Santa Ana – October 28, 2026 -- Regional Center of Orange County (RCOC) has honored seven Orange County businesses for employing people with developmental disabilities, as the organization pushes competitive integrated employment for the more than 29,000 county residents it serves.
Seven employers across Orange County receive recognition
The honorees are Discovery Cube (Santa Ana), Grocery Outlet (Anaheim and Long Beach), Lamppost Pizza (Orange), Oakley (Irvine), Heroes Hall at the OC Fairgrounds & Event Center (Costa Mesa), Provider Contract Food Services (Fullerton) and Walgreens (Anaheim).
The offices of Assemblymembers Diane Dixon, Cottie Petrie-Norris and Avelino Valencia issued certificates to the businesses.
Employment First policy makes integrated jobs the default option
The RCOC Board of Directors adopted an Employment First policy that makes competitive integrated employment the first option for the working-age adults the center serves. The policy aligns with California state policy favoring inclusive employment.
RCOC and its service providers work with businesses of all sizes, community organizations and government agencies across Orange County. They identify job openings and match individuals' skills, talents, abilities and interests to the right employer.
Sheltered workshops no longer qualify for Regional Center funding
Sheltered workshops, which employed only adults with disabilities and were isolated from the broader community, are no longer eligible for Regional Center funding. RCOC Executive Director Larry Landauer said individuals the center serves still face employment challenges, which is why recognizing role-model employers matters.