Read the transcript, https://kesslerfoundation.org/sites/default/files/2025-10/Employment%20and%20Disability_A%20New%20Path%20to%20Independence-TRANSCRIPT.pdf

Over 14 million Americans with disabilities rely on Social Security Disability Income (SSDI) or Supplemental Security Income (SSI) to survive. Yet, the very system designed to support them often creates barriers to financial independence. Complex rules around employment and earnings can discourage individuals from entering the workforce, trapping them in cycles of poverty. HireAbility Vermont, a program within the state’s Division of Vocational Rehabilitation, is working to change that narrative. With funding from Kessler Foundation, the program combines work incentive counseling and career planning to help individuals understand their earning potential, navigate benefit rules, and pursue meaningful employment. This episode explores how strategic support and innovative funding are transforming lives and reshaping the future of disability employment.
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This podcast was recorded, produced, and edited by Joan Banks-Smith, Creative Producer at Kessler Foundation in October 2025.

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Kessler Foundation uses AI voices and narrators to make our media more accessible. These tools help ensure people with visual or cognitive impairments can access our materials. Automated voices may not always capture intonation or pronunciation as clearly as the accompanying text. If you experience issues with our AI narrators, please contact us at communications@kesslerfoundation.org.