commonwealth support systems Information

Commonwealth Support Systems (CSS) is a private, nonprofit, 501(c)3 organization that was established in 1988 to provide employment and training services to persons with disabilities. CSS serves the geographic area that includes the cities of Virginia Beach, Norfolk, Chesapeake, and Portsmouth as well as a branch that serves the Eastern Shore of Virginia. CSS serves persons with disabilities from the age of 18 through adulthood. This includes students transitioning from school to work, as well as those individuals who experience a disabling condition later in life. Our services are designed to assist individuals who want to work to overcome the challenges that separate them from the world of work. We serve many disability groups, including persons with mental retardation, brain injuries, autism, cerebral palsy, learning disabilities, hearing impairments, multiple sclerosis, visual impairments, physical disabilities, and multiple disabilities. Our mission is "to provide the supports necessary to enable individuals with disabilities to maximize their potential for independent living and working within the community so they may lead more rewarding and productive lives". When CSS opened its doors in 1988, the only service we provided was the job coach model of supported employment. However, over the years, CSS has expanded to provide an array of services to meet the needs expressed by the citizens with disabilities in our local community. Please refer to other topic areas for explanations of each of the services provided by CSS.