Who We Are/What We Do

Mission

disabilityworks will increase the economic and employment opportunities of people with disabilities while meeting the workforce needs of businesses located in the state of Illinois by promoting a collaborative partnership between the private and public sectors.

History

disabilityworks launched in 2002, when Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley inaugurated the first-of-its-kind Mayoral Task Force on the Employment of People with Disabilities, developing a coordinated and aggressive regional plan to bring more people with disabilities into the workforce. Designed to advance the President's Committee on the Employment of Adults with Disabilities, 1998, Mayor Daley's Task Force has made great strides in forging public-private sector partnerships and establishing relationships among employers and service providers. The result has been a direct interaction between employers interested in hiring people with disabilities and people with disabilities that are trained and equipped with valuable job skills.

City/State/Chamber Partnership...and more

Recognizing the great strides made by the Task Force, the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) entered into a partnership with the City of Chicago and the Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce to implement the proven initiative and bring valuable resources to businesses, people with disabilities, and service providers throughout Illinois. DCEO, the Chamber, and the City operate the disabilityworks initiative with links to the Virtual One-Stop System, which is designed to expand employment opportunities for all Illinois residents-with and without disabilities.

Also important to this effort are a number of organizations that lend expertise in working with people with disabilities, ensuring the initiative's success. The Illinois Community College Board (ICCB), the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE), the Illinois Board of Higher Education (IBHE), the Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services (HFS), the Illinois Council on Developmental Disabilities (ICDD), the Illinois Department of Employment Security (IDES), and the Illinois Department of Human Services, Division of Rehabilitation Services (DHS/DRS) are all proud to be partners on the disabilityworks team.

What We Do

disabilityworks aims at increasing employment opportunities for people with disabilities in the state of Illinois. Designed as a "one-stop" portal of information about all aspects of employment for people with disabilities, this initiative gives employers access to a qualified pool of candidates from which to hire. disabilityworks has valuable information and resources that inspire sound employer-to-employee relationships.

disabilityworks breaks down barriers that keep people with disabilities from finding jobs. The initiative works directly with employers to meet labor market demands. Through employer education and job matching, employers can find the right employee for the right job. Through information and referral, people with disabilities can find the right kind of job training or job placement program.