Jonathan DaSilva Courtesy photo

NASHUA – For the past decade, Jonathan DaSilva of Nashua has helped scores of special needs students achieve their goals of having careers in healthcare.

A senior workforce operations manager at CVS Health, DaSilva has strived to create award-winning job training programs in both New Hampshire and Massachusetts.

Some of his accolades include the Vinfen Employer Award, the Triangle, Inc. Employer Award, the ROCA, INC. Employer Award and the New Hampshire Employment Leadership Award on two occasions. The Workforce Division of CVS Health was also recognized by Gov. Chris

Sununu earlier this year and in 2019.

“Working with individuals with disabilities has been a lifelong passion,” said DaSilva. “My mother worked with individuals with disabilities when I was a child. At a young age, she inspired me and instilled in me the importance of caring and compassion.”

He also said that a disability is much different than an inability.

“Just because someone does something differently that doesn’t mean they are doing it wrong,” said DaSilva. “By creating programs that showcase capability we show program participants that the sky’s the limit, unlocking someone’s full potential is what drives me each and every day.”

DaSilva has designed the training programs in a way that allows students to work around the typical employment barriers that they would otherwise face.

“These barriers include limited access to skills training, lack of opportunity, unfounded stigmas and too often, unfairly low expectations,” said Tara Burke, spokesperson for CVS Health. “We help individuals of all abilities to overcome boundaries, enable opportunities and unlock their fullest potential through mentoring, simulated training and advocacy. Through our customized simulated training facilities, individuals with disabilities can get valuable, hands-on experience to prepare for real world job experience.”

DaSilva has also worked with New Hampshire Vocational Rehabilitation for the past 10 years to create programs for that agency.

“These innovative programs allow NHVR consumers to explore career opportunities and showcase their capabilities while learning the intricacies of the role,” said Burke. “These training programs provide a hand up to NHVR consumers by building confidence, developing skills and providing opportunities in careers they may not have been previously qualified for.”

A CVS employee for the past 15 years, DaSilva said he appreciates that the company is based in New England and is “rich with growth opportunities.”

“CVS Health’s Workforce Initiatives team provided me with the opportunity to fulfill my passion of helping those with disabilities and the youth population find job training and meaningful employment,” he said. “On a daily basis, I am doing what I love most by making a difference in the community, developing partnerships with local organizations to create jobs and most importantly changing the trajectory of many individuals.”