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Disabled Resources Center, Inc. (DRC) The Disabled Resources Center, Inc. (DRC) was founded in 1976 by three young Long Beach men with disabilities, who wanted to start a referral center for others with disabilities. Using a grant from the city, Jerry Stein, Lee Tardy and Warren Moss opened the first DRC office. Gradually, the center grew, adding programs requested by the clients. Today, the center offers 16 comprehensive services and programs, workshops, and seminars on all aspects of disabilities. It is one of 29 non-residential independent living centers in the state. DRC, an IRS certified 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation, has been serving people with disabilities, regardless of their age, sex, ethnicity, sexual preferences or type of disability, in the cities of Artesia, Avalon, Hawaiian Gardens, Lakewood, Long Beach and Signal Hill. DRC’s Mission Statement is empowering people with disabilities to live independently in the community, make their own decisions about their lives, and advocate on their own behalf. DRC has a multi-cultural staff that speaks many languages, as well as sign language for the hearing impaired. In keeping with its purpose and goals, the staff of DRC and its Board of Directors are primarily persons with disabilities. DRC partners with many organizations within the community to ensure services and needs are met. Partnerships are formed for collaboration efforts and to provide a complete package to consumers. Additionally, DRC was recently awarded the Alfred P. Sloan Award for Excellence in Workplace Effectiveness and Flexibility. As a recipient of this prestigious award, DRC has distinguished itself as a leading employer of choice that is successfully using flexibility as part of an effective workplace strategy to achieve business goals and benefit employees by helping them meet their responsibilities on an off the job. DRC ranks in the top 20% of employers nationally in terms of its programs, policies and culture for creating an effective and flexible workplace. Dolores Nason has been with DRC in a variety of roles for over 20 years, and has been the guiding force for the past five years as the Executive Director. Many of the current programs that DRC offers are due to her insight and compassion for the people within DRC’s service area. Lloyd Saposnek has been serving as President for the Board of Directors and has been on the Board since 2003. If you are interested in learning more about DRC, please visit them at www.drcinc.org |