DCEO Director Jack Lavin Accepts Prestigious Award from Labor Secretary atWashington, DC Ceremony
CHICAGO – Gov. Rod R. Blagojevich’s top economic development official traveled to Washington, DC today to accept the 2006 U.S. Secretary of Labor’s Fifth Anniversary New Freedom Initiative (NFI) Award on behalf of the disabilityworks initiative, a public-private partnership to create more employment opportunities for youth and adults with disabilities. U.S. Secretary of Labor Elaine L. Chao presented the award to Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) Director Jack Lavin, who was joined at the ceremony by additional state and local partners, including the Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce who houses the initiative.
“On behalf of disabilityworks, we are honored for this recognition from the U.S. Department of Labor for our efforts to increase opportunities for people with disabilities. disabilityworks is an exemplary model, bringing together the public and private sector in a very unique way to create pathways for those left behind and help youth and adults with disabilities build better lives and achieve their dreams. My thanks to the Chicagoland Chamber, the City of Chicago and other valued partners who deserve a round of applause for their efforts to continue making disabilityworks a success,” Gov. Blagojevich said.
The disabilityworks initiative grew out of Mayor Richard M. Daley’s Task Force on the Employment of People with Disabilities, a three-year collaboration between city and state government, as well as representatives from the business, nonprofit and disability communities.
“Through disabilityworks, we are committed to enhancing the quality of life for people with disabilities by increasing employment opportunities – both in government and in the private sector,” said Mayor Richard M. Daley. “My thanks to the U.S. Department of Labor for recognizing our collaborative efforts to break down barriers and achieve our shared vision of an inclusive, accessible city and state with opportunities for all its residents.”
Commissioners Karen Tamley from the Mayor's Office for People with Disabilities and David Hanson from the Mayor's Office of Workforce Development represented the City of Chicago at the ceremony in recognition for their efforts in the implementation of disabilityworks and continued support of the initiative to address the high unemployment rate of Chicagoans with disabilities.
The NFI Award recognizes exemplary and innovative efforts to recruit, hire and promote people with disabilities, as part of the larger New Freedom Initiative. Secretary Chao praised a total of nine winners from across the country in the individual, non-profit and business categories for their outstanding efforts to improve employment for people with disabilities. disabilityworks was one of four award recipients in the non-profit category. Introduced in 2001, the NFI is a comprehensive set of proposals designed to give people with disabilities the opportunity to fully participate in all aspects of community life, including employment. For more information please visit www.dol.gov/odep.
The disabilityworks initiative brings together businesses and service providers to increase the economic and employment opportunities for people with disabilities, while meeting the workforce needs of Chicagoland businesses. disabilityworks was established at the Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce in June 2005 to connect employers with prospective employees with disabilities, as well as to target youth with disabilities to facilitate inclusive secondary and postsecondary education programs. Gov. Blagojevich has contributed a total of $648,000 to the initiative, which builds on a $160,000 investment from the city of Chicago.
disabilityworks is being recognized for its unprecedented collaboration among the business community, non-profit service providers and state and local government. It is one of the premier initiatives in the country that is providing systemic changes to better help people with disabilities find employment. disabilityworks is currently working with 124 service provider organizations, more than 200 workforce development professionals and more than 40 businesses through the www.disabilityworks.org Web site. Through job fairs, CEO forums, on-line resume postings and a growing network of businesses, disabilityworks will continue increasing employment opportunities for people with disabilities.
“Americans with disabilities are a valuable part of our workforce,” said U.S. Secretary of Labor Elaine L. Chao. “The New Freedom Initiative Award ceremony is a great opportunity to recognize the employers, organizations and individuals who have shown exceptional commitment to equal access and opportunity for Americans with disabilities.”
“Prior to disabiltyworks coming to the Chamber, businesses were very confused about where to go in order to obtain information about hiring people with disabilities. Now businesses have disabilityworks, which is the one stop for businesses to come and be educated and to begin hiring people with disabilities,” said Gerald Roper, President and CEO of the Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce.
There are more than 38 million people with disabilities in the U.S. and, in Illinois, 17.6 percent of the state’s population over age 5 has a disability, which is more than one in six people. Among college graduates nationwide, only 54 percent of people with disabilities are employed, compared to 82 percent of their non-disabled peers. In Illinois, the unemployment rate of working-age people with disabilities (16 to 64 years old) was 62.7 percent, according to the latest U.S. Census Bureau Employment Status Report.
disabilityworks’ efforts focus on three constituencies: people with disabilities, businesses and nonprofit service providers. disabilityworks provides education and outreach to people with disabilities through workshops, resources, and information and referral. The Chicagoland Business Leadership Network (CBLN) is a business-to-business consortium designed to help employers understand, utilize and benefit from people with disabilities in both the labor and consumer markets. The Chicagoland Provider Leadership Network (CPLN) is a network of more than 120 service provider organizations and postsecondary educational institutions and is in ongoing communication with more than 200 professionals working in the field of workforce development through the www.disabilityworks.org Web site. Businesses can enhance their competitive edge by ensuring that people with disabilities are integrated into the workforce and customer base.
“Gov. Blagojevich and I are extremely grateful for this recognition of disabilityworks, which is making a difference in the lives of men, women and youth with disabilities throughout our state and helping better serve an area of our workforce that we cannot afford to leave behind. Through disabilityworks and the work of our Small
Business Development Centers, we will not only continue to emphasize employment opportunities for people with disabilities, but we will also provide greater opportunities for self-employment and entrepreneurship, as well as expanded career opportunities for youth with disabilities,” said DCEO Director Jack Lavin.
In addition to those partners listed, other major partners include: the Illinois Community College Board, the Illinois State Board of Education, the Illinois Board of Higher Education, Illinois Council on Developmental Disabilities, the Mayor’s Office for Workforce Development (MOWD), the Mayor’s Office for People with Disabilities (MOPD), the Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services, the Illinois Department of Human Services, Division of Rehabilitation Services (DHS/DRS), EmployAlliance, Marianjoy Rehabilitation Hospital AbilityLinks, Helping Hand Employment Service, and Partners for Inclusive Employment (PIE). For more information on the initiative, visit www.disabilityworks.org or contact Karen McCulloh, Executive Director, disabilityworks 312/494.6713; Joe Chiappetta, Managing Director, CPLN, 312/494.6729; Anne Tiesenga, Managing Director, CBLN, 312/494.6726; and Sarah Lawrence, Healthcare Industry Coordinator, 312/494.6784.