District Vocational Listing (revised 9/20/05)
Goals for Rehabilitation
The Illinois Department of Human Services (DHS), Division of Rehabilitation Services (DRS) is the state's lead agency serving individuals with disabilities. DRS works in partnership with people with disabilities and their families to assist them in making informed choices to achieve full community participation through employment, education and independent living opportunities.
DRS collaborates with many partners to help high school students with disabilities plan for their future. Through this collaborative effort, these students have knowledge, skills and experience they need to achieve their employment, post-secondary education and independent living goals. Transition customers receive a wide variety of services, including career exploration, community-based training and work experience, supported employment services, job training and placement, independent living skills training, vocational evaluation, counseling and guidance, as well as educational and financial planning.
DRS' Secondary Transition Experience Program (STEP) helps students transition from school to the world of work through school-supervised work experiences, vocational evaluation, and work adjustment. Our counselors work closely with transition specialists housed in high schools, staff in individual schools and school districts, and community partners to coordinate services for students. DRS vocational rehabilitation counselors also assist youth with disabilities who are no longer in high school in preparing for, obtaining, and maintaining quality employment.
DRS also supports local Transition Planning Committees (TPCs) that are charged with identifying existing resources and unmet needs, facilitating an ongoing exchange of information, and developing local customer training programs. Quarterly Transition Consortiums address transition issues, provide networking opportunities, and facilitate information sharing among local TPC members.
In October 2006, DRS co-sponsored the Second Annual Statewide Transition Conference. More than 500 participants attended the conference which focused on supporting the successful transition of students and encouraging the creation of person-centered goals for youth with disabilities.
- DRS served 20,494 transition students in FY2006 including 17,128 STEP students and 3,366 non-STEP students.
- DRS provided 150 STEP contracts in FY2006, serving approximately 600 high schools
- In FY2006, 39 active TPCs serviced 98 Illinois counties
- More than 700 participants attended 14 Regional Transition Consortiums in FY2006
Applying For ADA Paratransit Service
If you have a disability or health condition that prevents you from using a CTA or PACE bus or the CTA "L" train service, applying for ADA Paratransit Service is as easy as:
1. Call Us
First call the RTA's ADA Paratransit Program and ask them to mail you an ADA
Paratransit Application.
Just call: 312 663 4357
TTY: 312 913 3122
Monday through Friday 8:30am until 5:00pm
If you have questions about the application form call teh ADA Paratransit Program for assistance. If you need help filling out the form, you can get assistance at your interview.
2. Interview
After you fill out as much of the application as you can, call the RTA's Paratransit
Certification Program at:
312 663 4357
TTY: 312 913 3122
to set up an interview at one of our 5 Interview and Assessment Sites. Bring
the ADA Paratransit Application form and a photo ID with you to the interview.
You may also bring additional information about your disability or health
condition if you wish, but this is not necessary.
At the interview, we well review the application form with you & help complete it if necessary. After the interview, we may ask you to take a "mock" bus ride. It will take about 30-45 minutes and will give us a better idea of your travel abilities and limitations. You may have to go outside, so please dress for the weather.
3. Decision
You will be notified of your eligibility by letter within 21 days after the
interview and assessment are completed.
If a decision is not made within 21 days, we will provide you with ADA Paratransit
Service until the final decision is made.
If you are eligible for ADA Paratransit Service for some or all of your travels,
you will receive a Certification Guide with information about how to use the
service and a photo ID card.
If we determine that you are unable to use fixed route buses and "L" train
service for some or all of you trips, we will notify you of the exact reasons
for this and tell you how to appeal the decision.
