South Shore Collaborative on Employment

What South Shore Collaborative on Employment does

South Shore Collaborative on Employment operates under the umbrella of the Institute for Community Inclusion (ICI) at UMass Boston, a University Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities jointly run with Boston Children's Hospital. The organization works to expand competitive integrated employment and inclusive higher education for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) through research, program evaluation, training, technical assistance, policy analysis, and direct service across four emphasis areas: Employment, Education, Community Life, and Healthcare. Its core program architecture is organized around three national hubs — ThinkWork and ExploreVR (employment-focused) and ThinkCollege (inclusive higher education) — and a membership community of practice, the State Employment Leadership Network (SELN), serving state IDD agencies.

The portfolio blends software, content, and human services. The most notable software asset is ES-Coach, a web-based tool that embeds micro-lessons, daily prompts, and workflow analytics into employment consultant practice and is currently used by 400+ consultants across 90 programs in 24 states. Other assets include the College of Employment Services / CES-ACRE online curriculum, the Community Life Engagement Toolkit, the annual StateData (Blue Book) report, and consulting services through ICI Consulting. Distribution mixes self-serve online platforms (ThinkWork.org, ThinkCollege.net, ExploreVR.org) with direct technical assistance to state agencies and partnership programs with 300+ colleges and universities.

The revenue model is overwhelmingly grant-driven. Primary funding comes from federal sources — US Department of Education, NIDILRR, RSA, and the Administration on Community Living — supplemented by state agency grants, fee-for-service consulting, recurring online learning subscriptions, and philanthropic gifts. Illustrative inflows include a 5-year, $10M DoE cooperative agreement for the Think College National Coordinating Center, a 3-year $600K NIDILRR research award, and individual gifts. The organization has no venture or equity backing; it is structured as a university center within UMass Boston and Boston Children's Hospital rather than as an investable enterprise.

Name

South Shore Collaborative on Employment

Legal name

Institute for Community Inclusion

Website

https://communityinclusion.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1967

Operating status

Operating

Short description

South Shore Collaborative on Employment, affiliated with the Institute for Community Inclusion at UMass Boston, connects employers with job seekers with disabilities and coordinates regional employment resources, operating federal-grant-funded research, training, and national hubs in inclusive employment and higher education.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Disability Employment Services

NAICS

Vocational Rehabilitation Services (6243), Vocational Rehabilitation Services (624310), Vocational Rehabilitation Services (62431), Employment Placement Agencies and Executive Search Services (56131)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Employment Agencies (7361)

akta.pro primary industry

Workforce Development & Inclusive Employment (Job Training, Placement) (BPAGALAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Disability Employment & Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) Programs (EDAAAOAI), Employment & Job Readiness Support Services (BPAGAEAJ), Work-Based Learning Programs (Internships, Apprenticeships, Community-Based Instruction) (EDAKANAF), Disability Services & Assistive Solutions (Accessibility, Assistive Tech) (BPAGALAM)

Keywords

• Disability employment services
• Vocational rehabilitation
• Employment coaching
• Inclusive higher education
• Disability workforce development

Headquarters

HQ city

Boston

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Federal and State Grants: Primary funding from federal agencies including the US Department of Education, National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research (NIDILRR), Rehabilitation Services Administration, and Administration on Community Living. Also receives grants from various state agencies.
2. Training and Technical Assistance Services: Revenue from providing consulting services, training programs, and technical assistance to agencies and organizations working with people with disabilities.
3. Online Learning Platforms: The College of Employment Services provides online curriculum and training for employment services professionals, including the Direct Course College of Employment Services.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

South Shore Collaborative on Employment (SSCE) connects employers with job seekers with disabilities and coordinates regional employment resources. As part of the Institute for Community Inclusion (ICI) at UMass Boston, it operates three national hubs (ThinkWork, ThinkCollege, ExploreVR) that deliver research, training, technical assistance, and online tools for inclusive employment, postsecondary education, and vocational rehabilitation for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

Product overview

The Institute for Community Inclusion (ICI) at UMass Boston operates as a University Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities offering a portfolio of research, training, technical assistance, and service delivery programs focused on four main areas: Employment, Education, Community Life, and Health Care. The organization's core products include ThinkWork (employment hub), ThinkCollege (higher education hub), and ExploreVR (vocational rehabilitation hub). Notable software products include ES-Coach, a web-based tool for employment consultants. ICI also provides consulting services, online training programs (College of Employment Services, CES/ACRE), and operates membership networks including the State Employment Leadership Network (SELN).

