According to the U.S. Department of Labor, roughly 33 million Americans have a disability and nearly half are unemployed. Just over 20 years ago, the Marriott Foundation for People with Disabilities launched the Bridges from school to work program to shrink the career gap for youth ages 17-22 with mental, physical and cognitive disabilities. Since its founding, the program has placed more than 12,000 young adults with 3,000 employers nationwide.  To view Multimedia News Release, go to