Our Mission

The mission of Work Unlimited is to provide high-quality residential, employment, and community living programs for individuals experiencing intellectual and developmental disabilities and behavioral challenges.

Since 1985, our work has been guided by a deep respect for human dignity, individual rights, and the belief that every person deserves the opportunity to live a meaningful and independent life. We are committed to supporting self-determination, celebrating diversity, and ensuring that individuals we serve have access to the same opportunities as all members of their community -regardless of disability, age, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, or national origin.

Work Unlimited delivers innovative, integrated services that help individuals understand their rights, develop independence, and participate fully in community life. Our programs are tailored to each person’s unique needs, strengths, and goals.

Work Unlimited is a nonprofit organization based in Corvallis, Oregon, with satellite offices in Salem and programs operating throughout Benton, Polk, and Marion counties. We provide residential services for children and adults, supported living services for adults, and employment programs for individuals experiencing developmental disabilities, behavioral challenges, and mental health diagnoses.

Person wearing glasses and a bright orange apron at a workshop, holding a miniature wooden table with a tool set illustration on top of it, with a smile on their face.
Two women are working on a large art project, using paint and brushes on a large sheet of paper on a table in a room.
A smiling man with sunglasses, a baseball cap, and noise-canceling headphones outdoors in front of a house with yellow siding and a window. He is wearing a blue T-shirt with a Pacific Northwest Oregon design, and wristbands or watches on both wrists.
“Every person deserves the opportunity to live, work, and belong in their community.”
— Dr. H.D. “Bud” Fredericks

Our History

Work Unlimited was founded by Dr. H.D. “Bud” Fredericks, a nationally recognized research professor, author, and tireless advocate for people with disabilities. Bud dedicated his career to challenging the belief that individuals with significant behavioral needs could not thrive outside of institutional settings. His work helped reshape how communities across Oregon support individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

In partnership with Western Oregon University’s Teaching Research division, Bud helped establish Work Unlimited to create new opportunities for adults with intellectual disabilities through community employment and skills training. At the same time, he helped launch the Small Residential Facilities Project, which developed small, community-based homes for children and adults with complex behavioral needs.

Bud believed that every person deserves the opportunity to live, work, and participate fully in their community. When individuals who had once been labeled the most “challenging” were given that opportunity, they succeeded—proving that community living could replace institutional care. The success of these early programs helped pave the way for the eventual closure of Fairview Training Center and a new model of community-based support.

Today, Work Unlimited continues to carry forward Bud’s vision by providing person-centered services that empower individuals to live meaningful, independent lives within their communities.

Let’s Work Together

Three women outdoors, two with glasses and one with short hair, smiling and posing for a photo with a surfboard. The woman in the center is wearing a bright pink shirt, and the woman on the right is wearing a gray tank top with glasses. The woman in the middle has short hair and is holding a surfboard that has a logo and a green tattoo on her hand.