Work experience is an important factor in quality transition planning. Employment income may also impact benefits. To find out more about how work will affect benefits, connect with Work Incentive Planning & Assistance or WIPA. You can find out more about these services on the Illinois Assistive Technology Program (IATP) website at https://www.iltech.org/repository/wipa.
The Illinois WIPA Program has three service providers.
- IATP – covers the counties in Illinois:
Alexander, Bond, Calhoun, Champaign, Christian, Clark, Clay, Clinton, Coles, Crawford, Cumberland, De Witt, Douglas, DuPage, Edgar, Edwards, Effingham, Fayette, Ford, Franklin, Gallatin, Greene, Grundy, Hamilton, Hardin, Iroquois, Jackson, Jasper, Jefferson, Jersey, Johnson, Kane, Kankakee, Kendall, Lake, Lawrence, Livingston, Logan, Macon, Macoupin, Madison, Marion, Massac, McHenry, McLean, Monroe, Montgomery, Moultrie, Perry, Piatt, Pike, Pope, Pulaski, Randolph, Richland, Saline, Sangamon, Shelby, St. Clair, Union, Vermilion, Wabash, Washington, Wayne, White, Will, Williamson.
Volunteers of America – Illinois covers Cook County Illinois
- Disability Rights Iowa covers Iowa and the following counties in Illinois: Adams, Boone, Brown, Bureau, Carroll, Cass, DeKalb, Fulton, Hancock, Henderson, Henry, Jo Daviess, Knox, LaSalle, Lee, Marshall, Mason, McDonough, Menard, Mercer, Morgan, Ogle, Peoria, Putnam, Rock Island, Schuyler, Scott, Stark, Stephenson, Tazewell, Warren, Whiteside, Winnebago, Woodford
Illinois is now an Employment First state. The Employment First Act was signed into law by the Illinois Governor on July 16, 2013. The Act establishes as state policy that: “Competitive and integrated employment shall be considered the first option when serving people with disabilities of working age.” It also requires “all state agencies to follow this priority and ensure that it is effectively implemented in their programs and services.”
An Employment First Strategic Plan Draft was released on December 29, 2014 and is available at the following link on the Equip for Equality website. http://www.equipforequality.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/Employment-First-Strategic-Plan-Draft-12-29-14-FINAL.pdf
Additional information about Employment First is also available on the Equip for Equality website at http://www.equipforequality.org/issues/employmentfirst/
Special Education
Special Education – Main Page
Requesting Special Education Services
Independent Evaluation
Case Management for your Child’s Special Education Services
IEP
Inclusion/Least Restrictive Environment
Transition
Work Experience
IDEA
Advocacy Organizations
Advocacy Toolbox – Main Page