Services
IRI has facilitated over 20,000 community job placements for persons with disabilities in the US and Australia. Learn more about all of our services below.
Jump To: Integrated Work, Independent Living, Educational Consultant, Organizational Consultation, Presentations and Research
MentorWorks
#EverybodyWorks
Smiling woman with glasses and hair tied back wearing an orange reflective vest and black apron stocking a grocery shelf.
The Integrated Resources Institute (IRI) MENTORWORKS is a 100% community-based work service. All service hours are focused on integrated work opportunities for participants. Using a Customized Employment, and Mentor approach, the mentor relationship between employee and employer is personalized in a way that meets the needs of both. IRI has worked to strengthen the capacity of the workforce development system to improve employment outcomes for people with significant disabilities through local implementation as well as international dissemination or our demonstration research.
Orange County & Los Angeles
MentorWorks FY 2020-2021
148 Individuals Served
31 new job placements were developed during FY 2019-2020
100% placements are considered Competitive Integrated Employment (CIE)
84% in paid work positions
6 Paid Internship sites developed
100% service time in inclusive community settings
$788 average monthly wage income
$136 - $2,166 monthly wage range
4.3 years average job tenure
$13.00 - $25.00 hourly range
$13.80 average hourly wage
100% Families reported “Very Satisfied”
100% Participants reported Overall Satisfaction
100% Employers reported “Very Satisfied, Satisfied or Somewhat Satisfied (1)”
100% RCOC Service Coordinators reported “Always Satisfied”
Empowered Living
Smiling woman with purple shirt and black glasses points to her apartment
The Mission of the Integrated Resources Institute (IRI) Empowered Living Service is to enable individuals with developmental disabilities to live and participate with full integration into all aspects of their community based upon their preferences and choice.
The Empowered Living Service will assist people in determining, where, with whom, and how they want to live, resulting in more fulfilling lives based on supports customized to their individual needs and choices.
Empowered Living (SLP) goals will enhance opportunities for increased independence, self-reliance, and self-esteem with the utilization of a Circle of Support. Circle members have a relationship based upon respect and dignity for the client and are vested and committed in providing support so that people will have active participation and control within their community. The Circle will assist people with implementing those empowerment decisions effectively and responsibly. Goals will be attained by providing supports customized to their individual needs within their community of their own residence and natural environments.
Goals For Empowered Living Services:
Individuals will have choices as to where and with whom they live.
Individuals will have a circle of support compromised of staff, family and friends.
Relationships are the key to quality of life and that supports should flow from a strong circle of support.
We intend to be proficient at assisting individuals to access a number of sources of support, adaptations, resources and benefits.
Quality life includes having as much control and choice over one’s life as possible. However, inherent in this choice are risks. While affirming the dignity gained by taking of risks, and the valuable learning provided by those opportunities, we will ensure that individuals are in safe settings.
Effective means of communication are essential to having control in one’s life. We will strive to assist individuals to find effective means to communicate with their staff, family and community.
Services Provided:
Empowered Living Services provided will be based upon the Individual’s Service Plan (ISP) objectives developed for and by each individual participant upon their needs and preferences. The intent of ISP’s objectives developed is to enhance independence and competency in the following areas:
Autonomy, Choice and Communication
Housing, including Domestic Skills
Personal Safety
Mobility and Accessibility
Income and Personal Finances
Physical and Mental Well Being
Relationships, Social Opportunities, Citizenship and Community Membership
Organizational Paradigm Shift Consultation
IRI can help your organization transition to providing the least restrictive services, even those with complex needs so they meet the Center for Medicaid Service guidelines
Pardon our dust. Details to be updated soon.
Professional Papers, Presentations and Research
Professional Papers & Presentations
Zivolich, S. (2016). Invited Presentation, Integrated Work Programming for Regional Center Clients, North Bay Regional Center Vendor Conference, Napa, CA.
White, J., O’Neil, L., Seppala L., Nacario, J., (2014). Invited Presentation, Employment First, Policy, Preparation, and Practice., Workability Conference, Dana Point, CA.