Great Lakes ADA
800 949 4232 V/TTY
American Association of People with Disabilities
Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC)
Illinois Department of Employment Security
National Center for the Dessemination of Disability Research
Parent Advocacy Coalition for Educational Rights
National Information Center for Children and Youth with Disabilities
US Department of Education Publications
Individuals with Disabilities Education Act
The National Clearinghouse of Rehabilitation Training Materials
Statewide Independent Living Council of Illinois
Coalition of Citizens with Disabilities in Illinois
Illinois Network of Centers for Independent Living
Illinois Assistive Technology Project
National Organization on Disability
Fact Sheet: Job Applicants and the Americans with Disabilities Act
Phone Numbers
Academy of Dentistry for the Handicapped: 800 621 8099
Access Board: 800 USA ABLE
ADA Answer Line: 800 669 4000
ALS Association: 800 782 4747
Alliance of Mentally Ill of Wisconsin: 800 236 2988
Alzheimer's Related Disorders Center: 800 621 0379
AMC Cancer Information Center: 800 525 3777
American Association on Mental Retardation: 800 424 3688
American Cancer Society: 800 227 2345
American Council of the Blind: 800 424 8666
American Diabetes Association: 800 232 3472
American Foundation for the Blind: 800 232 5463
American Heart Association: 800 AHA USA1
American Kidney Foundation: 800 638 8299
American Liver Foundation: 800 223 0719
American Lung Association of Wisconsin: 800 LUNG USA
American Paralysis Association: 800 225 0292
Spinal Cord Injury Hotline: 800 526 3456
American Parkinson Association: 800 223 2732
American Society of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeons: 1 888 4 PLASTIC
American Speech/Language/Hearing Association: 800 638 8255
Amputee Coalition of America: 888 AMP KNOW
APA National Spinal Cord: 800 526 3456
Arthritis Foundation: 800 283 7800
Association for Heart Patients: 800 241 6993
ASTHMA: 800 822 ASMA
AT&T Special Needs Center: 800 233 1222
TDD: 800 525 3232
Attorney General's Office (IL):
Chicago: 800 243 5377
Springfield: 800 252 2518
Auto Immune Deficiency (AIDS) Hotline: 800 342 2437
Better Hearing Institute: 800 424 4876
Blue Cross/Blue Shield Medicare Part B: 800 642 6930
Braillegrams (Western Union): 800 325 6000
Breaking New Ground Resource Center: 800 825 4264
Cancer Information Service: 800 638 6694
Captioned Film for the Deaf: 800 237 6213
Center for Special Education Technology: 800 345 TECH
Child Abuse Hotline (IL): 800 252 2873
Children with Autism: 800 843 7323
Children's Hospice International: 800 242 4453
Client Assistance Program: 800 362 1290
Community Options Program: 800 242 1060
Consumer Protection: 800 362 3020
Cornelia de Lange Syndrome Foundation: 800 223 3425
Courage Stroke Network: 800 553 6321
Cystic Fibrosis Netork: 800 FIGHT CF
ORS Resource Center (IL): 800 232 1097
Disabled Individual Assistance (IL): 800 233 8355
Emergency Services and Disaster Agency (IL) 800 252 8643
Energy Assistance and Weatherization (IL): 800 572 3270
Epilepsy Foundation:800 733 1244
Equal Employment Opportunity Commission: 800 669 EECC
TDD: 800 800 3302
Eye Care Information (IL): 800 222 3937
Great Lakes Disability Tech. Assistance Center: 800 949 4ADA
Health Care Containment Hotline: 800 325 9564
Hearing Aid Consumer Protection Program (IL): 800 572 3270
Hear Now: 800 648 4327
Higher Education & Training for Persons with Disabilities: 800 426 2133
Home Health Hotline: 800 642 6552
Huntington's Disease Society: 800 345 4375
IBM Support Center for Persons with Disabilities: 800 426 2133
Illinois Accessible Housing Clearinghouse: 800 233 DIAL
Illinois Assistive Technology Project: 800 852 5110
Illinois Centers for Independent Living: 800 447 4221
Illinois Commerce Commission: 800 735 3287
Illinois Department of Public Aid: 800 252 8635
Illinois Department of Veterans Affairs: 800 437 9824
Illinois Legislative Information Hotline: 800 252 6300
Illinois Medicare Hotline: 800 647 8089
Illinois Secretary of State: 800 252 2904
Illinois Senior Citizens Division of State: 800 252 2904
Illinois Services for Hearing Impaired: 800 468 9211
Illinois State Dental Association for Low Income and Homebound Dental Care:
800 252 2930
Information Clearinghouse for Infants: 800 922 9234
Insurance Information: 800 423 8000
International Craniofacial Foundation: 800 535 3643
Lawyer Referral Service (IL): 800 252 8916
Juvenile Diabetes Association: 800 223 1138
Library of Congress for Handicapped: 800 424 8567
Lung Line: 800 222 LUNG
Illinois: 800 252 5864
Lupus Foundation: 800 558 0121
March of Dimes Parent Support Group: 800 669 9255
