Full Citizenship Inc., a provider of job services for people with disabilities, is merging with another Lawrence-based organization with hopes for expanding programs for clients and businesses.

As of this morning, Full Citizenship’s seven employees and $200,000 annual budget are a division of Independence Inc., which has 30 employees and $3.8 million in revenues. Both are nonprofit operations.

By joining Independence Inc., Full Citizenship looks to add to its programs that last year placed 75 people in jobs at 75 different companies in Douglas and Franklin counties.

Full Citizenship helps people with physical, developmental and mental disabilities find, secure and maintain jobs. Participating companies pay employees’ wages, then receive tax credits to help defray costs.

“We want to get more businesses involved,” said Rebecca Merz, who has been director of Full Citizenship for seven years. Among the programs are temporary internships, which place prospective employees in a job for 80 hours.

“It gives the employer a chance to give someone a try without risking a lot of training costs, and it allows somebody to try a job out,” Merz said. “It’s a win-win situation.”

Full Citizenship will remain located at the United Way center, 2518 Ridge Court, until space can be arranged at Independence Inc.’s headquarters at 2001 Haskell Ave.

All Full Citizenship employees will remain on the job, only now they’ll have more time to spend with clients instead of handling administrative duties that are being transferred to Independence Inc.’s staff.

“This is about creating some administrative efficiencies,” said Tanya Dorf, director of Independence Inc. “It won’t be a difference in what people see. They’ll just be able to operate more efficiently.”

Independence Inc. serves about 1,000 people a year, helping people with disabilities live on their own. Programs include assistance with transportation, personal care, counseling, housing and other matters.

Independence Inc. services focus on Douglas, Franklin and Jefferson counties, but the agency’s service area covers 13 counties in northeast Kansas.