Search for organizations that train, place and support job seekers with disabilities, and search for disability owned businesses. Learn more.
Clearbrook
Clearbrook is committed to being a leader in creating innovative opportunities, services and supports for people with disabilities. With a staff of 900+ and more than 50 locations across Chicagoland, Clearbrook is proud to report that 92 percent of every dollar raised goes directly into our programs and services.
What began modestly as a small group of parents in Rolling Meadows hoping to establish a “school for their special needs children” has expanded significantly to reflect the current needs of families with children diagnosed with developmental delays, as well as adults with intellectual/developmental disabilities, most notably those with Autism Spectrum Disorder
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CLEARBROOK TODAY
We serve people over a range of ages and disabilities from children diagnosed with developmental delays at birth to the unique needs of seniors with disabilities and all ages in between.
Quick Facts
- Supports over 8,000 individuals and their families annually
- Serves 15 counties in over 160 communities in Chicago, the suburbs, and northern Illinois.
- Provides services at over 50 locations.
- Employs over 900 full-and part-time staff.
- Is the largest provider in the state of Illinois of home-based services.
- Has an administrative overhead of 8% – well below the industry standard of 15-25%.
- Is licensed, certified and/or accredited by the Illinois Department of Human Services and the Illinois Department of Public Health, SourceAmerica and the US Department of Labor.
- Receives approximately 70% of our funding from the government.
ITKAN
ITKAN is a member-driven professional networking and growth organization with a focus on professionals and aspiring professionals with disabilities within the technology field!
ITKAN is affiliated with the Illinois Technology Foundation – the not-for-profit academic arm of the Illinois Technology Association. We meet face-to-face on the 2nd Thursday of each month from 5-7PM CST at the Microsoft Technology Center in Chicago. Contact Pat Maher at for more information.
Mission: Developing Professionals with Disabilities into Passionate Technology Leaders to Support the Aggressive Adoption of Deep Diversity™
Commitment: Our Members Commit to Support the Mission of ITKAN through their active Participation in monthly meetings, Service on one of our Core Committees (Membership, Communications, Development), and Active Evangelism of Deep Diversity – the Adoption by the Business Community of a Culture of Support for Disability as a Strategic Factor of Diversity in the Workplace.
Aspiration: ITKAN will become the Provider of Choice to the Technology Community for Leading Professionals with Disabilities into focused, high-demand technology support skill sets. Further, ITKAN will be respected as an expert on the interface of Assistive Technology with traditional and evolving UI’s such as mobile devices.
Follow us on Twitter @ITKAN_Chicago and join our LinkedIn group!
Alliance of Disability Advocates
Centers for Independent Living (CILs) have been at the forefront of activism and leadership on any and all issues affecting people with disabilities – issues like accessibility, public accommodations, transportation, and education. These activities are critical in achieving full inclusion in community life. CILs work with local, state, and national leaders to bring about change and create opportunities.
We provide several services including Individual advocacy skills which allow people with disabilities to become proficient in their efforts to increase their access to the services and programs they desire in the community they choose. ADA helps each individual develop effective communication skills so they gain the necessary support services to accomplish their personal goals including developing job readiness skills. This is accomplished by a Community Inclusion Specialist working directly with a consumer.
Vocational Rehabilitation Service - Edward Hines Junior VA Hospital
VHA Vocational Rehabilitation Service (VR) is a program designed to support Veterans in finding and keeping employment within their community.
VR is made up of three programs:
Supported Employment (SE): SE is the highest level of care within VR. SE is an individualized, long-term program to help Veterans find and keep a permanent job within their community. SE is structured to support Veterans who struggle with barriers related to mental illness or severe disabilities such as psychosis, brain injury, spinal cord injury, bipolar disorder, and schizophrenia. Veterans with other chronic and/or serious conditions may request SE if they require long-term employment supports.
Transitional Work (TW): TW is a time-limited program that allows Veterans to gain work experience for up to six months while working to find a permanent job. Veterans who do not meet criteria for SE may be more appropriate for TW. TW is for Veterans with limited or unstable work histories due to disability, mental health conditions, homelessness, or substance abuse.
Community-Based Employment Services (CBES): CBES is an individualized, short-term program to help Veterans find a permanent job within their community. CBES is structured for Veterans who do not meet the criteria for SE or TW, but who are currently unemployed or underemployed, and need help in securing employment.
Employment Options
Our clients are recipients of Social Security disability benefits (SSDI) and (SSI) and receive our free help to find suitable employment in either Work At Home or community positions in 47 states.
Our services are absolutely FREE to qualified beneficiaries and also all employers who enjoy hiring our pre-screened candidates.
Employment Options is a national Social Security Administration (SSA) Employment Network in the Ticket To Work program. For over 20 years, we have helped 1000’s of our clients successfully return to work.
