30 Years of Providing Services to People with Disabilities

1975 — Toolworks is founded by Curt Willig. The agency opens its doors to two clients and a staff member. The agency obtains its first contract with Pacific Bell to repair linemen’s tools, thus the name "Toolworks".

1980 — With an operating budget of $200,000, Toolworks serves 25 clients with and 7 staff. Toolworks receives a multi-year grant from the San Francisco Foundation to assist clients in finding jobs in a blossoming Silicon Valley.

1983 — SF MOMA, in partnership with Toolworks, hosts an international design competition of toys made from cardboard boxes. Toolworks produces and manufactures the three winners.

1985 — The U.S. Court of Appeals awards Toolworks its first federal janitorial contract through JWOD. The agency budget quadruples.

1986 — Regional Center vendorizes Specialized Deaf Services as a day program for deaf, developmentally-disabled adults. Toolworks starts a program for Deaf adults with an establishment grant from the Department of Rehabilitation.

1987 — Toolworks shuts down its sheltered workshop and starts a supported employment program with two enclaves and seven clients.

1989 — The Court of Appeals closes for retrofitting after the Loma Prieta earthquake. Fortunately, two weeks later, Toolworks begins a new Federal contract at the Philip Burton Federal Building.

1990 — With a budget of $1.9m, Toolworks serves 75 clients. The Supported Employment Program expands with new placements and offices at Family Service Agency and the San Francisco Marriott hotel.

1995 — Toolworks launches Supported Living and Independent Living Services, its first non-vocational programs. These services enable individuals with severe disabilities to live in their own homes.

1996 — Toolworks joins the Homeless Employment Collaborative and begins serving individuals who are homeless and have disabilities. Toolworks also becomes a charter member of Treasure Island Homeless Development Initiative (TIHDI).

1997 — Toolworks establishes the Client Advisory Forum. New establishment grants from Department of Rehabilitation expands Toolworks’ services to deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals into the East Bay.

1999 — Participants in the Community Integration program host their first art show at Place Pigalle in San Francisco.

2001 — Toolworks grows more group employment sites, including Banana Republic. Toolworks wins a janitorial contract at the new Department of Health Services building in Richmond. Point of Transition program begins services to individuals with disabilities in their last year of high school.

2002 — Toolworks receives two establishment grants from the Department of Rehabilitation to expand job placement and ILS services to people with mental health disabilities in the East Bay.
Regional Center of the East Bay awards a start-up grant to replicate Toolworks' Day Program for deaf, developmentally disabled adults.

Toolworks establishes its Housing Partnerships program through a SHIA grant and begins providing services to people with disabilities living in affordable housing.

196 individuals with disabilities employed.

2003 — Toolworks relocates its Janitorial Training program to Treasure Island, where it already provides janitorial services to both civic and private entities.

2005 — Toolworks is serving 500 individuals with disabilities with an operating budget of nearly $7m. Toolworks employs 200 individuals, of whom 150 have disabilities. Toolworks places 60 individuals into jobs. Individuals who work for Toolworks, as well as those individuals hired by outside companies earn a combined total of $3.3m per year. Toolworks supports more than 100 individuals living independently in their own homes.

The San Francisco Mayor's Committee for the Employment of Persons with Disabilities honors Toolworks at their Annual Achievement Awards and Fundraising Breakfast. Toolworks receives the Community Based Organization Award in recognition of its efforts in developing employment opportunities for persons with disabilities.

Toolworks expands its Housing Partnership to include residents of University Neighborhood Apartments, the nations first universal design affordable housing project, and other Berkeley housing sites. Department of Rehabilitation awards Toolworks an Independent Living grant to provide housing self-advocacy training.

Toolworks celebrates its 30th Anniversary at Yerba Buena Gardens in San Francisco.