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The Arc of Alameda County:  Advocacy, Respect and Commitment
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Vocational Development Services

The Arc of Alameda County's central value has always been the integration of individuals with developmental disabilities in all aspects of life - recreation, education, residence and work.

Our Vocational Development Center program is designed around providing vocational training and real jobs -- with real paychecks. The consumer can gain:

  • On-the-job training
  • Marketable skills
  • Work experience
  • The opportunity to demonstrate efficiency, dependability and productivity - rated by employers as the most important characteristics of potential employees.

Our four program sites (San Leandro, Hayward, Livermore, Union City) provide the perfect environment for mastering assembly and warehouse skills demanded by the job market, and putting those skills to work.

It all starts with the Arc of Alameda County's Customer Service Department. They compete with local and national companies for production contracts. These contracts require individuals to be trained in a variety of skills.

The consumer works closely with a production supervisor. The supervisor teaches the job task by example, accommodating physical limitations. The abilities and needs of each consumer are taken into consideration, while at the same time, the focus is kept on quality output.

We have production contracts with companies such as
Annie Chun Inc., Shasta, San Francisco Chocolate Factory, Chronicle Books, Danville Materials, Torani and many others.

Jobs Skills include:

  • Assembly work
  • Packaging
  • Shrink wrapping
  • Sorting & Labeling
  • Mailing & Folding
  • Janitorial
  • And many others

Computer Lab
The Arc of Alameda County has opened a computer lab. It is available for Production Services to teach everything from mathematics and spelling to data entry and computer office skills.

Step Stone to Success
Vocational Development Centers provide a social work environment, but its real function is as a stepping stone to a supported employment job in the community. We don't just teach job skills. Habilitation Coordinators work with the consumer's case manager, family and staff to improve appropriate workplace behavior--punctuality, attention to work, anger management and many other areas.

Over one quarter of consumers enrolled in Vocational Development Centers have moved on successfully to Community Services, a community-based supported employment program providing individual and group job placements. And at times, consumers in a Community Services job have returned to Production Services to gain more skills until moving back to a community job.

We can help improve your balance sheet by eliminating investments in:

  • Labor
  • Equipment
  • Warehousing
  • Material Handling

 

Photo of Consumer Working at Production Services
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REFERRALS, TOURS AND INFORMATION

Union City Vocational Development Center
34135 Seventh Street, Union City, CA 94587
Elynne Slade, Habilitation Coordinator
Phone: (510) 477-0896 ext. 4304
Michelle Modesitt, Habilitation Coordinator
Phone: (510) 477-0896 ext. 4305

Hayward Vocational Development Center
1101 Walpert Street, Hayward, CA 94541
Frank Alvarado, Habilitation Coordinator
Phone: (510) 582-8151 ext. 3205
Millie Miller, Habilitation Coordinator
Phone: (510) 582-8151 ext. 3207

San Leandro Vocational Development Center
14700 Dolittle Drive, San Leandro, CA 94577
Vincent Reaves, Habilitation Coordinator
Phone: (510) 773-8364
Amanda Callahan, Habilitation Coordinator
Phone: (510) 773-8363

Livermore Vocational Development Center
1951 Rutan Drive, Livermore, CA 94551
Michelle Modesitt, Habilitation Coordinator
Phone: (925) 294-8931 ext 5402