Search for organizations that train, place and support job seekers with disabilities, and search for disability owned businesses. Learn more.
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.
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)
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.
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!
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.
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
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.
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
BioScan Tek
BioScan Tek, Inc., a FIRM System partner, is based in Wheaton, IL. We provide both mobile and on location livescan fingerprinting, background checks and photography. We can do a small training class, large group class or individuals. We also offer Child Safety ID kits with your child's infomation on a CD or USB Flash drive for you to secure.
We began offering services at our company headquarters in Wheaton, IL in 2012 and are now offering livescan fingerprinting and photo services in cities throughout Illinois.
Our staff is comprised of a knowledgeable, experienced and caring group of people focused on providing the best experience possible for our customers.
You can trust that our staff of professionals will offer you a great service at a fair price.
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.
