ESW Occupational Services

What ESW Occupational Services does

ESW Occupational Services is a nonprofit vocational rehabilitation organization founded in 1979 in Edison, New Jersey, originally incorporated as the Edison Sheltered Workshop by a group of parents of individuals with disabilities. The organization, also known as the Dorothy K. Drwal Occupational Training Center, provides employment opportunities and support services to adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities in Middlesex County, NJ, serving over 70 active clients across its programs and having served over 1,500 individuals with disabilities across its 25+ year operating history under that metric. ESW is CARF-accredited and operates with a small staff of 8 employees under Executive Director Brij Chawla.

The organization runs two core program divisions. The Work Center delivers commercial contracting services to businesses, including hand assembly, unit packing, heat-sealing, box and kit assembly, can labeling, shrink wrapping, general labeling, POP and PDQ display assembly, product inspection, sorting and ticketing, and collation and insertion, executed from a temperature-controlled 24/7 production facility at 48 Ethel Road, Edison. The Employment Programs division offers Extended Employment (a sheltered work environment with vocational training for individuals not seeking competitive community employment) and Supported Employment (community-integrated competitive placement with job matching, one-on-one coaching, skills training, and long-term follow-along support).

ESW generates revenue from two streams: commercial contracting fees from business customers for Work Center services, and government-funded professional services fees for vocational rehabilitation programs, principally delivered through a formal partnership with the NJ DOL Division of Vocational Rehabilitation Services. The organization is governed by a Board of Trustees, is audited by SAX LLP, and is member of multiple Middlesex County-area chambers of commerce plus advocacy groups including ACCSES NJ and the Alliance for Disabled in Action. No revenue, funding, or M&A data is disclosed in the available source material.

Name

ESW Occupational Services

Legal name

ESW Occupational Services

Website

https://eswnj.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1979

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

ESW Occupational Services is a 501(c)-style nonprofit vocational rehabilitation organization in Edison, NJ providing employment and support services to adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities in Middlesex County through commercial contracting services and government-funded Extended and Supported Employment programs.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Edison

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Commercial Contracting Services: ESW provides hand assembly, unit packing, heat-sealing, box and kit assembly, can labeling, shrink wrapping, general labeling, POP and PDQ display assembly, product inspection services, sorting and ticketing, collation and insertion services to business customers. Revenue is generated through competitive pricing on commercial contracts for manufacturing and packaging services.
2. Vocational Rehabilitation Services: Government-funded vocational rehabilitation and supported employment services provided to individuals with disabilities, funded through NJ DOL Division of Vocational Rehabilitation Services and other disability services funding sources.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

ESW Occupational Services provides vocational rehabilitation and supported employment services to adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities in Middlesex County, NJ, operating Extended (Sheltered) Employment and Supported Employment programs. The organization also operates a Work Center that supplies commercial contracting services—including hand assembly, unit packing, heat-sealing, box and kit assembly, labeling, shrink wrapping, POP/PDQ display assembly, product inspection, sorting, ticketing, and collation/insertion—to business customers using a trained special workforce.

Product overview

ESW Occupational Services operates as a nonprofit vocational rehabilitation organization offering two primary program divisions: the Work Center (Commercial Contracting Services) and Employment Programs. The Work Center provides light manufacturing, assembly, and packaging services including hand assembly, unit packing, heat-sealing, box and kit assembly, can labeling, shrink wrapping, general labeling, POP and PDQ display assembly, product inspection, sorting and ticketing, and collation and insertion. The Employment Programs division consists of Extended Employment (sheltered work environment with vocational training) and Supported Employment (community-integrated competitive employment with job coaching and long-term follow-along support). These programs are designed for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities in Middlesex County, NJ.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Commercial Contracting Services Commercial contracting services delivered from ESW's temperature-controlled production facility, including hand assembly, unit packing, heat-sealing, box and kit assembly, can labeling, shrink wrapping, general labeling, POP and PDQ display assembly, product inspection, sorting and ticketing, and collation and insertion, offered to manufacturing, packaging, and retail product businesses at competitive pricing with market-driven turnarounds.
• Extended Employment Program Community rehabilitation program providing vocational rehabilitation services and on-site training in light manufacturing, assembly, and packaging jobs for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities who need extended time for training and supervision or desire a sheltered work environment, offered to Middlesex County, NJ residents aged 16 and older.
• Supported Employment Program Specialized employment services that help adults with disabilities obtain and sustain competitive positions in the community, including job matching, one-on-one employment counseling, job coaching, skills training, and long-term follow-along support for participants placed in outside employment.
• Employment Specialist Services Individualized employment support services delivered by Employment Specialists, including intake interviews, development of Individualized Employment Plans, resume writing assistance, interviewing skills training, transportation training, job search activities, career exploration, and on-site job coaching for placed participants.

