Making Space Announces Inaugural Workforce Development Program for Disabled Professionals

LOS ANGELES, Feb. 17, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Making Space, with support from the GitLab Foundation, is proud to launch the inaugural Making Space Ascend Program, a 10-month initiative designed to support 100 Disabled professionals in accessing competitive and sustainable employment opportunities. Applications for the program are now live, and the program is set to begin on April 1, 2025.

The program combines Making Space's talent acquisition and learning platform with strategic collaborations with leading employers including Microsoft, Salesforce, and Shutterstock. By addressing systemic barriers and providing in-demand skills training, the Ascend Program paves the way for participants to achieve long-term career success and for Making Space to advance accessible hiring practices within participating companies.

"Disabled professionals face systemic barriers to employment, while industries struggle to fill key roles requiring creativity and leadership," said Keely Cat-Wells, CEO of Making Space. "The Ascend Program bridges this gap, supporting participants and employers to drive lasting, meaningful change."

The program is open to individuals receiving any form of government disability support. It recognizes the unique strengths and problem-solving skills Disabled professionals bring to the workforce, such as adaptability, resilience, and logistical expertise honed from navigating a world not designed with them in mind. Through disabled-led educational content and employer training, the Ascend Program supports participants while helping organizations adopt inclusive hiring practices to harness this untapped talent pool.

Program Highlights

• Free, tailored, and disabled-led educational content covering topics like navigating benefits systems and transforming lived experiences into marketable skills.
• Employer training on best practices for disability-inclusive hiring.
• Opportunities for employers to host roles and recruit talent through the Making Space platform.
• Support for participants to achieve financial stability and meaningful employment.

Projected Impact

• Support 100 Disabled professionals into competitive and sustainable employment placements.
• Increase disability inclusion and confidence within partner organizations.
• Establish a scalable model for employment-focused initiatives globally.

For those interested in the Making Space Ascend Program apply here or to receive any further information, please contact [email protected].

About Making Space

Making Space is a talent acquisition and learning platform that enables companies to hire, support, and retain Disabled professionals. Seamlessly integrating with existing enterprise software, Making Space connects employers with a highly qualified, innovative, and often overlooked workforce while providing employers with essential education to confidently support current and future Disabled employees, including those who are Neurodivergent or Chronically Ill. Our goal at Making Space is to provide the necessary resources and opportunities for Disabled professionals to create meaningful careers and become influential leaders.

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SOURCE Making Space