Living with a disability in Sahuarita does not mean living without support. Whether you are looking for help finding a job, building daily living skills, accessing healthcare, or connecting with others in your community, a range of programs and organizations serve Sahuarita and the surrounding southern Arizona area. Some are based right in town, while others operate regionally through offices in Green Valley and Tucson that are a short drive away.
This guide covers the key community and vocational programs available to Sahuarita residents with disabilities, from state-run employment services to local nonprofits and school-based support.
Arizona Vocational Rehabilitation
The Arizona Rehabilitation Services Administration (AZRSA), part of the Department of Economic Security, runs the statewide Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) program. VR helps people with physical or mental disabilities prepare for, find, and keep employment. The program is free for individuals who receive Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) or Supplemental Security Income (SSI), and many services are provided at no cost to others as well.
When you enroll in VR, you work with a counselor to develop a personalized employment plan based on your abilities, interests, and goals. Services may include vocational evaluations to identify your strengths, job skills training, job search and placement assistance, workplace modifications, transportation support, and help with self-employment. Sahuarita residents can contact a local RSA office or call the toll-free line at 1-800-563-1221 to begin the referral process. You can also be referred through a high school counselor, the Division of Developmental Disabilities, a behavioral health provider, or an ARIZONA@WORK office.
Division of Developmental Disabilities
The Arizona Division of Developmental Disabilities (DDD), also part of the Department of Economic Security, provides supports and services to individuals diagnosed with qualifying developmental disabilities such as intellectual disability, cerebral palsy, epilepsy, and autism. DDD serves over 59,000 people across Arizona and helps eligible individuals access employment services, residential support, therapy, and community participation programs.
DDD employment services include several options. Individual Supported Employment places a person in a competitive job in the community with on-the-job training and coaching from a support professional. Group Supported Employment provides supervised work in a small team of two to four individuals at a community business. Pathways to Employment helps members explore their interests and build skills toward competitive, integrated work. DDD members also have access to day programs, life skills training, and community integration activities. To learn more or begin the eligibility process, contact DDD at 1-844-770-9500.
UCP of Southern Arizona WorkAbility Program
United Cerebral Palsy of Southern Arizona operates the WorkAbility program, an individualized employment services program that serves people with disabilities throughout the southern Arizona region. WorkAbility has a regional office at 1131 S. La Canada Drive, Suite 105, in Green Valley, which directly serves Sahuarita and surrounding communities.
WorkAbility provides job development services including resume building, job searching, application assistance, interview preparation, and mock interviews. Once a person is placed in a job, WorkAbility offers job coaching with on-site and off-site support to help the employee learn their duties and build the skills needed to succeed independently. The program focuses on competitive, integrated employment where individuals work alongside people without disabilities and earn at least minimum wage.
WorkAbility also offers Pre-Employment Transition Services for youth with disabilities between the ages of 14 and 22. These services include job exploration counseling, work-based learning experiences, post-secondary education planning, workplace readiness training, and self-advocacy instruction. For more information, contact UCP of Southern Arizona at 520-795-3108 or email workability@ucpsa.org.
Beacon Group
Beacon Group is a nonprofit that has been serving people with disabilities in southern Arizona since 1952. Each year, Beacon serves over 2,000 individuals through employment and vocational programs. While Beacon’s main campus is in Tucson, its services extend throughout the greater Pima County area, including Sahuarita.
Beacon offers supported employment in both individual and group settings. In individual supported employment, a person is hired by a company and receives ongoing job coaching to help them maintain the position. In group supported employment, small teams of two to six individuals work together at a community business under the supervision of a Beacon job coach. Beacon also provides customized employment, which matches a person’s unique skills and preferences to a specific business need. Additionally, Beacon offers job development, placement, and retention services, including resume help and long-term follow-up. Referrals can come through DDD, Vocational Rehabilitation, or the behavioral health system. Beacon Group can be reached at 520-622-4874 or through beacongroup.org.
COPE Community Services
COPE Community Services has served Pima County for over 50 years, providing integrated healthcare that includes behavioral health, primary care, and supportive services for adults and youth. COPE operates locations in Tucson and the Green Valley/Sahuarita area, making it accessible for local residents.
COPE’s evidence-based programs are designed for individuals with serious mental illness, serious emotional disturbances, and general mental health conditions. Their services include individual and group therapy, psychiatric evaluations, medication management, and case management. For people whose mental health conditions create barriers to employment or independent living, COPE provides the treatment and documentation that can support both recovery and disability-related needs. COPE can be reached at 520-903-1563 or through copecommunityservices.org.
