Employment Services

Employment & Community Options provides a variety of employment services specifically designed to meet the individual job seekers needs.

Integrated Employment (6 hour Day Program)
The purpose of our Integrated Employment Program is to provide adults with Developmental Disabilities skills training in the community.  A major component of this skills training includes job placement in either a paid or volunteer job in the community. Our goal is to develop individualized support plans and schedules that provide the most benefits to the person and enhances the individual's life choices and level of independence.

This service is provided to individuals with developmental disabilities (mental retardation, cerebral palsy, autism) whose disabilities fall within the moderate to severe range and who require ongoing supervision, training, and assistance by an Employment & Community Options staff person.

Employment & Community Options Referral Form

(PDF / Word)
You may print out form and send or, save to your computer, fill out form and email to: Rachelle Benson,
VP of Programs & Services at rbenson@communityoptions.org

Training and Instruction are available in these areas:

• Personal Responsibility and Integrity
• Job Development
• Job Placement, Training, and Coaching
• Community Living Skills
• Assertiveness and Communication
• Community Safety
• Money Handling and Purchasing Techniques
• Social Etiquette
• Shopping
• Banking
• Work skills & Ethics
• Personal Futures Planning
• Self Advocacy
• Community College Classes
• Riding public transportation safely

American Red Cross Volunteer Job Site

Local businesses employ individuals from 6 to 20 hours per week. The employment sites encompass a variety of environments including hotels, offices, theaters, retail stores, hospitals, and restaurants. Below is a sampling of the 200+ Employment & Community Options Business Partners.

Our Business Partners:

• Marriott Hotel
• Barnes and Noble Bookstore
• Pat & Oscar’s Restaurant
• Pizza Hut
• Rubio’s Baja Grill
• Rite Aid
• Rock Bottom Restaurant and Brewery
• Signature Theaters
• New Leaf Market
• Walgreen’s
• Wal-Mart
• TGI Fridays
• Sports Authority
• Stater Bros Grocery
• Old Navy

Employment & Community Options provides these services in the counties of San Diego, Santa Clara, Santa Cruz, Alameda and San Bernardino.

Supported Employment (job development, placement & follow along services)
This service provides job development, job placement and employment support for individuals with developmental disabilities who require minimal and only short-term supervision and training by an Employment & Community Options Job Coach. The job coach phases out when the Employment & Community Options participant is able to perform the work independently. This service is funded through the Department of Rehabilitation and the local regional center at an hourly rate for job coaching hours.

Agency services are provided seven days per week depending upon the individual's work schedule.

Employment & Community Options provides these services throughout San Diego County, Santa Clara County, Alameda County & San Bernardino County

Employment & Community Options Supported Employment Agency Referral Form (PDF / Word)
You may print out form and send or,
save to your computer, fill out form and email to:
Rachelle Benson,
VP of Programs & Services at rbenson@communityoptions.org

Support services include, but are not limited to:

• Job Development
• Job Placement
• Short Term on the Job Training
• Work Ethics
• Positive Work behaviors
• Responsibility and Integrity
• Assistance in reporting wages to Social Security.
• Assistance with banking responsibilities.
• Facilitation of referrals to agencies providing independent living services.

Contacts:

San Diego County
Julie Hadley: jhadley@communityoptions.org

Santa Clara County
Matt Barrett: mbarrett@communityoptions.org

Alameda County
Steve Dershimer: sdershimer@communityoptions.org

San Bernardino County
Stephanie Ikenador: sikenador@communityoptions.org

Transition from School to Work
Employment & Community Options, in collaboration with a school district, works directly with students who are graduating from high school.  Individualized schedules and paid employment will be developed for the individual before graduation occurs.  Employment & Community Options provides this service in partnership with the San Diego Unified School District

San Diego Area Contact
Rachelle Benson: rbenson@communityoptions.org

Senior Community Service Employment Program
This program offers employment assistance services for seniors over the age of 55 who must return to the workforce because of economic issues.  Individuals qualify for these services because they are earning less than $900/month.  The average age of a person in this program is 72 with many who are between the ages of 72 and 85.  This program is funded through San Diego County and the federal Department of Labor.  Services are provided at the South Metro Career Center in San Diego located in the Imperial Marketplace near I-805 and Imperial. 

This program is under contract with San Diego County through Aging and Independence Services.  The program is funded through Title V of the Older Americans Act.  The program assists seniors 55 and older who meet certain income criteria to gain job skills through subsidized employment, with the eventual goal to become hired directly by an employer.  This program is currently offered to all eligible seniors throughout San Diego County only and is managed by Cynthia Hammock-Ellis and Charlotte Tenney.  Interested persons may call (619) 266-4202 or email cynthiah@workforce.org for more information about the program.

Employment Services
Provides employment preparation, job placement and follow-along services for individuals with disabilities including individuals who are deaf or hard-of-hearing, individuals with psychiatric disabilities, and individuals who have become disabled due to a severe medical issue.  This program is funded through the Department of Rehabilitation. We offer this service in San Diego, Santa Clara and San Bernardino Counties.

Services by Geographic Area

San Diego County:

• Integrated Employment
• Supported Employment
• Transition from School to Work
• Senior Community Service Employment Program
• Employment Services

San Bernardino County:

• Integrated Employment
• Supported Employment
• Employment Services

Santa Clara County:

• Integrated Employment
• Supported Employment
• Employment Services

Santa Cruz County:

• Integrated Employment

Alameda County:

• Integrated Employment
• Supported Employment

Independent Living Housing Complex at Viviente

• Quality
• Innovation
• Customer Satisfaction
• Integrity
• Vision
• Professionalism