 5 Videos. Meaningful Employment: Perspectives from Persons with Lived Experience of Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities
Meaningful employment is more than having a job. It includes work that reflects a person's strengths, interests, goals, and cultural context. This theme centers meaningful employment from the cultural perspectives of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities and their families.
Meaningful employment is work that is valued by the person, reflects their interests and abilities, and supports fair wages, social inclusion, skill development, and participation in community life. For people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, employment can also support identity, independence, relationships, self-determination, and belonging.
Why This Topic Matters
For many years, people with intellectual and developmental disabilities have had limited employment options, including segregated settings, sheltered workshops, repetitive work, and subminimum wages. Even as policy and advocacy have moved toward competitive integrated employment, significant barriers remain.
Culture can shape how people with intellectual and developmental disabilities and their families think about work, family roles, caregiving, independence, safety, and acceptable job opportunities. Culturally and linguistically competent employment supports should recognize each person's goals, communication needs, family context, cultural values, and access needs.
Read the Topic Guide
Read the Guide: Meaningful Employment: Perspectives from Persons with Lived Experience of Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities
This web-based guide includes key definitions, cultural considerations, reflection questions, and references related to meaningful employment for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
Watch the Videos
Note on videos: Audio and captions are available in multiple languages. Use the gear icon in the video player to choose your language.
Topic Video
Meaningful Employment: Perspectives from Persons with Lived Experience of Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities
Featuring: Tibi, Marco, Liz, and Julia
Meaningful employment is more than a paycheck. This video explores work as a source of belonging, contribution, recognition, confidence, and inclusion. It challenges low expectations and limited job options for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, while emphasizing the importance of listening deeply, recognizing talent, engaging employers, and matching people's strengths and interests with real opportunities.
Personal Story Videos
Love What I Do
Featuring: Angel and Ryan
Angel shares his path from living in a group home to living independently and working as a direct support professional assistant. With support from people who believed in him, Angel found work that gives him purpose, pride, and a way to give back to others. His story highlights meaningful employment as a source of belonging, advocacy, independence, and human connection.
How I Roll
Featuring: Latavia and Mary
Latavia's story is one of determination, purpose, and giving back. As a speech-language pathologist, educator, and wheelchair user with cerebral palsy, Latavia draws from her own lived experience to support others. Her journey highlights the importance of high expectations, family advocacy, accessible education, and meaningful employment that reflects a person's strengths, goals, and calling..
About the Speakers and Storytellers
Marco R. Damiani
Marco R. Damiani is CEO of AHRC New York City, one of the nation’s largest nonprofits supporting neurodivergent children and adults. He began his career as a Direct Support Professional and later worked at Willowbrook State School during its closure, experiences that shaped his lifelong commitment to disability rights and community inclusion. Marco has championed health equity, integrated care models, and opportunities for people historically excluded from traditional systems. His leadership and advocacy have been recognized with honors including NYU College of Dentistry’s Kriser Medal, Pace University’s Opportunitas-in-Action Medal, The Arc of the United States Outstanding Lifetime Achievement Award, and the Excellence in Autism Award from Mental Health News Education. He has also been named an Empire BlueCross BlueShield Whole Healthcare Hero, Crain’s New York Notable Leader in Healthcare, and PoliticsNY Nonprofit Power Player. Marco serves on several boards and credits his success to colleagues and allies who share his commitment to inclusion, equity, and social justice.
Tibisay “Tibi” Guzmán
Tibisay A. Guzmán, known as Tibi, is the CEO of The Arc Westchester, the largest organization in Westchester County supporting people with developmental disabilities and their families. She fosters a culture of dignity and respect for the people supported and the workforce that serves them. Tibi has more than 20 years of leadership experience at The Arc Westchester, where she has helped guide services spanning early intervention, preschool, residential supports, life skills, and career development. Her leadership is informed by her personal experience as the parent of an adult with autism and by her commitment to amplifying the voices of people with developmental disabilities, families, and the professionals who support them. Tibi has served on boards and committees focused on intellectual and developmental disabilities, mental health, care coordination, and community services. She was named one of Westchester’s Top Women in Business by 914Inc. Magazine, received recognition from the Westchester Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, and was honored with the Executive Excellence Award by The Arc of the United States.
Julia Kelly
Julia Kelly, M.S.Ed., joined OPWDD in 2012 and serves as Director of Employment and Meaningful Community Activities. She and her team implement OPWDD’s strategic plan for employment, vocational, day, and community services, including program implementation, policy development, innovation, training, stakeholder engagement, and outcome monitoring for hundreds of agencies serving thousands of people. Her career includes developing individualized and customized employment services, community-based day supports, blended service programs, small business incubator efforts, and staff training. Julia also participates in statewide committees focused on employment, vocational rehabilitation, integrated settings, and expanding opportunities for people with developmental disabilities.
Mary McMillan
Mary McMillan has built a life of service, compassion, and care. She is a retired supervisor from the New York City Human Resources Administration, where she helped families and individuals access essential resources. She also owned and operated daycares and later worked as a home health aide. Mary’s greatest role is being a devoted mother to Latavia, and her leadership, advocacy, and care continue to reflect her commitment to supporting others.
Angel Rodriguez
Angel Rodriguez believes people with disabilities are equals who deserve the same opportunities and respect as anyone else.
His story highlights independence, meaningful work, and the pride that comes from giving back and supporting others.
Latavia Sturdivant
Latavia Sturdivant is a licensed speech-language pathologist in New York and Maine, adjunct professor, advocate, podcast host, and wheelchair user with cerebral palsy and spastic quadriplegia.
Born and raised in the Bronx, she now lives in Yonkers. Latavia is the creator of Queens On A Roll, a podcast about the “ably different” community, and made history as the first national titleholder from New York to win Ms. Wheelchair America 2026.
Through her platform, Breaking Barriers Through Education and Leadership, she advocates for accessibility, durable medical equipment reform, Medicaid parity, representation, and true inclusion.
Liz Weintraub
Liz Weintraub has a long record of leadership in self-advocacy and disability policy. She is a full-time member of AUCD’s policy team and hosts Tuesdays With Liz: Disability Policy for All, where she makes policy language easier to understand. Liz has served as a Fellow for Senator Bob Casey of Pennsylvania, testified before Senate committees, and held numerous state and national advisory roles. She is a graduate of the LEND training program at Georgia State University and enjoys mentoring people with disabilities.