October 2026 | National Disability Employment Awareness Month
Meaningful employment can provide more than a paycheck. It can build confidence, strengthen connections, and create a sense of purpose. But the path to employment looks different for everyone.
At New Narrative’s NorthStar Clubhouse, members have a supportive community where they can discover their strengths, develop skills, and pursue employment and education goals at their own pace.
October is National Disability Employment Awareness Month, an opportunity to recognize the talents and contributions of people with disabilities and the importance of creating pathways to meaningful work.
A Growing Community, an Internationally Recognized Model
In July 2026, NorthStar earned a three-year accreditation–the highest result possible–from Clubhouse International, recognizing its commitment to an established model of community-based mental health recovery.
NorthStar is continuing to grow, creating more opportunities for members to connect, contribute, and support one another.
“Our Clubhouse is growing in such positive ways, and that’s a testament to the incredible members and staff who bring their talents, ideas, and experiences to NorthStar every day. Members are essential to operating our program; quite simply, we couldn’t do it with our small staff team alone. There’s something incredibly powerful about knowing you’re needed, that your skills and abilities matter, and that you have something meaningful to contribute. That’s at the heart of the Clubhouse Model and mental health recovery.”
— Naomi Scott, NorthStar Clubhouse Program Director
Central to the Clubhouse model is the Work Ordered Day, where members and staff work side by side to operate the Clubhouse. Members take on meaningful tasks and responsibilities, and through that work, they share their talents, develop skills, and build relationships.
It’s an approach grounded in a simple and powerful principle: everyone has something valuable to contribute.
Employment and Education on Each Member’s Terms
NorthStar’s Employment and Education Program helps members explore career interests, prepare résumés, practice interviewing, and pursue educational opportunities.
The Clubhouse model also includes Transitional Employment, which provides opportunities for members to gain paid work experience with support from the Clubhouse. Developing and sustaining employer partnerships is an important part of expanding these opportunities.
Across its international network, Clubhouse International reports that approximately 40% of active members are employed through Transitional, Supported, or Independent Employment programs. That figure reflects the broader Clubhouse network, not NorthStar specifically.
Alongside employment, NorthStar is also expanding opportunities for members to pursue their educational goals. Our recently revamped Education Program supports members at every stage of their journey, from exploring schools and touring school campuses and training programs to navigating applications and connecting with campus disability services. We work alongside each member to identify supports that reflect their individual interests, needs, and aspirations.
Building Opportunity Through Connection
As conversations about employment, disability, and access to services continue, NorthStar demonstrates the importance of recognizing individual strengths and providing support that reflects each person’s goals.
For some members, that means preparing to enter the workforce. For others, it means returning to school, developing skills, building confidence, or finding new ways to contribute to their community.
At NorthStar, members are active participants in shaping their own futures and the future of the Clubhouse itself.
During National Disability Employment Awareness Month, New Narrative celebrates NorthStar’s growing community and the members, staff, and partners helping create opportunities for everyone to thrive.
Learn more about NorthStar’s Employment and Education Program.
Source: Clubhouse International, Employment Programs and International Standards for Clubhouse Programs.