Zivolich, S., Nacario J., Weiner, J., Bisogno, S., Yoo, J., (2014). Invited Presentation, Day Program Change to Completely Integrated Work Provider, a Comprehensive Stakeholder Guide. 31st. Annual CAL-TASH Conference, San Francisco, CA.
Weiner, J., Zivolich, S., Nacario J., Bisogno, S., Yoo, J., (2014). Use of Reflective Practice to Train and Supervise Job Coaches. 31st..Annual CAL-TASH Conference, San Francisco, CA.
Zivolich, S., Nacario, J., Culp, M., Weiner J., (2012). 30 Years of Systems Change to Evidence-Based Practice for an Integrated Work Organization. 37th Annual TASH Conference, Long Beach, CA.
Zivolich, S. (2012). Comment to the National Council on Disability Council's Ad Hoc Committee on Sub-minimum Wage and Sheltered Workshops, Public Quarterly Meeting, Los Angeles, CA
Zivolich, S., Nacario J., (2011). Integrated Employment Strategies in Difficult Economic Times. 29th.Annual CAL-TASH Conference, Irvine, CA.
Zivolich, S., Weiner J., (2010). Everybody Works: Integrated Work Strategies in Tough Economic Times. 35th.Annual TASH Conference, Denver, CO.
Zivolich, S., Nacario J., Weiner J., (2010). Everybody Works: Employment Strategies in Difficult Economic Times. 28th. Annual CAL-TASH Conference, San Francisco, CA.
Zivolich, S. (2009). Integrated Employment, a Two Decade Perspective. 27th Annual CAL-TASH Conference, Manhattan Beach, CA.
Weiner, J., Zivolich, S. (2008). LRE Impact on Transitional Employment for Students with Significant Disabilities. 33rd. Annual TASH International Conference, Seattle, WA.
Research
Weiner, J., Zivolich, S. (2014). Employment Coach Evaluation, Integrated Resources Institute, Irvine, CA.
Zivolich, S. (2012). Written Comment to the National Council on Disability Council's Ad Hoc Committee on Sub-minimum Wage, TASH, http://tash.org/wpcontent/uploads/2012/07/NCD6_12Comment.doc.
Zivolich, S. (2012). New Jobs Bill Expected to Boost Hiring Persons With Disabilities, http://pressexposure.com/New Jobs Bill Expected to Boost Hiring Persons With Disabilities.
White, J., & Weiner, J. (2004). Influence of Least Restrictive Environment and Community Based Training on Integrated Employment Outcomes for Transitioning Students with Severe Disabilities, Journal of Vocational Rehabilitation, 21, pp. 149-156.
J., Zivolich, S. (2003). A longitudinal report for three employees in a training consultant model of natural support, Journal of Vocational Rehabilitation, 18 (3), 199-202.
Weiner, J. S. & Zivolich, S. M. (1998). Universal access: A natural support corporate initiative at Universal Studios Hollywood. An entertainment corporation's initiative to employ people with disabilities in a union environment. Journal of Vocational Rehabilitation, 10 (1), 5-14.
Weiner, J. S. & Zivolich, S. M., (Eds.), (1998). Journal of Vocational Rehabilitation, 10, (1).
Zivolich, S., Shueman, S., Weiner, J. (1997). An Exploratory Cost-Benefit Analysis of Natural Support Strategies in the Employment on People with Severe Disabilities, Journal of Vocational Rehabilitation, 8 (3), 211-221.
Zivolich, S. M., & Weiner, J. S. (1997). A national corporate employment initiative for persons with severe disabilities: A ten year perspective. Journal of Vocational Rehabilitation, 8, (1), 75-87.
Weiner, Zivolich, S. (1996). The Impact of Targeted Jobs Tax Credit Program on Employment Opportunities For Persons With Disabilities, In Targeted Jobs Tax Credit, Hearing Before the Committee on Ways and Means House of Representatives, U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington D.C.
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