For over 20 years, we have helped candidates with
- Assessing skills and abilities
- Choosing suitable jobs
- Application completion
- Preparing a resume
- Interview practice
- Final job placement
Department of General Services, West Sacramento CA.
The Department of General Services (DGS) is a state government agency located in West Sacramento and provides many services throughout the state of California. DGS is committed to providing excellence in the business of government and takes pride in being an equal opportunity employer.
The Department of General Services acts as the business manager for the state of California. DGS helps state government better serve the public by providing services to state agencies including procurement and acquisition solutions, real estate management, leasing and design services, environmentally friendly transportation, and architectural oversight and funding for the construction of safe schools, and much more!
DGS is an organization with a culture that centers on our employees, vision, and values with accountable management dedicated to staff and public service.
DGS offers great compensation opportunities and full benefits, job security and flexibility, generous paid time off, flexible work schedules, and opportunity for career advancement and upward mobility, health, dental & vision insurance for the entire family, and an excellent pension plan!
The Recruitment team at DGS can assist candidates with aligning their skills, interests, and experience with the right job opportunity.
If you are interested in state employment opportunities in California, visit https://jobs.ca.gov/ or contact our recruiters at [email protected] with any questions.
With 18 lines of business, DGS has an opportunity for you!
DONKA, INC.
COMPUTER TRAINING: Donka, Inc. is a non-profit organization that provides computer training, assistive technology training and job readiness services to persons with physical, visual, and limited learning disabilities. By learning to access and operate a computer with assistive technology, our students become more independent and self-sufficient at work, school, and home.
JOB PLACEMENT: We work with candidates to identify skills and capabilities, define job search, discover employment interest. Donka helps job seekers overcome the barriers to employment – connecting to transportation resources, housing resources, mental health resources, and provides weekly meetings to address all issues.
Donka, Inc.
Donka, Inc. is a non-profit organization that provides computer training and job readiness services to persons with physical, visual and limited learning disabilities. Through use of computers and assistive technology, our clients become more self-sufficient and independent members of the community.
Computer Training
Donka’s signature computer training program uses cutting-edge assistive technology to train students in Microsoft Office and other business applications that will help them meet their individualized goals of help with school work, employment and/or independent computer usage.
Donka was founded in 1987 by Don Van Haveren, a retired Wheaton businessman, who became friends with residents of the DuPage Convalescent Center where he volunteered. He believed that computer training was the way to increase opportunities for people limited by disabilities. Don’s vision has grown into the only program in the Chicago area that provides free computer training as a means of education leading to employment, and human service leading to more independent living. Many Donka clients are reaching goals they never thought possible.
“I named it DONKA (thank you in Dutch and German) in honor of the thanks I give for Don-Williethe opportunity to work with these extraordinary people who teach me so much each day.”
Founder Don Van Haveren
(1924-1993)
Anderson County Disabilities and Special Needs Board
The Walgreens Employment Project is an integral part of the Walgreens Initiative designed to offer people with disabilities a hands-on training environment to prepare them for potential employment at the Walgreens Distribution Center.
The training program is free for those who qualify for services with one of the agency partners. While it does not guarantee someone a job at Walgreens, it does give them the necessary skills and training to help them successfully compete for employment.
What does the training process involve?
The training program is composed of three areas: Workstation Concepts, Soft Skills Curriculum and Productivity.
Workstation Concepts: Training is done on simulated workstations on three specific jobs: Case Check In, Detrash and AKL. The trainee is taught the essential job functions for that workstation, according to the training manual, and is expected to demonstrate the ability to perform all tasks involved.
Soft Skills: The Soft Skills curriculum is an eleven module training course that covers social skills as relates to the work environment.
Topics in the curriculum include:
Being a Team Player, Following Directions and Responding to Positive and Constructive Feedback.
Productivity: Trainees are expected to demonstrate an ability to meet the productivity rate required for the particular workstation they train on. Rate is measured through a series of time trials which helps trainers assess whether or not the trainee would be able to maintain rate on the job.
The College Internship Program
The College Internship Program or CIP is a comprehensive transition program for young adults age 18-26 with autism and other learning differences. CIP supports students as they transition to college and the workplace with locations in Indiana, Massachusetts, Florida, Northern and Southern California.
All students have internships or jobs and live independently in apartments. Students also receive a variety of support in areas including Individual Therapy; Advising; Tutorials; Social Skills and Social Mentoring; Relationship Development Groups; Sensory Integration; Wellness; Executive Functioning; Residential support; career supports, recreational programming, etc. CIP welcomes part-time and full-time employment opportunities for their students and alumni around the country.
Please visit www.cipworldwide.org or call 877-566-9247 for more information.
