Valparaiso-based Opportunity Enterprises is partnering with ERI to offer a training program for job seekers with disabilities.

ERI, which recycles and destroys electronics, has made space for the 10-to-12-week program in its Plainfield recycling facility. ERI will consider graduates for open positions, and Opportunity Enterprises will offer job coaching for up to two years after a candidate is hired. Opportunity Enterprises also will offer inclusivity training for ERI employees who will work with the new employees.

“For over 55 years, OE has believed that employees of all abilities bring a unique set of skills and talents to their role,” said Neil Samahon, OE’s president and CEO, in a press release. “It’s all about finding the right fit for each person’s strengths and creating an environment that values inclusivity.”

ERI is dedicated to creating opportunities for workers with different kinds of abilities.

“With this program, we are not only recycling electronics and keeping toxic e-waste out of landfills, but we are also providing career opportunities in a sustainable industry for people who are differently abled,” said John Shegerian, ERI’s chairman and CEO.

He said ERI has always been dedicated to making the planet a better place for future generations.

“When you can make a living and make the world a better place at the same time, that is when the magical journey begins,” Shegerian said.

Samahon said hiring people with different types of abilities often leads to higher productivity and profits.

“Hiring someone with a disability is not a philanthropic effort but truly a way to enhance your workforce performance,” Samahon said.

Opportunity Enterprises has been helping people with disabilities find work for 55 years. California-based ERI’s mission is to protect people, the planet and privacy at its nine locations. It can process 1 billion pounds of electronic waste each year.