--- title: Inclusive Employment description: With much excitement, we are proud to announce that two individuals from PCDI have recently begun working at Rider University’s dining hall, through Gourmet Dining. --- [![Logo (1)](https://www.princeton.pcdi.org/hubfs/Logo%20(1).svg)](https://pcdi.org/) ![PCDI Newsletter Logo](https://www.princeton.pcdi.org/hubfs/PCDI%20Newsletter%20Logo.jpg "PCDI Newsletter Logo") # Inclusive Employment By: [PCDI,](https://www.princeton.pcdi.org/pcdi-news/author/pcdi) Feb 7, 2024 1:54:17 PM [Inclusion](https://www.princeton.pcdi.org/pcdi-news/tag/inclusion), [Program Initiatives](https://www.princeton.pcdi.org/pcdi-news/tag/program-initiatives), [Adults with Autism](https://www.princeton.pcdi.org/pcdi-news/tag/adults-with-autism) ![727801387](https://www.princeton.pcdi.org/hs-fs/hubfs/727801387.jpg?width=210&height=280&name=727801387.jpg) Since 2012, New Jersey has been an Employment First state. Competitive employment is the preferred outcome for all individuals after completing their education – this includes individuals with disabilities. For PCDI students in the [Adult Life Skills Program (ALSP)](https://pcdi.org/adult-life-skills-programs/), this remains the goal. In 2022, approximately 21% of all individuals with disabilities in the United States were employed. At PCDI, 72% of adults in ALSP were employed at least 20 hours per week in that same year. After the unanticipated closing of two worksites in 2023, the percentage of PCDI adults who were employed dropped significantly, to 33%. Because the closing of worksites is not uncommon, we conduct job searches and build relationships with local businesses and organizations in an ongoing manner. ![b396f545-2383-451f-afdf-3593c0f28802](https://www.princeton.pcdi.org/hs-fs/hubfs/b396f545-2383-451f-afdf-3593c0f28802.jpg?width=210&height=280&name=b396f545-2383-451f-afdf-3593c0f28802.jpg)With much excitement, we are proud to announce that two individuals from PCDI have recently begun working at Rider University’s dining hall, through Gourmet Dining. [They are packaging meals for Mercer County’s Meals on Wheels program.](https://www.rider.edu/about/news/2019/06/05/rider-university-partners-meals-wheels-mercer-county) These new employees are engaged in meaningful work while also giving back to the community.  Additionally, one of our other worksites is increasing the number of PCDI individuals they employee. To date, *63% of PCDI adults are gainfully employed.* ![20240126_101831](https://www.princeton.pcdi.org/hs-fs/hubfs/20240126_101831.jpg?width=210&height=280&name=20240126_101831.jpg)For individuals who are not yet employed, PCDI has partnered with the [Trenton Area Soup Kitchen (TASK)](https://trentonsoupkitchen.org/)  and[Mercer Street Friends](https://mercerstreetfriends.org/) in a volunteer capacity. Adult learners package utensil bundles that accompany meals served at TASK's 35 community meal sites across the greater Mercer County area.  At Mercer Street Friends, our team of volunteers packages bags of food for community members who are experiencing food insecurity. In just three hours, PCDI student volunteers packaged 3200 meals! These opportunities provide them with meaningful work to practice skills that can be used in an employment setting.   ###### Topics - [Celebrations](https://www.princeton.pcdi.org/pcdi-news/tag/celebrations) - [Program Initiatives](https://www.princeton.pcdi.org/pcdi-news/tag/program-initiatives) - [Dissemination](https://www.princeton.pcdi.org/pcdi-news/tag/dissemination) - [Inclusion](https://www.princeton.pcdi.org/pcdi-news/tag/inclusion) - [Teaching Strategies](https://www.princeton.pcdi.org/pcdi-news/tag/teaching-strategies) - [Adults with Autism](https://www.princeton.pcdi.org/pcdi-news/tag/adults-with-autism) - [Clinical Development](https://www.princeton.pcdi.org/pcdi-news/tag/clinical-development) - [Board of Trustees](https://www.princeton.pcdi.org/pcdi-news/tag/board-of-trustees) ###### Popular Post - [Summer Wonders](https://www.princeton.pcdi.org/pcdi-news/summerwonders) - [Compassion & Science](https://www.princeton.pcdi.org/pcdi-news/compassion-science) - [2023 Halloween](https://www.princeton.pcdi.org/pcdi-news/event-based-learning-0) - [Upper School Valentine's Dance](https://www.princeton.pcdi.org/pcdi-news/valentines-dance) - [Winter Holidays 2023](https://www.princeton.pcdi.org/pcdi-news/winter-holidays-2023) ### Subscribe Here! ### Similar Blog Posts ##### [Dr. Shahla Ala'i-Rosales Visits PCDI](https://www.princeton.pcdi.org/pcdi-news/alai-rosales-visit) ##### [PCDI Pacers Running Club: Shaping Steps](https://www.princeton.pcdi.org/pcdi-news/pcdi-pacers) [![](https://www.princeton.pcdi.org/hs-fs/hubfs/BAB-3.jpg?width=352&name=BAB-3.jpg)](https://www.princeton.pcdi.org/pcdi-news/spring-sensations-a-triumph-for-pcdi) ##### [Spring Sensations: A Triumph for PCDI](https://www.princeton.pcdi.org/pcdi-news/spring-sensations-a-triumph-for-pcdi) [![Logo (1)-1](https://www.princeton.pcdi.org/hubfs/Logo%20(1)-1.svg)](https://www.pcdi.org) - - - - ## Committed to *Transparency* Princeton Child Development Institute is proud to be a financially accountable and transparent organization. We’re recognized by charity watch groups such as Candid and Charity Navigator. PCDI is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. All contributions are tax deductible to the extent allowed by law, pursuant to Section 501(c) (3) of the Internal Revenue Code. **Tax ID: 22-1912964.** ![Four-Star-Rating-Badge-Full-Color-1](https://www.princeton.pcdi.org/hs-fs/hubfs/Four-Star-Rating-Badge-Full-Color-1.png?width=2000&height=2000&name=Four-Star-Rating-Badge-Full-Color-1.png) ![candid-seal-platinum-2024](https://www.princeton.pcdi.org/hs-fs/hubfs/candid-seal-platinum-2024.png?width=522&height=522&name=candid-seal-platinum-2024.png) ```json { "@context" : "https://schema.org", "@type" : "BlogPosting", "author" : { "@type" : "Person", "name" : "PCDI", "url" : "https://www.princeton.pcdi.org/pcdi-news/author/pcdi" }, "dateModified" : "2024-02-08T19:48:13.625Z", "datePublished" : "2024-02-07T18:54:17.000Z", "headline" : "Inclusive Employment", "mainEntityOfPage" : { "@id" : "https://www.princeton.pcdi.org/pcdi-news/workplace.inclusion", "@type" : "WebPage" }, "publisher" : { "@type" : "Organization", "logo" : { "@type" : "ImageObject", "url" : "https://www.princeton.pcdi.org/hubfs/PCDI%20Logo-2.jpg" }, "name" : "Princeton Child Development Institute" } } ```