Menu
John Worth
John Worth joined PDS in August 2015, and quickly became a paternal, caring figure in the organization. Born in Berkeley and raised in the North and East Bays, John is one of eight siblings. He studied business in college, spending much of his career split between sales and nonprofit work. Always compelled to serve others, he found a deeper calling in the field of disability services, sparked by his close relationship with his special needs nephew. John’s personal experiences with his nephew, who didn't speak for the first six years of his life, fueled his passion for making a difference and improving lives through kindness, patience, and understanding.
Before PDS, John worked at an international learning center, where he learned valuable skills in developing inclusive attitudes and deep patience, particularly for those with autism. The company focused on changing attitudes in their surrounding support system more than the patient themselves. When he decided he was done with corporate life, but wasn’t ready to retire, he found a similar environment in PDS. He first saw the website and the client bill of rights, and felt drawn to PDS’s person-centered approach and focus on community and respect. When he showed up for the interview the only people there to lead it were three clients, and by the time Jarrod showed up they were all laughing together. His goal in working at this company is to reduce suffering and provide moments of freedom for the people he serves.
John deeply values the diversity of his colleagues at PDS, considering them an ongoing source of inspiration. He sees his work as a spiritual path, one that teaches him to observe, listen, and serve with kindness. Outside of work, John has a wide variety of hobbies that add to his rich life. He enjoys picking up trash, playing online games, travel, aquariums, collecting oriental rugs, and investing in biotech and medical stocks.
Autumn & John
Lisa T & John
Victoria is passionate about advocating for adults with developmental disabilities, noting, "They are often ignored in society. Don’t be afraid to engage. They’re not dangerous; everyone should get involved." She believes strongly in the need for inclusion and blending communities together.
Minh Tien & John
Guy & John
Client Testimonials
Here’s what some of the clients have to say about John:
-
JP: "I’ve known John since he started at PDS. He’s a great guy, and I really like his sense of humor. He’s always fun to be around. I like his outings; one time he took me to the Russian River, and that was nice."
-
Marc: "John’s a funny guy with a great sense of humor. He loves making clients laugh, and he likes to have a good time with us. I like going to the water and swimming, sometimes I go riding on the smart train, sometimes we go bowling, go to nice restaurants, we go to hang out and watch movies and go to exhibits"