Lancaster, PA – As the Shapiro Administration works to expand opportunity for all Pennsylvanians and build an inclusive workforce, PA Department of Labor & Industry (L&I) Secretary Nancy A. Walker visited downtown Lancaster today to see firsthand how L&I’s Office of Vocational Rehabilitation (OVR) is making a difference in the lives of young Pennsylvanians with disabilities. Through OVR’s longstanding partnership with local students and employers, the Administration is helping students with disabilities prepare for college and careers.
Making sure every Pennsylvanian has the freedom to chart their own course and the opportunity to succeed is a priority for Governor Josh Shapiro. That’s why his proposed 2026-27 budget calls for a $1 million increase in state funding for OVR to expand access to key services – including assistive technology, transition supports for students, and expanded services for Pennsylvanians who are DeafBlind and have other disabilities.
During her visit, Secretary Walker toured the Lancaster Marriott at Penn Square and Lancaster County Convention Center – one of the program’s employer partners – where students are gaining hands-on work experience.
“Programs like the one here in Lancaster show what’s possible when schools, employers, and OVR work together,” said Secretary Walker. “These students are gaining real-world experience, earning college credits, building confidence, and preparing for their futures. Under Governor Shapiro’s leadership, we are continuing to invest in OVR because access to opportunity matters – every Pennsylvanian deserves the support to pursue independence, take part in their community, and build a future defined by possibility.”
A Proven Model Connecting Students to Careers and College
OVR's program helps students with disabilities transition from high school to employment or postsecondary education. Students participate in paid, work-based learning with local employers, gaining real-world skills that often lead to jobs after graduation. The program also offers a college pathway—connecting many first-generation students to courses and campus life through Harrisburg Area Community College. Together, these experiences help students build confidence and make informed decisions about their future.
In the most recent program year, more than 200 students participated in career readiness instruction, over 50 students completed intensive work-based learning experiences, and more than half of participating seniors secured jobs by graduation.
Students receive job coaching and ongoing support that gradually decreases as they gain independence, while employers report that mentoring students strengthens their workforce and helps build more inclusive workplaces.
Over the past three years, Governor Josh Shapiro has made expanding opportunity for Pennsylvanians of all abilities a priority. Since taking office, OVR has supported 76,000 Pennsylvanians with disabilities and strengthened partnerships with employers across the Commonwealth, expanding job placement services, pre-employment transition services, and on-the-job training opportunities.
OVR also expects to connect more than 1,000 students to paid work-based learning experiences in all of Pennsylvania’s 67 counties through the MY Work program in summer 2026, as students with disabilities who gain early work experience are four times more likely to secure employment after graduation.
In addition to increasing state funding in OVR by $1 million, Governor Shapiro’s 2026-27 budget proposal also includes:
- An additional $18 million for vo-tech, career and technical education (CTE), and apprenticeship programs;
- $7 million for Schools-to-Work pathways; and
- $6.3 million for Industry Partnership grants.
For more information on the Pennsylvania Department of Labor & Industry, please visit the website or follow L&I on Instagram, Facebook, X, and LinkedIn.
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