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Begin a Meaningful Career Supporting Individuals with Developmental Disabilities

July 20, 2026

Your Opportunity is Now! Begin a Meaningful Career Supporting Individuals with Developmental Disabilities

The Department of Developmental Services (DDS) Has a Paid Internship Opportunity Available to ALL Californians

The Direct Support Professional (DSP) Internship Program is a statewide initiative that helps people begin meaningful careers while filling critical workforce needs in California’s disability services community.

Becoming a DSP is an excellent first step toward a rewarding career path. Interns in the Program can gain highly valuable skills in communication, supporting people, problem-solving, teamwork, and so much more! These skills transfer across many fields, including healthcare, social services, education, and leadership roles.

Sidebar:

Video: Hear from Program participant, Ailene, who started as an intern and was hired on by County of Orange Regional Center service provider Dreams of America.

Internship Benefits

• PAID internship: Wages are fully covered by the program for up to three months.
• A pathway to a career: Interns get on-the-job experience supporting individuals with developmental disabilities to live full and independent lives.
• Retention bonuses for new hires: If an intern is hired by the service provider, they can earn an additional $625 (before taxes) after 6 months and another $625 (before taxes) after 12 months—up to $1,250 extra for sticking with their new job.
• A role that matters: DSPs make a daily impact, supporting others while building their own future.

Ready to Start Your Internship?

Visit dspinternship.allswell.com to see our growing list of opportunities. Don’t see a listing in your area? Express your interest in being matched with a regional center service provider by emailing dspinterns@allswell.com.

Learn more about the Department of Developmental Services at www.dds.ca.gov.

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