RISE Services of Arizona
RISE Services of Arizona provides employment and day services for adults with developmental disabilities across the state. RISE begins with a vocational assessment to identify each person’s skills, abilities, and employment interests. From there, individuals receive life skills training and job-based training designed to build confidence before entering the workforce.
RISE employment professionals work directly with individuals at their job sites to provide hands-on training and support. Their job coaches teach employees how to perform their duties, build relationships with coworkers, and develop healthy work habits. RISE also partners with local employers to find or create positions that fit the abilities and schedules of the people they serve. In addition to employment services, RISE offers adult day programs that focus on community engagement, skill building, and personal growth.
ARIZONA@WORK
ARIZONA@WORK is a statewide network of workforce offices that provide free employment services to all job seekers, including people with disabilities. Services include skills development workshops, job matching, career planning, resume assistance, and job fair access. ARIZONA@WORK offices also connect individuals with assistive technology resources and disability-specific employment support.
For Sahuarita residents, the nearest ARIZONA@WORK offices are in the greater Tucson area. These offices serve as one-stop career centers where people can access multiple services in a single visit. If you are receiving disability benefits and considering a return to work, ARIZONA@WORK staff can help you understand how employment may affect your benefits and connect you with programs like Ticket to Work.
Ticket to Work Program
The Ticket to Work and Self-Sufficiency Program is a federal program run by the Social Security Administration for people who receive SSDI or SSI benefits and are interested in working. The program provides a free ticket that beneficiaries can use to access vocational rehabilitation services, job training, and employment support from approved providers without risking an immediate loss of benefits.
The goal of the program is to give disability beneficiaries more choices for finding and maintaining employment. Participating in Ticket to Work also protects your benefits during a trial work period, so you can test your ability to work without fear of losing your monthly payments. For information about the program, contact the Ticket to Work helpline at 1-866-968-7842 or visit choosework.ssa.gov.
Sahuarita Unified School District Special Education
Sahuarita Unified School District provides special education services for students from early childhood through age 21. The district identifies, evaluates, and serves students with disabilities through Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) developed by a team that includes parents, teachers, and specialists. Services may include speech therapy, occupational therapy, physical therapy, behavioral support, and adaptive instruction.
The Student Services Department, located at 350 W. Sahuarita Road, coordinates all special education services within the district. Families with concerns about a child’s development can contact the department at 520-625-3502, extension 1011 or 1020. The district also participates in AZ FIND, Arizona’s child find initiative, which screens children ages two years and ten months through 21 for developmental delays and disabilities.
For older students, transition planning is a critical part of the IEP process. Under the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act, schools must help students with disabilities explore competitive employment options before considering alternatives. This includes access to career counseling, work-based learning, and referrals to adult service agencies like Vocational Rehabilitation and DDD.
Valley Assistance Services
Valley Assistance Services is a local nonprofit that serves seniors, individuals, and families in the Sahuarita and Green Valley area. The organization combines social services and community health programs to help people live healthy, independent lives. While not exclusively a disability services organization, Valley Assistance provides resources that benefit disabled residents, including health and wellness programs, social support, and connections to community resources.
Sahuarita Food Bank and Community Resources
The Sahuarita Food Bank works to meet the nutritional needs of residents through food distribution, and it also addresses root causes of hardship through education, workforce development, coaching, and human services. For individuals with disabilities who face financial challenges, the food bank can be an important source of support while navigating the benefits process or building toward employment.
Residents can also call 211 Arizona at any time for free, bilingual assistance finding health, human, and emergency services in the area. The Pima Council on Aging serves older adults and people with disabilities in Pima County and can help connect individuals to home-based services, transportation, and benefit programs.
Getting Started
Sahuarita residents with disabilities have access to a strong network of vocational and community support programs. Whether you need help preparing for your first job, returning to work after an illness or injury, building daily living skills, or simply connecting to resources in your community, the programs described here offer real, practical support.
For vocational rehabilitation, call AZRSA at 1-800-563-1221. For developmental disability services, contact DDD at 1-844-770-9500. For local employment support through WorkAbility, call 520-795-3108. For general resource connections, dial 211 from any phone. Each person’s path is different, and the programs available in and around Sahuarita are designed to meet you where you are and help you move forward at your own pace.
