When Josh Fields learned teenagers with intellectual disabilities had limited options for their post high school futures, he wasn’t happy.
“I was infuriated,” said Fields, in an earlier interview. “I always grew up around kids with disabilities and one of my best friends has Down syndrome.”
A Central Bucks South High School student at the time, Fields is now 25 and eight years into leading The Next Step Program, which he co-founded with his friend Ricky Price.
Next Step provides a wide range of programs for young adults with disabilities including those focusing on social skills, independent living, career exploration, entrepreneurism, cooking, fitness and healthy living.
Fields was recently named to Forbes 30 Under 30 Social Impact list.
“This year’s list makers were handpicked from more than a thousand nominations, and narrowed down by Forbes editors and a panel of all-star judges in the social impact space,” said the magazine’s article.
The list also includes those working in areas surrounding inequality, the environment and safety.
Besides its direct work with those with disabilities, Next Step also works with employers, educating business owners on how people with cognitive differences, such as autism, Down syndrome and cerebral palsy can be excellent employees.
“We want to help get young adults with disabilities out of the “three Fs’ — food, filth and flower jobs — that are low-paying and have low job satisfaction,” said Fields, earlier. “We’re thinking creatively.”
Founded in Doylestown Borough in 2015, TNS now has programs in Montgomery, Cumberland and Chester counties as well.
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