Lamppost Pizza in Orange was among seven Orange County businesses recognized by the Regional Center of Orange County for employing people with developmental disabilities, placing a local business within a broader discussion about access to competitive, integrated work.
The recognition was announced Oct. 27 by the Regional Center of Orange County, or RCOC, in a paid press release. The organization said the honorees represent employers that have opened opportunities for people served by the regional center. The other recognized businesses are located in Santa Ana, Anaheim, Long Beach, Irvine, Costa Mesa and Fullerton.
Local employer included in countywide recognition
RCOC identified the seven honorees as:
- Discovery Cube in Santa Ana
- Grocery Outlet in Anaheim and Long Beach
- Lamppost Pizza in Orange
- Oakley in Irvine
- Heroes Hall at the OC Fairgrounds & Event Center in Costa Mesa
- Provider Contract Food Services in Fullerton
- Walgreens in Anaheim
The organization did not provide details about the number of employees with developmental disabilities working at each business, the positions involved or the length of those employment relationships. It also did not identify a specific Lamppost Pizza location within Orange. The recognition therefore points to the employer's participation in inclusive hiring but does not, by itself, quantify the local program's reach.
Policy shifts work away from segregated settings
RCOC's announcement framed the awards against a significant change in how employment for people with developmental disabilities is approached. The organization said that, decades ago, relatively few people in this population had paid jobs, and some who did work were placed in settings commonly known as sheltered workshops. Those workplaces were limited to adults with disabilities and operated apart from the broader workforce. Such settings are no longer eligible for Regional Center funding, according to the announcement.
“Now we take for granted that people with disabilities can and should be able to work alongside coworkers without disabilities,” said RCOC Executive Director Larry Landauer.
Landauer said people served by RCOC still face employment barriers, making it important to recognize employers that include workers with developmental disabilities. The statement describes inclusive employment not simply as a charitable effort, but as a workforce model in which employees work alongside colleagues without disabilities.
Employment First puts competitive work first
Several years ago, the RCOC Board of Directors adopted an Employment First policy. Under that policy, competitive integrated employment is the first option for working-age adults served by the organization. RCOC said the approach aligns with a state policy that also favors inclusive employment.
The policy has practical implications for how job opportunities are developed. RCOC and its network of service providers work with businesses, community organizations and government agencies throughout Orange County to identify openings. They then seek to match an individual's skills, talents, abilities and interests with an appropriate position and employer. The announcement did not specify how many placements have resulted from that network or how many Orange residents are currently participating.
Recognition connects business practices with public policy
The honorees received certificates from the offices of Assemblymembers Diane Dixon, Cottie Petrie-Norris and Avelino Valencia. The certificates provide public recognition, while the underlying Employment First policy places responsibility on regional service providers and participating employers to create pathways into ordinary workplaces.
For Orange residents, the inclusion of Lamppost Pizza makes the announcement locally relevant while also illustrating the limits of a single award: recognition identifies an employer as a role model, but additional information would be needed to assess hiring numbers, retention or advancement. RCOC said it provides information for businesses interested in hiring adults with disabilities through its Employment First and employment resources.
