Welfare-To-Work program to aid disabled Chicagoans

Welfare-To-Work program to aid disabled Chicagoans

Easter Seals Metropolitan Chicago, with a $1.1 million-dollar grant from Illinois' Welfare-to-Work program, is launching Project ABLE (Advance Beyond Limitations through Employment). It works closely with referring agencies to take eligible participants and train them for long-term job success.

The grant for Project ABLE was received from the City of Chicago, Mayor's Office of Workforce Development.

Easter Seals designed the specialized program to address the employment needs and barriers specific to people with disabilities. Concerns regarding the transition to the workplace will be addressed and the advantages work has to offer over welfare will be highlighted.

The components of Project ABLE include assessment, case management, job readiness, employment, job retention and support activities.

Subsidized employment through work experience and on-the-job training is the centerpiece of Project ABLE, and Easter Seals continues to develop partnerships with various businesses and organizations within the Chicagoland area for training sites and potential jobs.

Easter Seals expects to employ participants in such industries as eating/drinking establishments, nursing and personal care and private household services.

Easter Seals will involve two of its other programs with Project ABLE. Easter Seals Industries will be a transitional place for some participants to learn job skills.

Easter Seals Industries provides line work to adults with disabilities through contracts with companies such as American Wood Fiber. Easter Seals also provides Head Start and Early Head Start programs which provide low or no cost child care for eligible Project ABLE participants.

Project ABLE will begin working with people with disabilities living on Chicago's west and South Side communities. These communities are characterized by high poverty, lack of available jobs and high unemployment.

"Through Project ABLE we've filled a critical gap in services," said Bill Kern, program director, Project ABLE.

"We are now equipped with high-quality innovative strategies for moving people with disabilities from a life of dependence to one of long-term economic sufficiency."

"We want to provide Project ABLE participants with the knowledge and skills to move on from this program and lead long, healthy and independent lives," said Tim Muri, president and CEO, Easter Seals Metropolitan Chicago.

"Easter Seals looks at this as another step in a continuum to improve the lives of people with disabilities."

Project ABLE is located at Easter Seals' Willett Center at 120 Madison Avenue in Oak Park. It serves the communities of Humboldt Park, West Town, Austin, Oakland, Grand Boulevard, Douglas, Garfield Park, Fuller Park and Washington Park.

Improving the quality of life for individuals with specials needs since 1936, Easter Seals Metropolitan Chicago dedicates itself to helping persons with disabilities achieve maximum independence by providing comprehensive services and programs.

Easter Seals takes its place among the nation's providers of essential health care services for children and adults with disabilities. It identifies and fills health care gaps in the communities it serves. More information on Easter Seals programs and services can be found on its Web site, www.eastersealchicago.org.

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