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Last updated on July 25, 2008

Pacific Diversified Services (PDS) supports adults with developmental disabilities to lead active lives as productive and accepted members of the Marin community. Since 1990 PDS has partnered with local businesses to employ our clients in part-time positions and provide job coaches to support them at work. In addition to helping them achieve sustainable livelihoods through employment, PDS assists people with developmental disabilities to participate in their own neighborhoods and to interact with people who do not have disabilities, which enhances diversity and inclusion in our community.

Description:
Over 95% of our clients are successfully employed in at least minimum-wage positions in a variety of Marin County businesses such as Target, Whole Foods Market, Banana Republic, Costco, and Pasta Pomodoro Restaurant. Most of our clients have maintained employment for at least five years.

Our program is considered to be on the cutting edge because we don't have a segregated site where all the clients gather. Because we believe so strongly in integration, we provide virtually all of our services in natural environments in the Marin community.

Another unique aspect of PDS is that we do not just focus on employment. We help our clients lead well rounded, fulfilling lives. Not only do we help them obtain and maintain jobs through providing "job coaching", but we also help them to take college classes, go the bank and budget their earnings, go the gym, eat out at neighborhood restaurants, and make friends.

History:
Lisa Markey Giraldi co-founded PDS in 1990. We were one of the first non-site based agencies that obtained integrated work for adults with severe disabilities in the Bay Area. We are a private, non-profit 501(c) (3) corporation.

Contact people:

Lisa Markey Giraldi, Executive Director, (phone), (email) Nicholas Certo, Board Chair 03, (phone), (email)

Main office number: (415) 459-6510
Office fax number: (415) 459-0270

Address:

911#R Irwin Street San Rafael, CA 94901 (See a map)

Web Site: http://www.pdsmarin.org

Directions:

Our office is located in downtown San Rafael. We are not a site based program. We provide services to our clients in natural environments all over Marin county.   Nearest Bus Stop: 3rd and Hetherton Transit Center, 1 minute walk

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