Unemployment is at about 12 percent in California right now, but for those who are developmentally disabled, unemployment numbers are at 70 percent.

Villa Esperanza, with help from a city grant, is trying to bring down those numbers by providing support for the most vulnerable among Thousand Oaks residents, said Charles Bloomquist, director of Villa Esperanza’s West Region.

Villa Esperanza is a nonprofit organization serving individuals challenged by autism, Down syndrome, cerebral palsy and other developmental disabilities. The organization has offices in Thousand Oaks and Westlake Village.

The group provides support for people with disabilities so they can gain employment. When someone hires one of Villa Esperanza’s clients, they also get a job coach.

“They get two people for one price,” Bloomquist said.

The job coach, paid by Villa Esperanza, goes along with the client to train him or her in their new job. Whether it’s stocking shelves or folding T-shirts, the job coach makes certain the new employee learns what is required to do the work. By then, the Villa Esperanza clients are an asset to the business.

“They are the hardest working, most loyal, dedicated employees, who don’t call in sick or give attitude,” Bloomquist said.

Villa Esperanza is always looking for more employment for their clients, some of whom work at Home Depot, Old Navy and PetSmart.

A community grant from Thousand Oaks pays the group $7,000 a year for two years. That money and money they raise through golf tournaments, dinners and other fundraisers help keep the organization going, Bloomquist said.

Villa Esperanza Services began in 1961 as a storefront school for children with Down syndrome and has grown into an organization that serves developmentally disabled children, adults and seniors and their families. Villa’s main office is in Pasadena.

Villa Esperanza serves 24 school districts and more than 41 cities in Los Angeles and Ventura counties.

In Thousand Oaks their Care Management Outreach Collaboration Satellite Office and Independent Living Skills are at Under One Roof Human Services Center, 80 E. Hillcrest Drive, Ste. 103. The phone number is (805) 496-4500.

In Westlake Village the Employment Services, Integrated Work Program is at 756 Lakefield Road, Ste. F. The phone number is (805) 446-1939.