Photo: Abby Tetrault, a Licensed Day Care Provider, works with children at a Cape Cod daycare center.

(Hyannis, MA) – As businesses across the region face persistent labor shortages, participants in the Living Independently Forever® (LIFE) program in Southeastern Massachusetts are helping to mitigate these staffing issues for over 100+ companies and organizations in the Plymouth and Cape Cod regions.

According to a 2025 ManpowerGroup report, 75% of employers are struggling to fill job vacancies – the second highest figure on record since surveys began tracking this data in 2006. For many local employers, LIFE individuals are making a significant difference in keeping their operations staffed.

Since 1992, LIFE, a nonprofit organization based in Plymouth and on Cape Cod, has been empowering adults with autism, learning, and intellectual disabilities in their pursuit of a happy, independent life. With a staff of 40 employment professionals, the LIFE organization provides employment support and work skills for individuals to become independent in their job, a key component of empowering individuals to thrive independently.

Adults in the Living Independently Forever® (LIFE) program are employed in a wide range of industries, including restaurants, retail, childcare, and healthcare. They are a dedicated workforce making a significant impact on the local economy and meeting the demand for year-round local employees.

In today’s employment economy, labor shortages are a significant concern for many employers who struggle to find reliable, year-round employees critical for their operations. The cost per hire, including paid recruiting posts, training, screening tools, and hiring events, for a seasonal retail employer is estimated to be $480 per employee, with additional costs of up to $7,000 for professional services. (Source: Paychex)

The LIFE employment program, with offices in Plymouth and on Cape Cod, currently supports 157 adults with intellectual disabilities who are actively employed and working between 5,024 and 6,280 hours a year. LIFE individuals are employed at for-profit and non-profit organizations across a wide range of sectors, from retail and restaurants to manufacturing and residential care facilities. Employers include CVS, Mashpee Public Schools, Cape Cod Healthcare, Staples, and Jiffy Lube.

Supporting LIFE individuals in their discovery and pursuit of employment passion is key to their employment success. Katelyn Whitman, a LIFE Employment Counselor, accomplishes this for her LIFE clients, including Abby Tetrault, who pursued her dream career as a Licensed Day Care Provider after 10 years as a Retail Assistant at BJ’s, where she was known for her reliability, work ethic, and unwavering commitment. Today, Abby is thriving in her new career at a Cape Cod-based daycare center and holds an Early Education and Care (EEC) Professional Certification. Abby says having her dream job, “means showing up every day knowing I help kids learn and play with them with a smile on my face.”

Currently, LIFE has three employment services locations in Plymouth and on Cape Cod, focusing on paid employment coaching, as well as Community-Based Day Services (CBDS) program that supports individuals with learning disabilities in discovering their interests with vocational and volunteer opportunities. LIFE CBDS individuals benefit from a supportive, encouraging environment where they develop practical job skills and work ethics.

LIFE Community-Based Day Services (CBDS) emphasizes paid employment as an outcome. It is a pass-through program that focuses on discovering likes and dislikes, preferred work environments, and a general assessment of one’s strengths. CBDS volunteers on Cape Cod and in Plymouth, MA, have a significant impact on the local communities by giving back. Many local agencies rely heavily on LIFE volunteers to sustain their organization.

The LIFE CBDS program supports a wide range of nonprofit organizations, including environmental initiatives to clean up and preserve local beaches and beautiful nature spaces for all to enjoy. They also help deliver Meals on Wheels to local elderly individuals who are homebound. By delivering nutritious meals and offering a friendly greeting, they provide more than just food—they offer companionship and a vital wellness check for elderly individuals who might otherwise feel isolated.

Over 50 LIFE individuals volunteer at nonprofit organizations across southeastern Massachusetts, including the Massachusetts Military Support Foundation, National Marine Life Center, and Royal Health Nursing and Rehabilitation Center.

Approximately 80% of LIFE individuals are employed and have been working for over five years. This job longevity reduces employer costs for training and recruiting, as well as the stress on existing employees when businesses and organizations are short-staffed. In turn, employed LIFE individuals help grow the local economy by spending money locally for social activities and essential expenses. 

According to LIFE’s Director of Employment and CBDS, Leah Vincent, “LIFE participants bring significant benefits to the employers where they are employed. Beyond contributing labor hours, their presence enriches the workplace by fostering a culture of inclusion, patience, and kindness—qualities that are especially meaningful in industries like retail. Additionally, employment provides LIFE individuals with the opportunity to earn income and empower them to contribute to the local economy through taxes and independently support their living expenses.”

In addition to employment programs, which include discovery and assessment, job coaching, and job development, LIFE offers a mix of supported independent living and community-based programs. 

Living Independently Forever® (LIFE), a non-profit organization, is building a more inclusive world where adults with disabilities are empowered to live an independent, healthy, joyful life in a supportive community. LIFE opened its door in 1993 at its first location in Hyannis. Today, 30+ years later, the organization serves over 260 individuals and has 170 staff contributing to the local economy in the southeastern Massachusetts communities of Plymouth and Cape Cod. For more information about Living Independently Forever, Inc.®, please send an email or call 508-418-5646.