PDS Job Opportunities
What is Success?
To laugh often and much; to win the respect of intelligent people and the affection of children; to earn the appreciation of honest critics and endure the betrayal of false friends; to appreciate the beauty; to find the best in others; to leave the world a bit better, whether by a healthy child, a garden patch or a redeemed social condition; to know even one life has breathed easier because you have lived. This is to have succeeded!
― Ralph Waldo Emerson
Does this definition of success resonate with you? If so, you might be interested in becoming a PDS Employment and Community Support Facilitator! This is a rewarding, satisfying job that helps people with developmental disabilities achieve success, while also improving your own quality of life.
PDS supports adults with developmental disabilities to experience all the joys that life has to offer, like working, having friends, staying healthy and fit, and participating in Marin as productive and accepted members of the community. We celebrate difference, diversity, and inclusion of all people.
Our clients have Down Syndrome, autism, and other developmental disabilities. They all want to be part of PDS and for the most part they love PDS because we so strongly promote dignity, respect, freedom, and choice while also providing the compassion, nurturing and kindness that this vulnerable population deserves. Because the folks we serve are so happy, most days go smoothly, and most people go home each day feeling good.
People with Disabilities Succeeding is innovative and different. For instance our staff to participant ratio is just 1:2. Read on to discover other ways in which PDS is unique.
In this position you would be helping just two people at a time succeed at work by job coaching them in their places of employment (Cost Plus World Market, Rolling Hills Club, Marinwood Recreation Department, dog walking etc.), hanging out with them at their clubhouse, The Friend Zone, cooking at friends' apartments, hiking at beautiful parks and beaches, or going to the city or Berkeley for a day of adventure.
PDS does not use group transportation, like vans. You need your own car for this job because you would be picking up our clients at their homes and driving them directly to scheduled activities and employment sites. Sometimes people mistakenly assume they are applying to be a "Driver". Driving is just an incidental part of the job. Your main duty would be to support our clients throughout the day at work and their various activities, hence the job title, "Employment and Community Support Facilitator.”
Detailed, written schedules are designed to ensure that staff members and all participants spend time with a large variety of people in lots of different settings, but within a consistent predictable routine. The PDS Program Coordinator creates these schedules this way so our 33 clients and our 17 full time staff members won't get bored or burnt out, but also to provide structure so everyone knows what they will be doing and knows what is expected of them each day.
Our employees appreciate being provided with a consistent schedule of work, with break and preparation time, which does not vary from week to week and does not include evenings or weekends. We know how important it is to be able to plan your home/social life and your budget.
John, an employee of PDS, wrote these beautiful words about working at PDS in 2023 click here.
To view a sample staff schedule, click here.
For full job details and application instructions, click here!