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• ThinkWork: Hub for research, training, and technical assistance focused on employment of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD).
• ThinkCollege
• ExploreVR
• State Employment Leadership Network (SELN)
• ES-Coach

Products and services

• ThinkWork National hub for an array of research, training, and technical assistance efforts focused on employment of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD).
• ThinkCollege National hub and resource for inclusive higher education for students with intellectual disability, supporting families, professionals, and college programs.
• ExploreVR National hub focused on inclusive employment through vocational rehabilitation services and competitive integrated employment for people with disabilities.
• ES-Coach (Employment Support Coach) A web-based software application designed to provide data-enabled feedback to employment consultants to help them implement best practices in employment supports. Includes daily questions, micro-lessons, videos, tips, data visualization, and articles for workflow-embedded professional development. Used by over 400 employment consultants in 90 programs across 24 states.
• College of Employment Services Online curriculum delivered through Direct Course for employment services professionals covering best practices in disability employment support.
• ICI Consulting Expert consultation and technical assistance services for agency leaders and disability staff through consulting engagements.
• Community Life Engagement Toolkit Online toolkit with actionable tools and strategies for service providers looking to increase community life engagement for people with disabilities.
• State Employment Leadership Network (SELN) Membership-supported community of practice for state IDD agencies committed to improving employment outcomes, hosting research-to-practice and practice-to-research strategies.
• StateData Report (Blue Book) Annual research publication produced by the Employment Policy and Systems team providing state and national data on employment and day services for people with IDD.
• National Coordinating Center for TPSID Coordinates Transition and Postsecondary Programs for Students with Intellectual Disabilities (TPSID) model demonstration grantees offering postsecondary education programs for students with intellectual disability.
• CES/ACRE Online learning program for employment services professionals providing ACRE-certified training curriculum.

Quantifiable outcome

• Since 1988, integrated employment increased by 325% (33,092 to 140,521 people with disabilities hired for jobs)
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

20 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Association of Higher Education and Disability (AHEAD)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 October 2025Partner in Think College National Coordinating Center for Transition and Postsecondary Programs for Students with Intellectual Disabilities (TPSID). Collaborates on program development, evaluation, and accreditation.
• Inclusive Postsecondary Education (IPSE) AssociationcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 October 2025Partner in Think College NCC working to build and enhance high-quality, sustainable college options for students with intellectual disability.
• Taishoff Center for Inclusive Higher Education at Syracuse UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 October 2025Partner in Think College NCC supporting postsecondary education programs for students with intellectual disability.
• Warner School of Education Center for Disability and Education at University of RochestercoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 October 2025Partner in Think College NCC for inclusive higher education program development and evaluation.
• Inclusive Higher Education Accreditation Council (IHEAC)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 October 2025Jointly launched IHEAC in 2023 to accredit postsecondary programs for students with intellectual disability. First accreditation awarded to Western Carolina University UP Program.
• UMass BostoncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerICI is jointly operated by UMass Boston and Boston Children's Hospital as a University Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities (UCEDD). The ICI is part of the College of Education and Human Development (CEHD) and School for Global Inclusion and Social Development (SGISD).
• Boston Children's HospitalcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint program partnership with Boston Children's Hospital for disability inclusion research and services, including the Developmental Evaluation Clinic (DEC) where ICI originated.
• State Employment Leadership Network (SELN)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerICI's membership-supported community of practice of state IDD agencies committed to improving employment outcomes. Hosts research-to-practice and practice-to-research strategies.
• Institute for New England Native American Studies at UMass BostonminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartners with ICI on Rural Youth Apprenticeship Development project to promote pre-apprenticeships for American Indian and Alaska Native youth with disabilities.
• American Indian Vocational Rehabilitation Training and Technical Assistance Center (AIVRTTAC) at Northern Arizona UniversityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartners on Rural Youth Apprenticeship Development project for tribal community youth with disabilities.
• Mathematica Policy ResearchminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for development of Rapid Engagement Team Approach (RETA) model to improve employment re-entry for SSDI beneficiaries.
• National Association of State Directors of Developmental Disabilities Services (NASDDDS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborates with ICI on Advanced Rehabilitation Research Training (ARRT) Program launching Spring 2026.
• Humanity and Inclusion (HI)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartners with ICI on Professional Fellows Program on Inclusive Civic Engagement, a US State Department Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs program.
• International Disability Alliance (IDA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartners on Professional Fellows Program on Inclusive Civic Engagement for emerging disability rights leaders from East Africa.
• African Disability Forum (ADF)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartners on Professional Fellows Program bringing expertise and connections for East African disability leadership development.
• Association of University Centers on Disabilities (AUCD)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNetwork membership supporting Professional Fellows Program and knowledge sharing across disability-focused university centers.
• Center for Public Representation (CPR)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFacilitates Center on Youth Voice, Youth Choice (CYVYC) Community of Practice for alternatives to guardianship, working with ICI staff.
• Self Advocates Becoming Empowered (SABE)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSelf-advocacy organization collaborating on CYVYC Community of Practice and ensuring people with IDD are centered in research and policy work.
• University of Minnesota Institute on Community IntegrationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on Reinventing Quality Conference presentations and research publications on disability employment.
• Jewish Vocational Services (JVS) BostonminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnered on ES-Coach presentation at Reinventing Quality Conference for data-enabled employment support implementation.

