Access Living Youth Center

Getting a Job

We are planning to update this section soon. In the meantime, check out this resource list.

Job Search Skills for People with Disabilities
Online resources to assist people with disabilities find meaningful jobs and jumpstart their careers.

Partners In Employment (available at http://www.partnersinpolicymaking.com/employment/) is a self-study, Internet-based learning program, created to give users the practical skills needed to find real, competitive employment in their own community.

After completing this free course (about 6 hours plus outside assignments), participants will:
- Understand the hiring process and how it might differ for people with disabilities
- Know how to succeed with their strengths, skills, and interests
- Create a resume or portfolio that presents a person and his or her abilities in the best light
- Know how to network and identify potential employers
- Be prepared for a successful job interview
- Know how to evaluate a job offer and make sure it fits a person's skills and dreams

Information in this course is relevant and useful regardless of where a participant is located. Partners in Employment is part of the continuing effort to create a new employment culture - one in which willing workers are welcomed and embraced by satisfied employers and a supportive public.
Through the disabilityworks initiative, a list of organizations that provide hard skills job training has been updated for the Chicagoland area. This is not a comprehensive list, and does not include providers that have job readiness (soft skills) training.

California State University Northridge and its Career Center's Disability Resources put together another resource for job search skills: http://www.csun.edu/~sp20558/dis/

Organization Name: Ada S. McKinley Community Services Inc.
Street Address: 725 S. Wells
City, state, zip: Chicago, IL 60607
Intake Person: Gale Foster Farley
Phone: 312 326-1229
Intake Persons email: gfarley@adasmckinley.org
Agency web site: http://www.adasmckinley.org
Name of Training Program: ASMS Janitorial Training Program
Description: 16-week training program which offers 4 areas of completion 1) basic janitorial 2) advanced janitorial 3) floor care 4) carpet cleaning. In house training, job trails.
Eligibility Requirements: Must have a disability; excellent attendance, must self- transport; work independently, ability to follow directions.

Organization Name: Aspire of Illinois
Street Address: 9901 Derby Lane
City, State, Zip: Westchester, IL 60154-3709
Intake Person's Name: Marcy Nelson Hadley
Phone: 708-547-3550
Email: mnelsonhadley@aspireofillinois.org
Website: http://www.aspireofillinois.org
Name of Training Program: KleenTech
Eligibility Requirements: Developmental Disability, High School Diploma/GED, No physical disability that prevents essential job duties, no drug use, no history of theft, no police record

Organization Name: Donka, Inc.
Street Address: 400 North County Farm Road
City, State, Zip: Wheaton, IL   60187
Intake Person's Name: Kim Snively
Phone: (630)-665-8169
Email:   ksnively@donkainc.org
Website: http://www.donkainc.org
Name of Training Program: Assistive Technology & Computer Skills Training for People with Disabilities
1 Sentence Description of Training Program:  Donka provides assistive technology and computer skills training (using Microsoft XP and Office Suite) and experience to enable students to pursue further education or seek employment at no-cost to the student.
Eligibility Requirements: Transition Students: 14-21, with a physical, visual, or learning disability, should have at least an 8th grade reading level or currently taking reading/writing instruction
Adults: 18-64, with a physical or visual disability, should have at least an 8th grade reading level.

Organization Name: Goodwill Industries of Metropolitan Chicago, Inc.
Street Address: 819 S. Wabash, 4th floor
City, State, Zip: Chicago, IL 60605
Intake Person's Name: Jeanette Hughes
Phone: 312-212-1290
Email: jhughes@goodwillsew.com
Website: http://goodwillsew.com
Name of Training Program: Financial Services
1 Sentence Description of Training Program: Training to work in the Financial Industry as a check processor.
Eligibility Requirements: Disabled or WIA participant

Organization Name: Guild for the Blind
Street Address: 180 N. Michigan Ave., #1700
City, State, Zip: Chicago, IL 60601-7463
Intake Person's Name: David Flament, M.S.
Phone: (312) 236-8569
Email: davidf@guildfortheblind.org
Website: http://www.guildfortheblind.org
Name of Training Program: Robert Stone Center for Adaptive Technology
1 Sentence Description of Training Program: The Guild offers both classroom and one-on-one computer training in the latest software programs using adaptive technology.
Eligibility Requirements: The Guild works with blind or visually impaired adults.