Named customers1 record

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• NJ DOL Division of Vocational Rehabilitation ServicescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFormal partnership with New Jersey Department of Labor Division of Vocational Rehabilitation Services. ESW vends time-limited job coaching and supported employment services through this government partnership, enabling funded vocational rehabilitation services for individuals with disabilities in Middlesex County.
• CARF (Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAccreditation body that has certified ESW's rehabilitation services meet internationally recognized standards of quality for health and human services organizations.
• Edison Chamber of CommerceminorGTM or Marketing PartnerLocal chamber membership providing business networking opportunities, community visibility, and connections to potential business customers in the Edison area.
• Woodbridge Metro Chamber of CommerceminorGTM or Marketing PartnerChamber membership for regional business networking and community engagement in the Woodbridge metro area.
• East Brunswick Regional Chamber of CommerceminorGTM or Marketing PartnerRegional chamber membership for business networking and community connections in East Brunswick area.
• Middlesex County Regional Chamber of CommerceminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCounty-wide chamber membership providing broader regional business networking opportunities across Middlesex County.
• ACCSES New JerseycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerState association for individuals with disabilities providing advocacy, resources, and networking for disability service providers like ESW.
• Play with Me Autism FoundationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAutism-focused foundation partnership supporting individuals with autism spectrum disorders who may benefit from ESW's employment services.
• Business Connects NJminorGTM or Marketing PartnerBusiness networking organization connecting ESW with potential commercial contracting customers in New Jersey.
• Kiwanis Club of EdisonminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerService club partnership providing community support and networking opportunities. Long-standing community service relationship.
• Knights of Columbus, Pope Pius XII Council No. 4885minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAnnual Tootsie Roll Drive partnership where Knights of Columbus donates portion of proceeds to support ESW programs and clients.
• Alliance for Disabled in Action, Inc.minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDisability advocacy organization providing resources and referrals for individuals with disabilities in New Jersey.
• New Jersey Council on Developmental DisabilitiesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerState council providing advocacy and resources for individuals with developmental disabilities, potentially referring clients to ESW services.
• State of New Jersey Disability ServicesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerState government disability services portal providing information and resources about disability services including ESW programs.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves1 record

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Easterseals: National nonprofit providing disability services including vocational rehabilitation, supported employment, and community-based employment programs for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Highly comparable mission and service mix to ESW.
• Goodwill Industries International: Operates a parallel nonprofit model combining revenue-generating commercial operations (retail and contract services) with vocational training and supported employment for people with disabilities and other barriers to employment. Directly comparable dual-mission structure to ESW.
• Chimes: Mid-Atlantic nonprofit providing vocational, residential, and day services for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, including supported employment and contract production work. Direct peer in mission and service mix.
• SourceAmerica: Manages the AbilityOne program connecting people with disabilities to federal contract work through nonprofit agencies, including packaging, assembly, and supply chain services. Closely parallels ESW's commercial contracting arm built on a disability workforce.
• Elwyn: Pennsylvania-based nonprofit offering disability services including vocational rehabilitation, day programs, and employment services for adults with IDD. Comparable regional peer operating vocational and supported employment programs.
• The Arc of the United States: National advocacy and direct-service organization supporting people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, including sheltered workshop and supported employment programs. Direct peer in serving the same IDD population with vocational services.
• Melwood: Mid-Atlantic nonprofit providing vocational rehabilitation, supported employment, and contract services (landscaping, IT, manufacturing) for people with disabilities. Operates an almost identical dual program model in a neighboring region to ESW.

Regional players

• AHRC New York City: Large nonprofit providing vocational rehabilitation, day habilitation, and employment services for adults with IDD in the NYC metro area, including sheltered workshop and supported employment models. Comparable service mix but operating in a different geography.
• The Arc of New Jersey: State chapter of The Arc serving individuals with IDD across New Jersey, including employment-related programs and advocacy. Operates in the same geography and serves overlapping populations, making it the most direct in-state peer.

Emerging players

• Best Buddies International: Nonprofit focused on creating employment opportunities and friendships for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, including a structured integrated employment program. Adjacent peer with narrower employment focus compared to ESW.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/100090220506681
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/edison-sheltered-workshop-inc
• Instagraminstagram.com/esw_occupational_services_

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles12 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about ESW Occupational Services