Diane Ricker is a Work Incentives Counselor for Work Without Limits, a program of ForHealth Consulting at UMass Chan Medical School that aims to advance equal employment for people with disabilities. Diane is certified by the U.S. Social Security Administration (SSA) as a Community Work Incentive Coordinator (CWIC) and works as a CWIC on Work Without Limits’ SSA Work Incentives Planning and Assistance (WIPA) contract. In this role, Diane assists individuals with disabilities to navigate SSA and other public benefit agencies while returning to work. Diane is a compassionate social worker, committed to assisting people find their passions, interests and purpose in life through achieving career and work-related goals. Having worked in a variety of positions for the State of Vermont’s - TANF and SNAP programs for over 20 years, the concepts of the “benefit cliff” is not foreign to her. She has a deep understanding of the fear that can engulf one’s desire to return to work and reach one’s potential despite the many layers of inequality that can exist. Promoting social and economic justice and building disability inclusion has been a lifelong journey for Diane as she has worked to assist others to become financially stable. Most of all, she enjoys developing genuine relationships with everyone who joins her mission in life, always looking to make a difference. Diane has a BA in social work and a minor in psychology from Wheelock College and a Masters of Social Work from the University of Vermont.