Search for organizations that train, place and support job seekers with disabilities, and search for disability owned businesses. Learn more.
The Chicago Lighthouse
The Chicago Lighthouse is a world-renowned social service organization serving the blind, visually impaired, disabled and Veteran communities. Recognized as a pioneer in innovation since 1906, The Chicago Lighthouse provides vision rehabilitation services, education, employment opportunities and assistive technology for people of all ages.
We help our clients build valuable skills, reach professional goals and develop strategies for career advancement, while helping employers implement practices that are inclusive of people with disabilities.
Our social enterprises provide meaningful career opportunities for individuals facing barriers to employment, while earning revenues to supplement Chicago Lighthouse programs and services.
Our education programs help children and students learn to meet developmental and educational milestones, build supportive relationships, and fully participate in their communities.
We help our clients maximize independent functioning through programs that build confidence, provide social interaction and teach lessons in daily living.
Our team of specialists provides access to cutting-edge technology, assistive devices and independent living aids to help individuals with visual impairments live life to the fullest.
Our vision care services are designed to nurture and empower patients at every stage of vision loss. We strive to create a warm therapeutic relationship between our patients and practitioners.
Alpha Behavior Strategies
Alpha Behaviors is a company in Denver, CO that helps teach adults and adolecents with special needs as well as vetrans be more self-sufficent. Or anyone that feels like they are stuck in a rut career wise and want to shake things up! Below are some of the services they provide and some of these can be at no cost to you if you fit the requiremenents.
-Assessments
-Job exploration
-Transportation
-Job preperation
-Home Skills
-Job coaching
The Diversity Movement
At The Diversity Movement, we’re business strategists with an employee-centered lens. As diversity experts, we know that inclusive organizations generate 19-33% more revenue than their peers. Yet most organizations don’t know how to retrofit their processes and fix their cultures to reap these benefits. We work with you to drive business transformation by helping you create world-class employee experiences. Unlocking workplace excellence is hard; we make it easier.
Our people, products, and perspectives make the difference. We’re a company of business executives, PhDs, MBAs, writers, designers, marketers, historians, and computer scientists. Our diverse skill sets help us understand our clients then create faster time to value using tech-based tools that deliver DEI learning and foster behavior change at scale. We use data analytics to derive real-time, ongoing insights and make the best informed decisions. We scale what’s working in your organization and add expert perspective from across our client spectrum.
Ablr
Ablr is a leading disability inclusion and accessibility company that was created to level the playing field for people of all abilities while protecting organizations through mitigating legal risk, maximizing revenues, and ensuring inclusivity!
We help organizations by:
- Eliminating the digital divide through our Digital Accessibility Services
- Changing the mindsets of people and organizations through our Disability Inclusion Training Modules and advisory services
- Creating pathways for employment though our Workforce Development and Internship Programs.
Ablr deploys an industry-first approach to digital accessibility through an optimal blend of technology AND Certified Accessibility Analysts, many of whom have disabilities themselves. This ensures your content is not only ADA compliant, but fully accessible and usable for people with disabilities in support of WCAG. Additionally, our range of DEI training and service offerings will help integrate accessibility practices into the core of your organization.
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.
Job Accommodation Network
Ask JAN – We Can Help
The Job Accommodation Network (JAN) is the leading source of free, expert, and confidential guidance on job accommodations and disability employment issues. Serving customers across the United States and around the world for more than 35 years, JAN provides free one-on-one practical guidance and technical assistance on job accommodation solutions, Title I of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and related legislation, and self-employment and entrepreneurship options for people with disabilities. JAN provides individualized consultation to assist:
- Employers and their representatives seeking guidance on practical ways to engage in the interactive process, provide job accommodation solutions, and comply with Title I of the ADA;
- Individuals with medical conditions and disabilities seeking information about job accommodation solutions, employment rights under the ADA, and self-employment and entrepreneurship opportunities; and
- Family members and rehabilitation, medical, educational, and other professionals in their effort to support successful employment outcomes for individuals with medical conditions and disabilities.
Ask JAN! We can help. JAN consultants and employment specialists are highly qualified and experienced thought leaders and innovators on disability employment issues. By providing trusted guidance on the ADA and practical accommodation solutions that benefit employers and individuals with medical conditions and disabilities, JAN helps everyone recognize the value and talents that qualified workers with disabilities add to the workforce.
For detailed information about the services JAN provides, see our Frequently Asked Questions and view JAN is here for YOU!
JAN services are available 9:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. Eastern, Monday through Friday.
Please direct general inquiries to [email protected] or use the JAN on Demand option to receive practical guidance and technical assistance on job accommodation solutions and Title I of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and related legislation. Inquiries are routed to JAN staff who will respond in a timely manner.
To receive the JAN Newsletter & Updates, email [email protected].
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Equability
Equability is a clothing adaptation service for people with disabilities.
We don't make any of our own clothes, we take existing clothes like button-down shirts or jeans and use materials like magnets, snap buttons, and Velcro to make them easier to wear.
Our mission is simple: change clothes, so people don't have to. We want to adapt clothes so no one has to change their lifestyle or clothing style because of their abilities.
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.
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)
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.
