MassAbility

01/08/2026

Thanks to 3D printing, Perkins Library created a tactile model of a black hole for students with vision loss studying a new science unit.

Reading that time and space get warped inside a black hole is one thing. Actually being able to grasp that concept tangibly? That’s a whole different level of understanding.

Even sighted people are usually shown donut-shaped illustrations of black holes, which aren’t accurate representations of what’s actually happening inside. This 3D tactile model helps bridge that gap, allowing anyone to better understand how black holes warp and fold space inward.

This is just another one of the many services Perkins Library offers to its patrons and students with the school. When this particular student group reached out, Library staff got to work and used their creativity to help provide a tactile educational tool. Access to literacy and knowledge is for everyone!



Video Description: A man turns around a white 3D printed piece of plastic in his hands, showing off all the features of it. There are peaks and valleys and warps in the plastic because it represents a black hole using imaging and data from NASA. There is braille on the sides of the model to describe it. It's a tool for students with vision loss to understand what happens inside a black hole instead of relying on an illustration or photo.

01/06/2026

12/22/2025

Add these to your wishlist!
For Blind gamers, having tactile and accessible game pieces and inclusively-designed game mechanics can be the difference between being able to play along with friends or sitting on the sidelines.

Dungeons and Dragons is THE tabletop role playing game, where die rolls, creativity, and storytelling are at the heart of game play. With a tactile die like this, players can be a part of the campaign without having to rely on others to read out the roll. Let your DM focus on the quest at hand while you and your friends keep the game going.

At Perkins Library their team is always working with library guests to come up with creative ways to make life accessible. Whether that's for gaming at home or understanding your science unit through a tactile model, the folks at Perkins are always willing to help.

Video Description: A demonstration of a grey tactile DND gaming die on a shelf. There are some other dice behind the one that is the focus of the video. It has different markings on it instead of regular numers on a die.

12/13/2025

How much of your independence is impacted by the snow?

Snow can be an accessibility nightmare!
When sidewalks are covered in ice and crosswalks are barricaded by piles of snow, pedestrian paths become difficult or impossible to navigate. This is even harder if you use mobility aids or are blind or have low-vision!

Snowdrifts are also a problem.
Crosswalks and curb cuts blocked by snowdrifts prevent people with different kinds of disabilities to safely cross the road; blind people need them for direction, and wheelchair users need them to get onto sidewalks.

Don't forget about signage and tactile markers!
Road, street, and navigational signs get covered up by sticky snow, and tactile bumps along curb cuts and other sidewalks get covered in ice. This makes it hard for those with low vision or other disabilities to independently navigate and proves difficult in dense cities.

And what you don't see... are your neighbors, friends, and community members who stay inside when the weather gets bad. You don't see the missed doctors appointments or the missed days of college classes, or the impact to people's independence.

So how can you help?
Check in with your neighbors! Don't be a stranger- be willing to recognize when someone around you needs help, and offer!
You could even chat with folks on your block about the importance of snow and sidewalk clearing as a community. What if they don't realize that someone can't get out the driveway to their dialysis appointment? Work as a community to ensure neighbors with more needs aren't falling through the cracks during the coldest months. Together we can create equitable, caring neighborhoods.

12/11/2025

Did you know the reason why most libraries don't carry Braille books is because of how often the raised dots on the paper get squished!?

A big thanks to the Perkins Library in Watertown, Massachusetts for giving us a tour of what is the 4th largest braille library in the United States, and #1 on the east coast!

They have everything here that any blind reader could want... If you prefer reading by touch, their braille library is incredibly extensive, and if you prefer to listen to your literature, Perkins Library adds hundreds of new books and titles every month. Those are the blue cartdriges filling the giant postal bins you can see in the video: audio books! And they ship thousands of these every single day all across Massachusetts completely free. It's a library, after all!

Perkins Library also has large-print books, magazines, and audio-described DVD and blu-ray movies! You can also listen to newspapers and more through their partnership with Newsline.