Organization Name: Harold Washington College
Street Address: 30 E. Lake Street
City, State, Zip: Chicago, Illinois, 60601
Intake Person's Name: Clotilde Mayfield
Phone: 312-553-5810
Email: cmayfield@ccc.edu
Web site: http://hwashington.ccc.edu
Name of Training Program: Office of Vocational Training & Development
Hotel Services and Hospital Services
Program Description: Students train for approximately 10 weeks in either program. Hotel - housekeeping, laundry and stewarding. Hospital - food service.
Eligibility: 18 years of age, resident of Chicago and written verification of a developmental disability with cognitive delay

Organization Name: Illinois Manufacturing Foundation
Street Address: 2101 S. Kedzie Ave. 2nd Floor
City, State, Zip: Chicago, IL 60623
Phone: 773-277-2343
Email: info@imfjobtraining.org
Website: http://www.imfjobtraining.org
Name of Training Program: Manufacturing Skills Training
1 Sentence Description of Training Program: Manufacturing skills training for Screw Machine Operators, Electroplaters and Maintenance. Orientations held every Monday at 9:30am (except Holidays)
Eligibility Requirements: Should be able to test at 8th grade Reading and Math and pass a Bennett Mechanical Aptitude exam.

Organization Name: Jane Addams Resource Corporation
Street Address: 4432 N. Ravenswood
City, State, Zip: Chicago, IL 60640
Intake Person's Name: Ashley Crossan
Phone: 773.728.9769 x21
Email: ashleyc@jane-addams.org
Website: http://www.jane-addams.org
Name of Training Program: Careers in Metalworking Program
1 Sentence Description of Training Program: 14-week program in metalworking skills (blueprint reading, shop math, precision measurement, machine tool set up and operation) rounded out by work readiness, computer skills and financial literacy classes, with job placement services.
Eligibility Requirements: 7th grade reading and math, mechanical aptitude, able to lift 20 pounds and stand for long periods of time, no felony convictions for violent or sexual offenses, women encouraged!

Organization Name: JVS Chicago
Street Address: 216 W. Jackson Blvd, Suite 700
City, State, Zip: Chicago, IL 60606
Intake Person's Name: Tina Armando
Phone: 312-673-3439
Email: TinaArmando@jvschicago.org
Website: http://www.jvschicago.org
Name of Training Program: Retail Services Training Program
1 Sentence Description of Training Program: A 2 1/2-week training program designed to teach participants the skills necessary to work in the retail field.
Eligibility Requirements: Persons with disabilities seeking employment in a retail field.

Organization Name: Nia Comprehensive Center for Developmental Disabilities, Inc.
Street Address: 1808 S. State Street
City, State, Zip: Chicago, IL. 60616
Intake Person's Name: Reuben Cawthon
Phone: 312-949-1808
Email: reubencawthon2002@yahoo.com
Website: http://www.niapurpose.org
Name of Training Program: Direct Support Persons Training
1 Sentence Description of Training Program: We teach a 100-hour Home Care skills for Respite Provider, Independent Care Assistants, or Habilitation Aides for the Developmentally Disabled.
Eligibility Requirements: Able to pass the Tabe reading test for comprehension, at least 18 years of age, and prefer some experience in Home Care Provision, CNA, or currently enrolled at college level; with major in psychology, sociology, or child development.

Organization Name: Thresholds Lake County at the Uptown Cafe Street Address: 300 County St. B
City, State, Zip: Waukegan, IL 60085
Intake Person's Name: Joanne Rosenberg, CRC, LCPC
Phone: 847-599-9073
Email: jrosenberg@thresholds.org
Website: http://www.thresholds.org or http://www.uptowncafe.org
Name of Training Program: Tools for Working and Living
1 Sentence Description of Training Program: Training to work in a food service environment, such as a small restaurant, prep cook, catering, server, cashier, phone and in person order taking, customer service
Eligibility Requirements: must have a mental illness

Organization Name: Trinity Services
Street Address: 2014 East Washington Street
City, State, Zip: Joliet, IL 60432
Intake Person's Name: Stephanie Haverstock
Phone: 815-724-1860
Email: shaverstock@trinity-services.org
Website: http://www.trinity-services.org
Name of Training Program: Janitorial training program and Hampton Inn training program.
1 Sentence Description of Training Program: The janitorial program is a paid experience that offers people with disabilities a chance to learn skills prior to community employment. The Hampton Inn program is a non-paid experience in which participants can earn a certificate.
Eligibility Requirements: Must have a disability, preferable to have an open DRS case.

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