Desert Survivors Inc. was opened in 1981 with a mission to provide meaningful & dignified paid work opportunities to adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD). Starting with just five gentlemen with I/DD and two staff, seed was gathered from the desert, propagated, and proceeds from the resulting plant sales provided these individuals with their first paychecks. From this humble beginning, our company grew, while staying true to our mission. In 1986 we moved to our current four-acre location on the banks of the Santa Cruz River. We own & operate Desert Survivors Native Plant Nursery, which provides a starting point for adults with I/DD to learn all employment related skills: from applications, interviews to completing tasks and earning a paycheck. Our year-round nursery offers our employees with I/DD valuable opportunities to interact with members of the public. When visiting our retail nursery, we encourage customers to tour our growing areas and work program. (Some restrictions currently apply due to the COVID pandemic).
We partner with two local agencies. Pima County Department of Parks and Natural Resources hires two of our crews, made up of 2 Mentors and 8 adults with I/DD, to do clean up and landscaping along 10 miles of the Chuck Huckleberry Bike Loop. The Downtown Tucson Partnership also employs two of our crews to maintain 100 large planters and clean up streets in Downtown Tucson. These jobs are earned by showing responsibility, respect for coworkers and good work ethics. All company employees participate in open-discussion staff meetings to engage future plans and cultivate improved success.
We are a diverse company run by a strong woman who practices non-discrimination and cultural diversity. We believe all people have the right to respect and recognition. Our goal is to move as many of our employees with I/DD to competitive opportunities within our company and the community. Some employees achieve that goal while others continue to work toward it.
Our vision is to see adults with I/DD treated equally in a prejudice-free society. Desert Survivors provides such an environment, and we aspire that this model will be universally adopted.
Desert Survivors contracts with the Arizona Department of Economic Security, Division of Developmental Disabilities to provide Group Supported Employment (GSE). This service provides paid training/employment for up to 42 adults with I/DD. The service comprises small groups of 4 adults with I/DD and a mentor who teaches, works, guides, befriends and supports each person in their group. Mentors empower each member to meet their full potential in a supportive environment. We evaluate each person, determine their needs, and select ideal group placement to optimize individual support. It can take years for some employees with I/DD to move to competitive positions if they move on and others can move on within 6 months. We support our members in a safe environment designed to nurture self-esteem, develop skills, and cultivate pride. Our state contract facilitates salaries for support staff while nursery revenues and donations directly pay our workers with I/DD.
Desert Survivors Native Plant Nursery offers over 700 species of local and regional native plants. We are both a production and a retail nursery. Our nursery staff are highly knowledgeable and passionate about native plants and desert ecology. We have also investigated several research pursuits, such as invasive species interactions with native grasses and experimental biocrust cultivation.
Our nursery was created to provide jobs for people with I/DD but over time became a highly respected and locally esteemed plant nursery based on our unique inventory, customer service, and quality products. Our veteran plant propagation team expertly rears seedlings and juvenile plants with tender loving care. We are passionate about both people and plants. Our hope is to convey some of this passion to our customers and the community.
Desert Survivors is a 501c3 non-profit corporation. Come visit and see the “quiet solution” at work here in our little corner on Starr Pass Blvd, by the Santa Cruz River in Tucson Arizona.
