Agoura Hills resident advocates employment for disabled




PROUD WORKER-Michael  Preston  of  Simi Valley  enjoys  his customer service job at Carl's Jr. He received the position through the Southern California office of PRIDE Industry, a private nonprofit company that provides job placement for the disabled.

PROUD WORKER-Michael Preston of Simi Valley enjoys his customer service job at Carl’s Jr. He received the position through the Southern California office of PRIDE Industry, a private nonprofit company that provides job placement for the disabled.


For the majority of students, high school graduation presents an opportunity to step out of the classroom and into the real world by pursuing advanced study or joining the work force. But for students with disabilities, those first steps can be intimidating and fraught with fear.

“Many disabled students are left wondering what to do after high school,” said Mark Shpiro, a 24-year resident of Agoura Hills and an employment advocate for the disabled. “They want employment, but they simply don’t know what to do.”

Shpiro, along with his partner, John Oliver, operates the Southern California office of PRIDE Industries, a private nonprofit corporation founded in 1964 that finds employment for people with disabilities.

During his eight years with PRIDE Industries, Shpiro has helped individuals find employment with companies such as Mann Theaters, Ralphs and Vons markets, McDonald’s, Petco, Petsmart, Rite Aid, Wal-Mart and Home Depot.

“People with disabilities want employment and our position is to find them adequate jobs,” Shpiro said. “These individuals struggle with selling themselves and dealing with the fear of rejection, not the work itself.”

PRIDE Industries is under contract with the Ventura County Department of Rehabilitation. When a disabled individual comes to the department and asks about finding a job, a case is opened and the person is referred to PRIDE Industries.

Disabilities that the department assists include Down syndrome, cerebral palsy, autism, traumatic brain injury and myriad learning disabilities.

“A lot of people adhere to the stereotype that these individuals are just given janitorial jobs, but that’s not the case,” Shpiro said. “A lot of my placements are for cashier and customer service positions.”

Assistance from the Department of Rehabilitation and PRIDE Industries is available to all age groups. Shpiro once helped find employment for a 62year-old.

“Once a person is referred to me, it becomes my responsibility to find the most suitable job for that individual, no matter (what) the disability,” Shpiro said.

Issues such as transportation, preferences and capabilities are carefully analyzed for each person before Shpiro or Oliver arranges a face-to-face meeting with a potential employer.

“Whenever I meet with an employer, I stress what each individual can do, not their handicaps,” Shpiro said. “I make every effort to explain that disabled people can not only succeed at a job, but that they often exceed an employer’s expectations.”

Once an individual is hired, Shpiro checks in with the person occasionally to make sure everything is running smoothly. If a disabled employee has trouble with a job, the Department of Rehabilitation will assign them a job coach.

Ninety percent of Shpiro’s placements stick with their jobs, and employers often call back expressing gratitude for the work ethic displayed by their disabled workers.

“I worked with one individual who was 42 years old, couldn’t read or write, and we found him a job at a restaurant in Simi Valley,” Shpiro said. “The restaurant says he’s doing a great job and he’s incredibly happy with the work.”

Shpiro has helped to find employment for more than 300 disabled individuals in Ventura and the Conejo and San Fernando valleys.

“Disabled individuals are often hard and humble workers,” Shpiro said. “They don’t feel entitled, they’re extremely appreciative of being given the opportunity to work and they understand the consequences of not working hard.”

Shpiro is hoping that in the near future PRIDE Industries will be able to expand and cover the entire east San Fernando Valley.

“I’m not getting rich, but I love this job and there’s no way I’d ever think of doing anything else,” Shpiro said. “The whole experience has taught a vital lesson to me and my family and has made all of us more appreciative of everything.”

For information about hiring the disabled, or to assist someone who wants employment and needs assistance, call the Thousand Oaks branch of the Department of Rehabilitation at (805) 371-6279.

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