Hire Dedication

Your Community Partner

Project Independence has been working with people with disabilities since 1977, and we have placed over a thousand people with disabilities in jobs throughout Orange County. We have been successful by partnering with both small and large employers to match great applicants with great jobs.

At Project Independence our Job Developers:

  • Evaluate the skills, interests, and needs of individuals with developmental disabilities in our supported employment program.
  • Work with local employers to meet their employment needs by matching job openings with the skills and interests of our supported employment clients.

At Project Independence our Job Coaches:

  • Assist clients during their initial work experience, offering guidance and support to help them adjust to the workplace environment and meet job expectations.
  • Act as a bridge between clients and employers and provide additional support as needed to ensure long-term success in their roles.
CONTACT US

Benefits for Employers

Work Opportunity Tax Credit - Employers can claim a tax credit of up to $2,400 per eligible employee, depending on the individual’s hours worked and wages earned.

Disabled Access Credit - Available to small businesses that incur expenses to provide access for individuals with disabilities.

California Employment Training Panel - Employers can apply for funding through the California ETP, which provides financial support for employee training programs.

On-the-Job (OTJ) Training Reimbursement - Employers may receive up to 50% of the new employee's wages (from 3-6 months) to help offset the cost of training and lost productivity.

State Tax Benefits - Employers can deduct the cost of modifications made, from $1,200 to $9,600, to accommodate employees.

The Benefits of Hiring People With Disabilities - inclusivity can boost employee morale

Benefits of Hiring People with Disabilities - Demonstrate a commitment to social responsibility

Benefits of Hiring People with Disabilities - diverse skillsets and unique strengths

Hiring People with Developmental Disabilities - increased loyalty and retention

Success Stories

John B.

John has been working at Fletcher Jones for the last 30 years! He loves working with his job coach at Project Independence and he loves working with his friends John and Alfonso and keeping customers happy!

Steven N.

Steven is a courtesy clerk at a local Pavilions, 13 years and counting! He is very polite and very helpful to the customers. What he enjoys most about his work is the interaction with the customers and that they know him

Sharon O.

Sharon has worked at Albertsons for her entire career, almost 20 years. Sharon is looking forward to her retirement soon but will miss her store with all her friends and colleagues. Sharon’s supervisor Vicky says Sharon is a wonderful person and a hard worker.

EMPLOYER'S GUIDE

Empowering our community starts with inclusive hiring. By downloading our new employer's guide, you'll gain valuable insights and strategies to tap into a diverse and dedicated talent pool of people with developmental disabilities.

You can download the full 20-page PDF guide below or as individual topics.

DOWNLOAD THE FULL GUIDE
Empowering Inclusive Teams - Hiring People with Developmental Disabilities - an Employer's Guide

Success Stories

Eugenio

This is Eugenio, one of our supported employment clients.   He is very outgoing and has incredible customer service skills, which come in very handy with his new job as a Courtesy Clerk at Vons

Steven

Steven has been successfully employed at a local Food for Less for 21 years,  a position he obtained with assistance of Project Independence.  In his role in the deli, Stephen prepares and cooks chicken and potato wedges, bakes breads and cookies, decorates cakes and provides general customer service.

Alyssa

Alyssa has worked at a local Albertsons for two years and seven months. Alyssa loves her job, her co-workers, her supervisors and her customers.  Alyssa recognizes her regular customers by name and offers a friendly greeting to everyone.  Alyssa’s manager loves having her as part of the team.

Employer Resources

MORE VIDEOS

Orange County Partners

Project Independence has been working with people with disabilities since 1977, and we have placed over a thousand people with disabilities in jobs throughout Orange County. We have been successful by partnering with employers to match great applicants with great jobs.

SEE FULL LIST
logos of employers that have hired Project Independence clients through our Supported Employment Program.