Knabe honors Arc for job placement efforts

DOWNEY - The Arc - Los Angeles and Orange Counties was recently honored by L.A. County Supervisor Don Knabe for its success in the employment of people with developmental disabilities.In a special ceremony last month, Knabe welcomed Arc participants and several employers to his office for a reception and then on to the supervisors' Board Hearing Room for a proclamation in support of employing people with developmental disabilities. The Arc currently has nearly 50 of its participants employed in the community "by wonderful companies that see the value of hiring people with developmental disabilities," Arc officials said. Knabe gave special proclamations to the DoubleTree Hotel in Los Angeles, Permaswage in Gardena and the Bicycle Club Casino in Bell Gardens. Each of these employers has offered full-time jobs with benefits to Arc participants. According to Arc, people with developmental disabilities face an unemployment rate of 85 percent. In the past year, Arc's Employment Center has advanced the cause of many people who have obtained their first job. The Arc partnered with more than 27 employers throughout L.A. County, "a testament that hiring people with developmental disabilities makes good business sense," said Kevin MacDonald, chief executive officer of The Arc. Local law firm Tredway, Lumsdaine & Doyle has employed an Arc participant - Jose - for more than 11 years, and The Arc recently opened its own dollar store - Just A Buck - in Long Beach, which employs five people with disabilities. For more information about The Arc and hiring people with disabilities, contact Kevin MacDonald at (562) 803-4606, ext. 223, or e-mail arckmac@aol.com.

********** Published: Nov. 21, 2013 - Volume 12 - Issue 32