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Orange County WDBs PY 2025-28 Unified Local Plan <br /> <br />17 | Page <br /> <br /> <br />The WDBs and DOR also collaborate to engage businesses by participating in <br />chamber of commerce events, diversity hiring fairs, and workforce networking events. <br />This proactive employer engagement strategy is essential for: <br /> <br />• Educating businesses on the value of hiring individuals with disabilities. <br />• Providing training and technical assistance to create more inclusive <br />workplaces. <br /> <br />Additionally, the WDBs are focused on enhancing the workforce system's capacity to <br />support individuals with disabilities. Stakeholder discussions have highlighted a critical <br />shortage of trained job coaches, employment specialists, and disability service <br />professionals, which has made it difficult to provide comprehensive, long-term <br />employment support for individuals with disabilities. <br /> <br />To address this gap, the WDBs will work with RCOC to explore workforce pipeline <br />solutions, such as recruiting and training older workers who are re-entering the <br />workforce due to the rising cost of living. Many older workers may be interested in <br />part-time employment and could be trained as job coaches or employment specialists <br />to support individuals with disabilities. Leveraging their experience and availability, <br />this approach aims to bridge the service gap while creating meaningful employment <br />opportunities for older workers. <br /> <br />The training and development of workforce staff is also a critical initiative. The WDBs, <br />in collaboration with DOR, offer training sessions for frontline staff at AJCCs and <br />partner organizations to help workforce professionals better understand the services <br />available for individuals with disabilities. These training efforts focus on: <br /> <br />• Enhancing staff knowledge of DOR’s extensive service offerings. <br />• Strengthening referral and case management systems. <br />• Ensuring workforce professionals are equipped to provide job seekers with <br />disabilities the necessary guidance and support. <br /> <br />By leveraging regional partnerships, expanding employer engagement, and <br />addressing workforce capacity challenges, the Anaheim, Santa Ana, and Orange <br />County Workforce Development Boards remain committed to increasing competitive <br />integrated employment opportunities for individuals with disabilities. <br /> <br />Future Strategies for Expanding Competitive Integrated Employment <br /> <br />To further advance Competitive Integrated Employment (CIE) opportunities and <br />address workforce shortages in the disability employment sector, the Anaheim, Santa <br />Ana, and Orange County Workforce Development Boards (WDBs) will implement the <br />following strategies: <br /> <br />EXHIBIT 2