RCOC is continuing to explore and develop partnerships with businesses of all sizes, community organizations and government agencies throughout Orange County to identify various options and opportunities.  Staff work diligently to match skills, talents, abilities and interests with the right job with the right employer.

For many of our young adults and their families, the desire for competitive and integrated employment in the community is at an all-time high.  The task is working with our employer programs and community to identify and develop opportunities that will be of mutual benefit to everyone involved.

Regional Center of Orange County is committed to working on identifying employment opportunities for people with developmental disabilities who want to work.

Belinda at Costco“What do you want to be when you grow up?”
“What would you like to do for a job?”

Employment First Policy

RCOC’s Employment First Policy
Employment First Information and Resources 
Harvard Business Journal: Neurodiversity as a Competitive Advantage

Internship Opportunities

PROJECT SEARCH Program at Kaiser Permanente in Anaheim
Gillman PROJECT SEARCH Program at CHOC
Paid Internship Program Information

HIRE ME – Building Partnerships & Employment for the Orange County Workforce
This short video provides information from the perspective of current employers and employees and more about RCOC’s partnership with community partners

Telemundo Spotlights RCOC Employment of People with Developmental Disabilities
(The interview is conducted in Spanish – here is English Transcript)

Telemundo’s Interview with Cristina Muñoz on Working for the Irvine City Council
(The interview is conducted in Spanish – here is English Transcript)

Journal of Vocational Rehabilitation
This April 2017 article cites RCOC’s successful efforts to implement Employment First policy, in a broader discussion of the California Employment Consortium for Youth (CECY) collaboration.

For Employers

If you are an employer or business owner looking for qualified candidates and would like more information, please send us your contact information here: Employment.

For our potential employment partners, please visit our FAQs for Employers to help answer questions and provide valuable information about becoming an employer of people with developmental disabilities!

Great Reasons to Hire People with Developmental Disabilities
Current Listing of Orange County’s Employers
Benefits and Opportunities for Employers

For Parents and Families

Transition Planning Resource Directory
What is the ABLE (Achieving a Better Life Experience) Act? 

Transition Planning

Transition Planning -The Basics
RCOC Transition Planning Resources
RCOC Transition Planning Webinar Training and Information

Orange County Work-Based Learning System

work-based-learning-banner

 

 

To assist Orange County students/youth/adults with moderate to severe disabilities, staff and families in the
employment preparation process, we have developed ten forms to be used for readiness skills development,
work evaluation, planning and referrals.  Forms and more information can be found here.

Benefits Planning

Working While Maintaining Eligibility for Existing Benefits
Disability Benefits 101 – Working with a Disability in California
Social Security Red Book 2016 (Español)
The Red Book serves as a general reference source about the employment-related provisions of Social Security Disability Insurance and the Supplemental Security Income Programs for educators, advocates, rehabilitation professionals, and counselors who serve people with disabilities.