Meet Gabe - a friendly face with a big smile and a love for amusement parks and the great outdoors. Gabe recently started a new job working as a Home Depot Lot Associate. Through Project Independence’s Supported Employment Program, Gabe was matched with this opportunity, and it's already proving to be a great fit. He works part time and loves that his role keeps him outside and active — something ...
Dear Friends of Project Independence: As our country gets ready to celebrate nearly 250 years of independence this July 4, we’re reflecting on what independence really means, and how powerful it is when someone with a developmental disability achieves the freedom they need to thrive in their own life. For Cristina, that freedom has meant 21 years of purpose, pride, and community through her paid job as a mail attendant ...
Inclusion in education doesn't end at high school. For adults with developmental disabilities in California, access to meaningful college experiences is expanding, but advocacy is still key to making it truly inclusive. Programs like Think by the Bay at Cal State East Bay are opening doors for students with intellectual and developmental disabilities to attend college alongside their peers. But when students in that program were recently excluded from participating ...
Project Independence joined nine other nonprofits on May 7 to cohost the annual Empowering Possibilities campaign, a Day of Giving to support neighbors with disabilities. Empowering Possibilities is a part of the i heart oc collaborative giving day initiative of the Orange County Community Foundation. The 24-hour online effort raised a total of $189,650 with 285 donors participating. A total of $13,650 was raised by Project Independence. “We were pleased ...
This month, we’re thrilled to celebrate Cristina and her 25 years with Project Independence! Since joining in 2000, Cristina has brought energy, dedication, and a joyful presence to every space she’s a part of. Cristina began her journey by exploring vocational paths, developing her skills, and discovering where she felt most confident and fulfilled. In November 2004, she was hired as a Mail Attendant for Irvine City Hall, a ...
Orange County Rally to Save Medicaid! Right now, there’s a lot of talk in Congress about cutting Medicaid (which is called MediCal in California) —and that could hit people with developmental disabilities especially hard. If Medicaid gets cut, people with developmental disabilities could lose access to the healthcare they depend on every single day. We're talking about things like doctor visits, medications, therapy, and even basic preventive care. Without Medicaid, ...
California released a comprehensive plan last month aimed at reducing service barriers and enhancing support in employment, education, transportation, and health for individuals with developmental disabilities. The Master Plan is all about making life better and more independent for people with developmental disabilities in California. It aims to improve access to services like housing, healthcare, education, and jobs — and make those services more person-centered and easier to navigate. It ...
Beginning in 2022, the state of California started implementing a new rate reform plan for developmental disability service providers, rolling it out in phases. The new reform system is essentially a guide that tells the state how much to pay disability service providers for the work they do. The rate reform plan was designed to gradually increase what the state pays disability service providers, which is great in theory because ...
If you’ve been hearing about budget cuts happening in the Social Security Administration and feeling worried, take a deep breath—advocates are stepping up to protect your rights. Groups like AAPD and Justice in Aging are fighting back because they know how critical these services are for people with disabilities and their families. The goal of the lawsuit is to make sure the Social Security system stays accessible, fair, and fully ...
by: Dan Pittman Published: March 4, 2025 COSTA MESA...Project Independence (PI), a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization serving adults with developmental disabilities in Orange County, is proud to observe Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month (DDAM) throughout March with the "We're Here All Year” campaign. The promotion is emphasizing that community, accessibility, and opportunities for people with developmental disabilities should be recognized and championed every day—not just in March. As a lifeline for one of the ...
Project Independence 3505 Cadillac, Suite O-103, Costa Mesa, CA 92626 714-549-3464
Independent Living Services
Supported Employment
Day Program
Work Incentive Planning
