www.sdchamber.org

Partnerships With Industry:  Providing Job Opportunities for the Developmentally Disabled

The vision of Partnerships With Industry (PWI) is to provide every adult with a developmental disability the chance to chart his or her own future by pursuing professional independence. Every day, PWI helps close to 700 individuals get up looking forward to the day—by going to work.

All of us have known and come to admire someone with a developmental disability such as autism, cerebral palsy, epilepsy or mental retardation. We’ve gone to school together, watched the same movies, and enjoyed the prospect of preparing for, and holding down, a job. And these individuals want to work for the same reasons we all do: be an active member of the community, develop self-confidence and take pride in a job well done.  Like anyone, they want to make friends, begin each day with a sense of purpose and contribute to something meaningful. Like anyone, they confront some obstacles getting there.

Employers and our entire community underestimate the power of this work force and the financial, social and human benefits they contribute across our entire culture. Partnerships With Industry works with more than 200 of San Diego’s leading employers (Qualcomm, Sea World, Vons, UCSD and Callaway Golf, to name a few) to provide long-term employment at four local sites (Mission Valley, Oceanside, Chula Vista and Santee) or the employers’ place of business. Partnerships With Industry is committed to promoting its mission out in the community, while dispelling misconceptions about people with disabilities.

The majority of adults with disabilities in San Diego spend their lives apart from a world that could benefit immeasurably from their company. PWI has accomplished great things over the last 23 years, and their goal is help as many as possible discover their potential, expand educational and support services for individuals and families, and provide the business community with reliable, motivated employees.