California Department of Rehabilitation Partners with IWSI America to Create Career Pathways for 600 Californians with Disabilities Across High-Demand Industries
Los Angeles, CA — The Institute for Workplace Skills and Innovation America (IWSI America) in partnership with The California Department of Rehabilitation (DOR), is significantly expanding its groundbreaking Ready, Willing and ABLE (RWA) program through the newly launched Foundation Skills Apprenticeship initiative.
This comprehensive three-year plan aims to provide 600 individuals with disabilities across California with structured, paid registered apprenticeships in high-demand industries—offering direct access to meaningful, skills-based employment.
IWSI America and the DOR are now calling on employers throughout California – including public and private companies – as well as post-secondary institutions (notably community colleges with programs serving students with disabilities) and other education/training institutions, to assess their workforce needs and potentially partner with RWA, establishing paid registered apprenticeship programs to skill up untapped talent who can help shape the future of their respective businesses and organizations. For employers and industry associations, IWSI America will host a series of regional and sector-specific roundtables to discuss workforce needs and how the RWA program can help.
Launched in May 2022 as a pilot in Orange County, RWA has proven successful in connecting individuals with disabilities to sustainable, well-paid career paths, primarily in allied healthcare. Now, building on that success, the program is being scaled statewide and broadened to include an even greater range of sectors, including:
Agriculture
Advanced Manufacturing
Healthcare and Wellness
Hospitality and Tourism
Information Technology (IT)
Environmental and Renewable Energy
Traditional Trades
Transportation and Logistics
The Foundation Skills Apprenticeship initiative is designed to not only provide industry-recognized credentials and training but to ensure that apprenticeships are accessible, inclusive, and regionally supported across five California regions:
North/Far North – Including Yreka, Redding, Eureka, Red Bluff, Lakeport, Ukiah, Modoc, Chico, and Susanville
North Central – Including Sacramento, Stockton, Auburn, Modesto, Merced, Bakersfield, Fresno, Woodland and Grass Valley
San Francisco Bay Area
Riverside, San Bernardino, Van Nuys, Pasadena, and Burbank
Los Angeles, Orange County, and San Diego
“This expansion marks a transformational moment for employment in California,” said Nicholas Wyman, CEO, IWSI America. “We are not only scaling what has worked—we are building a statewide infrastructure that empowers individuals with disabilities, equips employers with the skilled workforces they need, and strengthens the talent pipeline in key industries.”
Program Highlights:
Targeted Support and Mentoring: Each apprentice receives tailored mentoring and coaching, with a minimum of two one-on-one sessions annually, totaling over 400 mentoring sessions each year statewide.
Regional Implementation Strategy (2025–2027): IWSI will lead regional town halls to assess workforce needs, identify apprenticeship opportunities, and engage employers and education providers.
Employer and Educator Partnerships: IWSI will act as program sponsor and provide technical assistance, reducing administrative burdens for employers and creating clear pathways from classroom to career.
Industry Certifications: Apprentices will pursue industry-recognized certifications that improve their career mobility and long-term earning potential.
Data-Driven Impact: Quarterly evaluations will track participant outcomes, with aggregated data informing ongoing improvements, employer engagement, and public awareness campaigns.
This expansion comes at a time when the employment rate for individuals with disabilities remains nearly twice as low as for those without, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. But the benefits of inclusion are mutual: a 2018 Accenture report showed companies that prioritized disability inclusion saw 53% higher total shareholder returns.
“Expanding the Ready, Willing and ABLE program represents a significant opportunity to advance both individual empowerment and economic resilience,” said Mark Erlichman, Special Advisor to the Directorate, California Department of Rehabilitation. “This initiative puts equity into action—matching skills with opportunity, and talent with training.”
For more information about the Ready, Willing and ABLE Foundation Skills Apprenticeship program and how to get involved as a participant or employer, visit https://www.readywillingable.us.
About IWSI America
The Institute for Workplace Skills and Innovation (IWSI) America is a work development organization that empowers enterprising businesses, nonprofits and government agencies by unlocking the full potential of our most prized assets: people. For more than two decades IWSI America has worked with individual employers as well as states and localities to establish and help build modern, sustainable apprenticeship programs. IWSI also serves as advisor on the design and implementation of such new programs to assist non-profit and for-profit entities in growing pipelines of talent to meet the needs of a dynamic workforce in a rapidly changing work environment. Learn more at https://www.iwsiamerica.org/