Scale indicators11 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Regional players

• Jewish Vocational Service (JVS): Boston-based direct partner on ES-Coach and similar employment-services organization serving job seekers with disabilities and other barriers. Operates comparable vocational rehabilitation and employment consulting programs in the Northeast U.S.

Direct peers

• Association of University Centers on Disabilities (AUCD): National network that represents and supports all UCEDDs (including the subject organization). AUCD provides the connective tissue across the ~67 UCEDDs and is a core strategic partner of the subject organization on the Professional Fellows Program and broader knowledge sharing.
• Taishoff Center for Inclusive Higher Education at Syracuse University: Direct partner in the Think College National Coordinating Center and a UCEDD-affiliated program operating inclusive postsecondary education for students with intellectual disabilities. Highly comparable model and customer base.
• University of Minnesota Institute on Community Integration (ICI): Sister UCEDD at the University of Minnesota, also jointly named ICI and operating as a University Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities with overlapping national hubs, research-to-practice focus on disability employment, and collaboration on conferences and publications. The most direct functional peer.
• Vanderbilt Kennedy Center: UCEDD at Vanderbilt University conducting research, training, and service programs on intellectual and developmental disabilities. Operates similar national hubs (e.g., TN Employment Coalition) and competes for federal grants from NIDILRR and ACL.
• APSE (Association of People Supporting Employment First): National membership organization advancing Employment First and competitive integrated employment for people with disabilities. Directly overlaps on state-system transformation, employer engagement, and provider training — competing for the same federal grants and consulting engagements.
• National Association of State Directors of Developmental Disabilities Services (NASDDDS): Member organization of state IDD agency directors — the exact customer segment ICI serves. Direct collaboration on ARRT program launching Spring 2026, and overlapping focus on state-system transformation and policy reform.

Broad incumbents

• Goodwill Industries International: Large established non-profit operating employment and training programs for people with disabilities across thousands of U.S. locations. Overlaps significantly on employment services and community rehabilitation provider (CRP) segment, though at much greater scale and with broader retail/mission footprint.
• American Association on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (AAIDD): Professional association issuing the Public Policy Award granted to ICI's Jean Winsor in 2024. AAIDD is the broader field-defining membership body in IDD, overlapping on research dissemination, policy advocacy, and professional training — though with a different business model.

Others

• Mathematica Policy Research: Policy research and evaluation firm partnering with ICI on the RETA model for SSDI beneficiaries. Adjacent rather than competing — provides research infrastructure that complements ICI's program-side work.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/ICIUMassBoston
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/institute-for-community-inclusion

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about South Shore Collaborative on Employment