change text size: -A +A
Serving Children and Adults With Disabilities
 
 
Adult Programs
INTRODUCTION
CHILDREN
ADULTS
bullet Employment
bullet Day Programs
bullet Camp Paivika
bullet Accessible Housing
bullet Fast Breakin' Lakers
CAMP PAIVIKA
AQUATIC
FAQs
VOLUNTEER
Employment Programs
Employment Programs
AbilityFirst provides opportunities for individuals with developmental disabilities to learn job skills, and find gainful employment, either at one of our three AbilityFirst Work Centers, or directly with a company, such as Vons or McDonalds. 

Supported Employment
As the name implies, this AbilityFirst employment program provides the support an individual with a developmental disability needs to find a job commensurate with his/her skills and abilities, and succeed as an employee working in the business world. To ensure a smooth transition, we provide pre-employment training to help equip adults with important job and workplace skills. Our job placement staff carefully evaluate both the prospective employee and the job at-hand to ensure that each person’s abilities and skills are matched to specific employer needs. Then job coaches, who work right alongside each new employee, assist in supervision and provide on-the-job training.

Deaf and Hard of Hearing Placement Program
We also offer a job placement program designed specifically to meet the needs of individuals who are deaf and hard of hearing, who reside in the Greater Long Beach Area.

For more information about our Supported Employment services, email Eddie Zhang or (562) 570-3661.

Work Centers
Our first Work Center opened in 1946, and today we operate three Work Centers in Los Angeles County that offer paid work to adults with developmental disabilities, providing jobs tailored to the skills and abilities of each individual.  Job opportunities at the Work Centers include assembly, packaging, sorting, collating, mailing, and more.

A wide range of corporate clients have retained AbilityFirst for business services provided at our Work Centers including Charter Communications, Countrywide Financial, Halloween Store, Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Rocketdyne, Rockwell Collins, T. Rowe Price, and Union Bank of California. 

For more information about our Work Centers and Business Services, email Isis McDonald, or call (626) 449-5662.

boy working

Omar Brieva is a highly motivated employee who has worked at Albertsons grocery in Long Beach since the fall of 2000.  According to Albertsons Store Director  Randy Brooks, "Omar has the same qualities I would want in any employee: a customer-friendly attitude and a cheerful, outgoing personality.  Omar fits this store!"

Internet Consulting by Walker & Company site map / legal statement / privacy statement