You’re With Us! is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization and a Department of Developmental Services (DDS) service provider that creates inclusion opportunities for young adults with disabilities. The program identifies and trains college clubs, groups, and teams to welcome individuals with disabilities into their groups as they are. You’re With Us! believes that a meaningful life includes a home, a job, family, friends and social opportunities with their peers - able and otherwise.
You’re With Us! creates inclusion opportunities for young adults with disabilities. The program identifies and trains college clubs, groups, and teams to be welcoming and supportive peers to the differently abled. The college group then creates a Positive Experience Design (PED) customized for the young adult to help him or her transition from school to an adult life in the community. You’re With Us! believes that a meaningful life includes a home, a job, family, friends and social opportunities with their peers - able and otherwise.
You’re With Us! creates inclusion opportunities for young adults with disabilities. The program identifies and trains college clubs, groups, and teams to be welcoming and supportive peers to the differently abled. The college group then creates a Positive Experience Design (PED) customized for the young adult to help him or her transition from school to an adult life in the community. You’re With Us! believes that a meaningful life includes a home, a job, family, friends and social opportunities with their peers - able and otherwise.
It has been said a person's quality of life is directly linked to the quality of the relationships in their life. You’re With Us! provides adolescents/young adults with the unique opportunity to belong to a group--just like any person would or could--- and derive the typical benefits people receive from out-of-school activities. In addition, our participants have the unique ability to profoundly affect those around them. By being included in their groups, our participants open up college students---and college campuses---to compassion and empathy, and provide them with leadership opportunities that would otherwise not be available. In essence, our framework enables our participants and peer mentors to “practice together” in the non-disabled community, which is the setting where they will be expected to function and thrive for the balance of their lives.
We locate possible opportunities to join college groups, teams, and clubs; coordinate recruitment into the group; act as the liaison between the family, school, and college/university; train mentors of the college groups to be responsible for making sure participants are included and connected with the group, facilitate communication between all parties; facilitate group education and development of Positive Experience Design; gather data on impact and quality of life; create and coordinate social connections across campus for participants and families; facilitate possible job/career opportunities through college career resources; offer support services as needed (ABA, BCBA, Monitor); create systems and manuals for future schools; and generally problem solve.
Our board is committed to helping people with disabilities have a life in the community which includes a sense of belonging to a group. We have leaders in the youth development and special needs transition space helping coach our participants, families and college students to successful outcomes.
Founder/President You’re With Us!
President Infusion Ventures
Non-profit development professional
Clinical research coordinator at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute
NFL Player Agent, Author of No Backing Down
Executive Director at Alliance of Massachusetts YMCAs.
Executive Director The Center for the Study of Sport in Society at Northeastern University
Attorney Zingaro and Cretella
Former Director of Pupil Services Town of Winthrop, Member Massachusetts Executive Council of Special Education
