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National Company Teams Up with DSS to Hire Individuals with Disabilities

April 16, 2009

PRIDE Industries, a national service company with a mission to create jobs for people with disabilities, has partnered with the Department of Children & Family Services’ Louisiana Rehabilitation Services to fill more than 60 contract jobs at Fort Polk located near Leesville.

LRS is the agency within the Department of Children & Family Services (DSS) that works to assist people with disabilities in Louisiana to obtain or maintain employment through its flagship program, Vocational Rehabilitation (VR). In 2008, LRS provided assistance to more than 29,867 Louisiana citizens with disabilities through the VR Program.

“The Department of Social Service is excited to forge a relationship with PRIDE Industries,” said DSS Secretary Kristy Nichols. “This is an avenue to enhance our state’s workforce development efforts while creating employment opportunities for citizens with disabilities that can result in self-sufficiency and independence.”

PRIDE Industries asked LRS to identify clients interested in filling entry and journey level positions. The positions include carpenters, electricians, plumbers, HVAC mechanics, heavy equipment operators and general maintenance workers. These jobs exist under the federal AbilityOne program that requires most work hours be performed by people with disabilities. The hourly pay rates range from $9.17 to $18.54 and benefits includes medical, dental and vision along with paid vacations and holidays.

PRIDE Industries conducted interviews with LRS clients from the Lake Charles, Alexandria, Lafayette and Baton Rouge Regional Offices during the week of April 13.

“PRIDE Industries is proud to join the community and work together with Louisiana Rehabilitation Services to create good jobs and opportunities for people with disabilities at Fort Polk in Louisiana,” said John Oliver, Vice President of Rehabilitation for PRIDE Industries. “We look forward to exceeding our customer’s expectations, while making a positive difference in the lives of our employees and in the local community.”

In addition to Louisiana, PRIDE has worked with numerous Vocational Rehabilitation programs in numerous states with operations in Alaska, Arkansas, California, Florida, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, New Mexico, Ohio, Texas, Virginia and Washington D.C.

PRIDE Industries is a nonprofit organization providing a variety of business solutions to meet the manufacturing and integrated facilities service needs of companies and government agencies nationwide. PRIDE employs more than 4,100 individuals across eleven states and in the nation's capitol, including more than 2,700 people with disabilities. Founded in 1966, PRIDE is headquartered in Roseville, California.