It all began with what was then a radical idea – to offer individuals with developmental disabilities community-based training and instructional opportunities rather than the traditional classrooms and workshops customarily used by individuals with disabilities.  This service model, which later became widespread, was pioneered by then UCLA graduate student Ed Dawson, in December 1977.

Several other innovations then came in rapid succession.  Paid work and work training opportunities in natural settings, later called supported employment, were established in 1978. These efforts then became part of the newly incorporated non-profit Social Vocational Services (SVS). Other innovations of the young agency included becoming just the third organization statewide approved to offer intensive behavior intervention homes and being among the first in California to offer Independent Living services.

As word of the quality and innovation of SVS services spread so did the demand – first for additional participants then for more service locations then for more service types.

In a very short period of time four clients became eight and eight became twelve.  One office became two and two became three.

The financial resources needed to transform these ideas into reality were provided by now SVS Executive Director Dr. Ed Dawson.  Because no financial institution would provide funding, all initial working capital, project development, vehicle financing and lease guarantees were made available through his individual resources and personal debt assumption, which in the early days approached $1 million.

In the 1980s - a Pool Party for one of the early SVS group homes.

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