So how do you access the Perkins Library? You can apply for free online at Perkins.Org/Library/Apply if you meet one of more of the eligibility criteria:
-Are legally blind with vision of 20/200 or less, or have a visual field no greater than 20 degrees.
-Have corrected vision, but cannot see well enough to read with comfort for extended periods of time.
-Have a physical condition that makes holding a book difficult.
-Have been certified by a “competent authority” (a professional such as a doctor, ophthalmologist, registered nurse, librarian, or social worker) as having a perceptual or reading disability and unable to read printed works to substantially the same degree as a person without an impairment or disability.

Have you or a loved one ever used the Perkins Library before? Tell us in the comments!

12/09/2025

Tag a friend who would love to try adaptive ice skating together! ☃️

Did you know you can go Adaptive Ice Skating in Massachusetts?

DCR Universal Access Program offers adaptive ice skating at seven different rinks across
Massachusetts through December. This is offered free of cost to provide more opportunities for accessible, adaptive outdoor recreation.

How does it work?
Use your wheelchair, an ice sled, a skate walker, ice grippers, or conventional skates! Spin, slide and play team-based and gently competitive games. Space is limited and pre-registration is required! This program is for people with disabilities, their families, support staff, and friends.

Register for Dates Online!
Learn how to sign up for Adaptive Ice Skating and which locations participate in this program by visiting Mass.Gov/Info-Details/Adaptive-Program-Schedule

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10/09/2025

MassAbility connects you with skilled, pre-screened talent that you won't find on other platforms!

Hear it from our employer partners here: our candidates are uniquely qualified and highly successful placements. In fact, 90% of MassAbility hires are retained after the first six months of employment!

You can become an employer partner, too, at Mass.Gov/Hire-With-MassAbility!

Video Description:
A video taken outside on a rooftop deck, Greg stands outside in professional business attire and is standing and talking to the camera. The video switches to Courtney standing outside instead, her face is framed by her long auburn hair and she's wearing a long black dress. As the video continues, it switches back and forth between the two sharing their experiences.

10/01/2025

Successful businesses hire with MassAbility- and you can be one of them!

Massachusetts businesses are embracing the future by recognizing the value of hiring qualified individuals with disabilities. MassAbility helps connect employers with a skilled talent pool and offers no-cost training and ongoing support to ensure long-term success—for both the employer and employee.

Our On-the-Job Training program reimburses you for training new hires brought on through MassAbility. This opens the door to more opportunities and helps you build a dedicated, hard-working team. In fact, 90% of our hires are still employed after six months.

Ready to get started?
Join our network of employer partners and learn about tax credits, hiring incentives, and more at Mass.Gov/Hire-With-MassAbility

Video Description: A sit-down style of interview clips compiled together of various employer partners and employees, showing folks from Ahoi, Accurounds, MAB Community Services, Mass General Brigham, Roxbury Community College, and the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs.

09/30/2025

September 15th-October 15th is officially Hispanic Heritage Month! Swipe through to learn why this nationally recognized month spans over the course of two different months and see what events are happening near you!

Image Descriptions: A carousel of graphics, all with a warm yellow background, black text, and plumeria flowers in the top right corner of each.
Image One Text: Why is Hispanic Heritage Month celebrated from
September through October? A brief look into the history, plus a list of activities to join in MA!
Image Two Text: Why does it last across two months? September 15th-October 15th is recognized as National Hispanic Heritage Month in order to commemorate the independence day celebrations from many different Latin American countries. Link to Cisneros.Columbian.GWU.EDU/History-Hispanic-Heritage-Month
Image Three Text: Free and Public Events in Massachusetts this month! Take a look at some of these events and celebrations happening across the state for Hispanic Heritage Month!
Image Four Text: Boston, MA Free Cine Fiesta en la Plaza Sunday, Oct 12th, 2pm-5pm. Enjoy a free screening and panel discussion of Columbian Documentary Genero: Salsa at the Boston City Hall Plaza and Civic Pavilion followed by a salsa dance party! Link to Boletos.Boritix.Com/Tickets/Cine-Fiesta-2025
Image Five Text: Roslindale, MA. Ricardo Parra: Free Concert Saturday, Oct 11th, 11am-2pm. Listen to a music performance by Chilean singer-songwriter, guitarist, and musical producer Ricardo Parra. Ricardo's style blends themes of Folk, Trova, and Bossa Nova music. Link to Bpl.BiblioCommons.Com/V2/Events
Image Six Text: Across Boston, MA Storytime with Laura Macias: Free Kids Programming! to Sept 29th - Oct 10th. Enjoy stories and folk tales from around the world! Told by Laura Macias, she is joined by a cast of puppets and songs in both Spanish and English. Great for children ages 3-5 years old! Visit Bpl.Org for a full list of dates and locations.
Image Seven Text: Worcester, MA Nuestra America- Conversations with the Author. Thursday, Oct 2nd, 2pm-3pm. Join a virtual conversation with Smithsonian professionals Adrián Aldaba and Emily Key as they discuss the book "Nuestra América" and famous Latinos throughout history. Link to MyWpl.Org

