Employment

AbilityLinks
535 Pennsylvania Avenue, Suite 100
Glen Ellyn, IL 60137
Phone: 630-733-8822
Employment Services for Persons with Disabilities.
AbilityLinks works to help persons with disabilities find jobs. They offer job search consultation, job referrals, educational opportunities and opportunities to network with businesses and job programs.

ABLE Accounts Information (Achieving a Better Life Experience) - ABLE accounts help people with disabilities to save while preserving their SSI and Medicaid.

  • accessABLE - News & Updates from the Illinois State Treasurer’s ABLE Plan.

  • ISBA ABLE Savers Program - ISBA's new ABLE Savers program promotes workforce development among adults with spina bifida by pairing adults with community social workers to assess barriers and action steps related to participating in vocational training and employment; increase knowledge about vocational training resources and ABLE accounts; and to facilitate linkages to ABLE accounts and advocates specializing in Medicaid and Supplemental Security Income (SSI).

  • ABLE National Resource Center - (ANRC) is a collaborative whose supporters share the goal of accelerating the design and availability of ABLE accounts for the benefit of individuals with disabilities and their families.

  • Illinois ABLE - The Illinois ABLE program is a tax-advantaged investment program that provides persons with blindness or disabilities the option to save for disability-related expenses without putting their federal means tested benefits at risk.

Accommodation Request Form Letter
A sample form letter to request an employment accommodation from the Job Accommodation Network.

Aspire Chicago
Job training for people with disabilities.

Bridges from School to Work Chicago Office
850 W. Jackson Blvd., Suite 660, Chicago, IL 60607
Phone: 312-432-6240
The Chicago office of Bridges from School to Work matches Chicago Public School youth with disabilities between the ages of 17 and 24 with entry-level job positions in local Chicago area businesses that are seeking workforce diversification solutions. Check out their website for more info.

Bridgeway
2323 Windish Dr., Galesburg, IL. 61401
Phone: 309-344-2323
Locations in Macomb, Pekin, Galesburg, and Kewanee.
Employment Services for Persons with Disabilities.

City of Chicago Employment Services for People with Disabilities
The Employment Services Unit (ESU) of the Mayor's Office for People with Disabilities is committed to promoting employment opportunities for people with disabilities. Services include Analysis of Social Security Benefits, Job Training and Placement Referral, MOPD Youth in Transition Summits, and Chicago Concerned Parents & Partners.

Illinois Department of Human Services Vocational Rehabilitation
Phone: 800-843-6154

Illinois Individual Placement and Support (IL IPS)
One-stop source on supported employment for Illinois citizens who are receiving mental health treatment, their employers, and service providers.   

Jewish Vocational Service
216 West Jackson Blvd., Suite 700, Chicago, IL 60606
Phone: 855-INFO-JVS

The Job Accommodations Network (JAN)
PO Box 6080, Morgantown, WV 26506-6080
Phone: 800-526-723
Provides free guidance on workplace accommodations and disability employment issues. 

New Star
1624 E. 154th St., Dolton, IL 60419
Phone: 708-755-8030
Provides employment, training, and community service resources for people with disabilities.

Office of Disability Employment Policy
U.S. Department of Labor
Frances Perkins Building
200 Constitution Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20210
866-4-USA-DOL

Parents Alliance Employment Project
2525 Cabot Drive, Suite 302, Lisle, IL 60532
630-955-2075
Their mission is to improve the quality of life for people with disabilities through individualized employment services.

Shirley Ryan AbilityLab Vocational Rehabilitation
541 N. Fairbanks, Mezzanine Level
Chicago, IL 60611
Phone: 312-238-6800

Ticket to Work
Help Line 1-866-968-7842 
The Ticket to Work Program provides most people receiving Social Security disability benefits more choices for receiving employment services. Beneficiaries may choose to assign their tickets to an Employment Network (EN) of their choice to obtain employment services, vocational rehabilitation services, or other support services necessary to achieve a vocational goal. The EN, if they accept the ticket, will coordinate and provide appropriate services to help the beneficiary find and maintain employment.

UCP Seguin of Greater Chicago Community Employment Services
3100 S. Central Ave. Cicero, IL 60804
Phone: 708 863 3803
Individuals seeking assistance in acquiring or maintaining customized community employment are supported through job development and coaching.

Workforce Development and Job Center of Lake County
1 N Genesee Street
Waukegan, IL 60085
Phone: 847-377-3450
Lake County Workforce Development offers a variety of job search services and training opportunities to help Lake County job seekers of all ages and at all levels of
experience gain the necessary skills to be competitive in today’s job market.   

Working Together Chicago
WTC offers paid internship opportunities at local businesses throughout the Chicagoland area to help young adults with disabilities gain corporate experience.

Updated 10/26/2023