EVENTS SALUTE PROGRAMS FOR THE DISABLED.

Byline: Rachel Uranga Staff Writer

Alan Meyerson counts every working day a blessing.

Even though his job on the production line at Moorpark-based Kavlico Corp., which manufactures mechanical devices for automobiles, might strike others as repetitive, Meyerson remains enthusiastic and on task.

For him, a 37-year-old Thousand Oaks resident with autism, the work is a lifeline to independence. With it, Meyerson can pay bills, feed his two cats and keep up an apartment, an almost Herculean task for many with limited abilities.

``It's helped me to learn to be productive in every aspect of my life,'' he said.

Meyerson, a client of the Ventura County division of the Work Training Program, a 40-year-old nonprofit assisting adults with disabilities, joined dozens of developmentally disabled adults at a Saturday picnic at Conejo Creek Park.

The event was one of two in the region that day to celebrate the successes of the developmentally disabled, adults who may suffer from autism, cerebral palsy or retardation.

At Kavlico, Meyerson's bosses say the production worker is so good, their measure of whether or not to automate a task is often by comparing it to Meyerson's output.

Brent Taylor, production manager for the company, said Kavlico has nearly a dozen developmentally disabled employees that the firm found through the work-training program.

``Once they are trained, you won't find anyone better. They are diligent, attentive to detail and they are some of the best employees,'' he said.

The training program, which helps about 250 disabled adults in Ventura County find jobs with 30 different companies in the county, recognized Meyerson and others' work Saturday at the annual Celebration of Progress.

At the informal gathering, family members danced together, while some others chatted or just sat next to each other.

A similar scene occurred in Sunland, where Tierra Del Sol, a nonprofit group that provides training and job placement for 470 developmentally disabled people, held its second annual Harvest Festival.

``This, it's our only hope for the future,'' said Steve Miller, the group's executive director, as he stood in front of booths of ceramic pumpkins and painted mailboxes made by clients.

With skyrocketing workers' compensation cost, a patient reimbursement that has remained unchanged for more than 15 years and climbing gas costs, Miller hoped the festival would raise much needed funds. Last year it pulled in $25,000.

And this year, he may need more to avert cutting positions.

``The program is at risk,'' said Elisabeth Simpson, a Santa Clarita resident and volunteer. Her 24-year-old son, Robert Simpson, attends classes at Tierra Del Sol to develop the motor skills needed to dress himself.

Without the program, she doesn't know how her son - who has a combination of cerebral palsy and autism - would spend his days. He speaks very little and cannot work, like many of those enrolled. Yet like Robert Simpson, they give thousands of hours to community groups that feed the homeless.

Even though he may not completely understand the ramifications of his own volunteerism, it gives him purpose, she said.

``Everyone here is really cared for. Everyone is treated with such dignity,'' Simpson said. That's all she really wants, she said.

Rachel Uranga, [phone]

rachel.uranga(at)dailynews.com

CAPTION(S):

2 photos

Photo:

(1 -- 2) Above, kids choose from hundreds of pumpkins on Saturday at the Harvest Festival, which raised funds for Tierra Del Sol's training and job placement programs for the developmentally disabled. At left, children gather around a rabbit at the second annual festival's petting zoo.

Gene Blevins/Special to the Daily News