The San Diego County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday unanimously approved a partnership to provide work opportunities for people with disabilities.
The county Department of Human Resources will recruit and place up to 20 people into paid internships in various departments. Jay's Program will "provide interns with relevant work experience and teaching them job skills that will help them qualify for permanent county positions," according to the county.
The program is named for Raymond "Jay" Bariuan, a man with intellectual disabilities who works in Supervisor Nathan Fletcher's office and has received praise for his efforts.
Susan Brazeau, county Department of Human Resources director, said Partnerships with Industry will work with the county to find people to fill positions.
The San Diego Workforce Partnership will host a social to connect employers with interns, "who will find success like Jay did," Brazeau said.
Because the internships will be provided by a third party, there will be no cost to the county, she said.
In May, the board directed Chief Administrative Officer Helen Robbins- Meyer to devise a program to recruit employees with intellectual disabilities.
The Department of Human Resources will provide an annual report to the CAO on the number of interns hired into permanent positions.
