Partnership expanded Disability-inclusive workforce development and created new pathways to economic mobility across the Southeast.
WASHINGTON, Sept. 30, 2026 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- 2Gether-International (2GI), a global organization and network unlocking the potential of Founders with Disabilities, and Making Space, a talent acquisition and learning platform that supports Disabled professionals, today announced the successful completion of A Comprehensive Workforce Development Strategy for Disabled Professionals, supported by a grant from Truist Foundation.
Building on Making Space's original flagship Ascend program, this initiative expanded workforce development opportunities for Disabled professionals across the Southeastern United States, combining peer cohort learning, 1:1 mentorship, employer engagement and AI-powered career navigation tools with wraparound supports including financial literacy, ABLE account education, benefits counseling and employer training.
The program delivered measurable results, including 70 Disabled professionals placed in executive-track apprenticeship opportunities. The program also helped participants create ABLE accounts and enabled participants to access other benefits programs.
"Truist Foundation's grant represented more than a program expansion. It showed that multiple institutions are investing in a Disability-led model of workforce development, validating Disability as a competitive advantage in business," said Diego Mariscal, CEO and Founder of 2Gether-International. "The results of this program demonstrate what happens when Disabled professionals have access to community, mentorship, technology and the financial support they need to pursue meaningful careers and economic mobility."
Building a More Comprehensive Workforce Pipeline:
2GI and Making Space's workforce development program was designed specifically by and for Disabled professionals, addressing structural barriers to employment while equipping participants with the skills, confidence and resources needed to advance their careers.
Key outcomes include:
- 70 professionals placed in executive-track apprenticeship opportunities.
- 17 participants secured full-time, competitive employment.
- 6 participants pursued freelance or contract work, increasing their income.
- 10 participants created ABLE accounts to strengthen their financial security.
- 12 participants accessed other benefits programs.
- 20% increase in cohort-wide confidence in requesting workplace accommodations and self-advocating during the hiring process and once employed.
With 85% of beneficiaries from low-to-moderate-income backgrounds, the strategy directly aligned with Truist Foundation's commitment to Building Career Pathways to Economic Mobility while demonstrating the scalability of Disability-inclusive workforce development.
"Economic mobility is built when people have the tools, guidance and community they need to pursue their goals," said Namrata Yadav, chief culture and philanthropy officer at Truist. "This work demonstrates the power of creating spaces where professionals with Disabilities can build skills, connect with mentors and see new possibilities for their future. The outcomes reflect not only professional success, but our purpose in action: people being seen, supported and empowered to thrive."
"The success and the impact we've seen across the program is incredible," said Keely Cat-Wells, Founder and CEO of Making Space and a 2GI alumnus. "The support from Truist Foundation reflects what is possible when Disabled Professionals are recognized, valued and equipped with the resources and support they need to lead at every level of industry."
Expanding opportunities for Professionals with Disabilities remains crucial. 1 in 4 Americans (25%) live with a Disability, but the latest data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, shows that only 22.5% of Americans with Disabilities were employed, compared to 65.8% of those without Disabilities, contributing to $163 billion in lost annual U.S. tax revenue due to underemployment. In 2022, Diversity VC surveyed 200+ U.S. funds representing $31.8 billion in AUM; while disability was included as a category, zero funds reported allocating capital to disabled founders.
The successful 2026 completion builds on the original Ascend program, which delivered a 123x return on investment and a $1.1 million average lifetime earnings increase per participant. Together, the programs are real world evidence for how peer support, skills development, employer engagement and wraparound resources can create more equitable pathways to economic opportunity for Disabled professionals.
About 2Gether-International (2GI):
2Gether-International (2GI) is a global organization and network unlocking the potential of founders with Disabilities. 2GI turns Disability-led innovation into an engine for growth across entrepreneurship, capital, and workforce systems. As the world's largest startup accelerator run by and for entrepreneurs with Disabilities, 2GI is redefining Disability as a competitive advantage in business. 2GI has supported over 1,400 startups, helping them raise over 84 million dollars in investment, revenue, and acquisitions. The organization itself has given more than half a million dollars in non-diluted capital to founders with Disabilities. 2GI was named to the first-ever Forbes Accessibility 100 list in 2025 and recognized again in 2026.
About Making Space:
Making Space is a talent acquisition and learning platform that helps companies hire, support and retain Disabled professionals, while providing free, accessible upskilling, career opportunities and community for Disabled talent. Making Space supports a network of over 50,000 Disabled people and has trained more than 200,000 employees at companies including Red Bull, Salesforce and Netflix. Making Space's Ascend Fellowship delivers cohort-based upskilling, career coaching and mentorship, and introductions to hiring employers, alongside training for the managers who will support Fellows once they are in role. Learn more at https://www.making-space.com/.
About Truist Foundation:
Truist Foundation is committed to Truist Financial Corporation's (NYSE: TFC) purpose to inspire and build better lives and communities. The Foundation, an endowed private foundation established in 2020 whose operating budget is independent of Truist Financial Corporation, makes strategic investments in a wide variety of nonprofit organizations centered around two focus areas: building career pathways to economic mobility and strengthening small businesses to ensure all communities have an equal opportunity to thrive. Embodying these focus areas are the Foundation's leading initiatives – the Inspire Awards and Where It Starts. Learn more at https://www.truistfoundation.org/
Media Contact
Alex Rush, 2Gether-International, 1 7186643517, [email protected], https://www.2gether-international.org/
SOURCE 2Gether-International
Share this article