09/25/2025

We’re not your typical "VR agency." We work closely with both employees and employers to ensure consistent, meaningful support that makes a real impact.

The individuals we support are not only highly qualified, they also bring fresh perspectives to the workplace. Lived experience with disability often fosters creativity, resilience, and problem-solving skills that aren’t always visible on a résumé but are invaluable on the job.

We help employers recognize the capabilities of these candidates and provide the support needed to train, hire, and retain them successfully.

We're proud to partner with organizations like MAB Community Services, who understand the value of inclusive hiring—just like Mass General Brigham, Accurounds, and Roxbury Community College. You can be part of the , too.

Visit Mass.Gov/Hire-With-MassAbility to learn more.

Image Description: Two images, both are plain blue-purple backgrounds with white text over them. The first image is a quote and has the name of the person quoted at the top, Catherine Starr of MAB Community Services. The quote reads: "When we work with MassAbility, we are getting a great employee. They bring a fresh perspective to the work that we do every day, and they have a real impact on the people we care for." The second image is a list of names of groups MassAbility has worked with: Mass General Brigham, MAB Community Services, AccuRounds, Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs, Ahoi, Roxbury Community College, and hundreds More.

09/20/2025

We were honored to join CVINow and Perkins for the very first state-recognized CVI Awareness Day!

CVI, or Cerebral/Cortical Visual Impairment, is the leading cause of childhood blindness, but so few people know about it. One in thirty kids in mainstreamed schools may have CVI but less than 20% of kids with CVI actually receive a diagnosis.

Think about how many students that means there are in our community that struggle to read text, see their classmate's and teachers faces, and that may have CVI and not know? How many families and schools does this also impact- not knowing how to support their student?

Signs of CVI can also be mistaken for or hidden behind other co-occuring diagnoses like cerbral palsy or autism. But for kids with CVI, the issue isn't necessarily with the eyes but in the brain that proccess and interprets that information differently. That means that even within CVI there is a spectrum of vision that is unique to each person.

Kids with CVI grow up into adults with CVI; adults who may not understand why they struggle to see or engage with different activities, or why reading and writing could be frustrating. By receiving an early diagnosis, they have the opportunity to learn skills and receive supports to access the world and their life.

So how can you and the community help? By learning the signs of CVI and
increasing CVI awareness, kids can receive the proper diagnosis sooner and gain access to supports they need to thirve. You can learn about the CVI and the signs at Perkins.Org/CVI-Now

Video Alt Text: A video compilation of clips from the Statehouse CVI Now Awareness Day. It shows off individuals talking on a panel and an art installation.

Video Description: The video starts with Sarah and Tina excited for the day together, and pans over the group gathering for the event before going through various video clips of the panelists during their discussion and the art installation that features artworks by people and students with CVI.

09/12/2025

What sets MassAbility apart from other typical disabilty employment programs is that we develop deep partnerships with the employers that we work with and provide consistent, long-term support not only for the employee but for the staff and greater team.

Where other programs might end support after achieving employment, MassAbility sticks with you to ensure the right trainings and supports are in place well after the initial start date.

Working this way allows us to build up the confidence of the entire team and foster success. Learn more and join our community of employers at https://www.mass.gov/hire-with-massability

Video Description:
A video taken outside on a rooftop deck, it starts with Salvador Pina from Roxbury Community College dressed in professional business suit. He has well manicured facial hair and wears glasses. The video cuts to Michael Tamasi from Accurounds, also dressed in professional business attire, talking outside about the training services MassAbility offers. Behind him you can see the grey Boston city skyline.