Beyond BookSmart
Wendy M. Craven Outreach Coordinator
wcraven@beyondbooksmart.com
630-333-6698
Beyond BookSmart and WorkSmart Coaching provides one-on-one Executive Function coaching online for students and adults.
Lillian Peterson, Director
Rich Harvest Farms
Sugar Grove, IL
Phone: (630) 864-3801
Email: lpeterson@mygiantsteps.org
Canopy works to incorporate a combination of activities, opportunities, and supports throughout each participant’s programming. This may include participation in community engagement outings, life skills opportunities, vocational readiness activities, leisure or recreational skill development including music therapy, media integration, and movement based sessions.
Ages 22 and up
Chinese American Service League - Balancing Incentive Program
Felicia Li, employment specialist
2141 S. Tan Court
Chicago, IL 60616
(312) 791-0418, ext. 3607
Cook County
The pre-employment training program helps people with disabilities with interview preparation, resume writing, and assistance with online job applications. They target individuals who are transitioning out of high school or who are ready to work. To qualify, the individual must have a low income and a developmental disability or a mental illness. The employment specialists will bring clients to job fairs and provide job matching, based on the client’s interest. They also serve as a job coach, where they learn the client’s job and assist in training the client on his or her job. Employment specialist will check with the employer and follow up very closely for the first one or two months. Follow up is up to one year. Ages: 14 years and up. Cost: state funded.
Tina Yurik
(Administrative office)
1815 W. Central Road
Arlington Heights, IL 60005
Phone: (847) 653-6635 ext 28
Workshop Services (DT-Getz)
Located in Palatine, clients perform jobs in a workshop setting and are paid based on their individual levels of productivity. Jobs in the workshop are designed to help each individual prepare for a real work environment, either supported or independent.
Ages: 18 years and older
Day programs
Tina Yurik
Phone: 847-653-6635 ext 28
Clearbrook has a range of weekday community based services designed to support and guide our adults with intellectual/developmental disabilities to lead full, rich and productive lives in their communities. Individual needs and choices drive the services and supports.
- Developmental Training, Riley 1 (Schaumburg) and Riley 2 (Rolling Meadows) – An individualized program plan is developed around each client, resulting in services that blend instruction, interaction with peers, interventions, activities, socialization and community participation.
- Autism Services (Palatine and Park Ridge) – Clearbrook’s Autism Program (CAP) provides a highly structured schedule emphasizing community integration, recreational activities and opportunities for community-based employment experiences. The staff ratio of 1:3.
- CHOICE (Park Ridge and McHenry) – Clearbrook’s CHOICE program supports adults with intellectual/developmental disabilities to identify and choose areas of interest while utilizing community-based opportunities for volunteering, employment, leisure activities and socializing.
- PURSUIT (Rolling Meadows and Hanover Park) – PURSUIT is a collaborative program between Clearbrook and NWSRA, providing services that offer a variety of recreational and leisure activities and experiences in a structured setting.
- ACES Senior Day Services (50 and over)– Activities and creative experiences for seniors, this program enhances the quality of life for its participants by providing programs and choices to meet the individual’s needs.
Ages: 18 years and older
Connect to Community is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to finding and facilitating purposeful employment and enjoyment for adults with developmental disabilities. Further, in an effort to help these adults live the lives they desire and deserve within the community, we will provide person-centered services across all aspects of community life.
Adult Services Program Coordinator
2020 Dempster
Evanston, IL 60202
Phone: 847-905-0702
Email: info@havedreams.org
Career Launch: Your First Job, Have Dreams Academy, Life SCILS
Marriott Foundation-Bridges Program
Kelly Pavich
850 W. Jackson
Chicago, IL 60607
Phone: (312) 432-6240 ext 0
Email: kelly.pavich@marriott.com
We provide job-readiness training, resume building, interview preparation, retention and advancement employment services to individuals with disability. We help you find the right job match customized to meet your specific needs.
Midwest Asian Health Association - Balancing Incentive Program
230 W Cermak Road, 2nd floor
Chicago, IL 60616
(312) 225-8708
The free pre-employment training program helps people with disabilities (14 years and up) with interview preparation, resume writing, and assistance with online job applications. They target individuals who are transitioning out of high school or who are ready to work. To qualify, the individual must have a low income and a developmental disability or a mental illness. The employment specialists will bring clients to job fairs and provide job matching, based on the client’s interest. They also serve as a job coach, where they learn the client’s job and assist in training the client on his or her job. Employment specialist will check with the employer and follow up very closely for the first one or two months. Follow up is up to one year.
No Boundaries is a program of Search, Inc.
Nicole Heimdal
824 Dempster St.
Evanston, IL 60202
Phone: (847) 869-0000, ext. 202
Email: nicole@jjslist.com or noboundaries@search-inc.org
Experiential on-land and on-line training for transitioning teens through adults with disabilities to build essential skills for the workplace and for living more independently in today’s world.
Adult Vocational Services
Chris Thomas, vocational services director
Oak Park and Rogers Park
Phone: (773) 299-4010
Email: learningcenter@pactt.org or cthomas@pactt.org
PACTT vocational services works to place people with autism in jobs that allow them to use their skills and take their place in the working world.
Autism Services Program
Nicole Todd-Melquist, Program Manager
4343 W. 123rd St
Alsip, IL 60803-1807
Phone: (708) 371-9700, ext. 266
Email: ntodd@sertomacentre.org
This program provides opportunities for individuals on the autism spectrum to participate in functional and meaningful activities within a structured environment.
Natalie & Ben Heineman Smart Love Center
2222 N. Kedzie Blvd.
Chicago, IL 60647
Rush Medical Office Building
610 S. Maple St., Suite 5601
Oak Park, IL 60304
(773) 665.8052 ext. 4
Smart Love offers counseling services for children, adults and families, as well as parent education classes and coaching. Our services include play and individual therapy, group therapy, parent counseling, couples therapy, and a range of assessment and evaluation services.
Ketra Kuniej, Career College Director/HR
1500 W. Ogden Ave.
Naperville, IL 60540
Phone: 630-615-6032
Email: kkuniej@turningpointeaf.org
The Career College is an educational and career exploration opportunity for adults with ASD, social and communication challenges and other learning differences. Our goal at the Career College is for students to gain skills that prepare them for independent employment. We offer a highly individualized learning and training environment focusing on individual strengths, skills and areas of challenge. The Career College format is based on our C.O.P.E.S.™ model of instruction. These core components (Communication, Organization, Positive Behavior Supports, Emotional Regulation, Social Skills and Sensory Needs) are the focus of our curriculum. Additionally, we offer a Summer C.O.P.E.S.™ Course that will start in June of 2017.
Ages: 18 and up
Julie Tracy, MA, CCC-SLP, QMHP
1212 W. Flournoy St.
Chicago, IL 60607
Founded in 2012, Urban Autism Solutions (UAS) is dedicated to changing outcomes for young adults (17-35) with autism through an integrated community life that advances social and vocational opportunities.