Medical Assistance Hotline: 800 362 3002
Medicare Part B Customer Service: 800 362 7221
Miami Project to Cure Paralysis: 800 782 6387
Milwaukee AIDS Project: 800 334 2437
Mothers of Asthmatics: 800 878 4403
Muscular Dystrophy Association: 800 572 1717
National Alliance for the Mentally Ill: 800 950 NAMI
National Association for Hearing & Speech: 800 638 TALK
National Association for Parents of Visually Impaired: 800 562 6265
National Association for Sickle Cell Disease: 800 421 8453
National Association of Rehabilitation Facilities (NARF): 800 368 3513
National Asthma Center: 800 222 5864
National Center for Stuttering: 800 221 2483
National Cleft Palate Association: 800 242 5338
National Conference on Supporting Parenting: 800 462 5254
National Cystic Fibrosis Foundation: 800 344 4823
National Down Syndrome Congress: 800 232 6372
National Easter Seal Society: 800 221 6827
Illinois: 312 776 6200
National Health Information Society: 800 336 4797
National Head Injury Foundation: 800 444 6443
National Hearing Aid Society: 800 521 5247
National Information Center for Children with Disabilities: 800 999 55
National Information Clearinghouse: 800 922 9234
National Kidney Foundation: 800 622 9010
National Library of Medicine: 800 638 8480
National Multiple Sclerosis Society-Wisconsin: 800 242 3358
National Organization of Rare Disorders: 800 999 6673
National Organization on Disability: 800 242 2253
National Rehabilitation Information Center: 800 346 4343
National Reye's Syndrome Foundation: 800 233 7393
National Spinal Cord Injury Association: 800 962 9629
National Home Hotline (IL): 800 252 4343
National Tuberous Sclerosis Association: 800 255 NTSA
Parkinson's Disease Information (IL): 800 223 2732
Parents of Disabled Children: 800 924 1220
Phoenix Society for Burn Victims: 800 362 3999
Recorded Book: 800 638 1304
Regional Disability & Business Technical Assistance Centers: 800 949
Recordings for the Blind: 800 221 4792
Retinitis Pigmentosa Foundation: 800 638 2300
Second Opinion Surgery (IL): 800 638 6833
Social Security Administration: 800 772 1213
Special Olympics of Wisconsin: 800 924 5202
Spina Bifida Association: 800 621 314
Spinal Muscular Atrophy, Families of: 800 886 1762
Teleconsumer Hotline (IL): 800 332 1124
The Living Bank--Organ Donations: 800 528 2971
The Perspectives Netork (Brain Injury): 800 685 6302
Tourette's Syndrome Association: 800 237 0717
United Cerebral Palsy: 800 872 5827
US Department of Veteran's Affairs: 800 872 0466
US Internal Revenue Service (IL): 800 829 1040
Vaccine Injury Act: 800 338 2382
Welfare Fraud and Medical Abuse (IL): 800 252 8903
Wisconsin Lib. for Blind & Physically Handicapped: 800 242 8822
Wisconsin Family Ties: 800 422 7145
Wisconsin Legislative Hotline (VOICE): 800 362 9472
TDD: 800 228 2115
Wisconsin Paralyzed Veterans of America: 800 875 WPVA
Wisconsin Parkinson Association: 800 972 5455
Institute for Community Inclusion
National Center for Children and Youth with Disabilities
Family and Advocates Partnership for Education
National Center on Secondary Education & Transition
Work Incentives Transition Network
Transition Research Institute, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Transition Requirements: A Guide for States, Districts, Schools Universities and Families
Cornerstone
800 Black Road
PO Box 279
Joliet IL 60434
Contact: Beverly Swithin
815 774 3260
Southstar Services
1005 W End Avenue
Chicago Heights IL 60411
Contact: Kara Pierce
708 755 8030
Helping Hand Workshop
9649 W 55th Street
Countryside IL 60525
Contact: Mary Barnish
708 352 3580
Garden Center
8333 S Austin Avenue
Burbank IL 60459
Contact: Barbara DeLifle
708 636 0054 ext 30
St. Coletta's of Illinois
18350 Crossing Drive
Tinley Park IL 60477
Contact: Mary VanPelt and Terry King
708 342 5219
IAM Cares
At Homan Square
3333 W Arthington, Suite 139
Chicago IL 60624
Contact: Laurel Witherspoon
Trinity Services, Inc.
800 N Gougar
Joliet IL 60432
Contact: Stephanie Haverstock
815 722 0382
Trinity Services, Inc.
7230 Arbor Drive
Tinley Park IL 60477
Contact: Kimberly Padgett
708 614 4863
Oak Forest Hospital
Vocational Rehabilitation
15900 S Cicero
Oak Forest IL 60452
Contact: June Cole (Evaluations Only)
708 633 3503
Insite Training
4343 West 123rd Street
Alsip IL 60803
Contact: Deborah Johnson
708 371 9790 ext 261
Sertoma Centre
4700 W 127th Street
Alsip IL 60803
Contact: Avis Greer (Workshop)
708 371 9700 ext 338
Southwest Community Services
6775 Prosperi Drive
Tinley Park IL
Contact: Indra Cooper
708 429 1260 ext 215
Sheltered Employment Only
Jewish Vocational Services
600 W Van Buren
Chicago IL 60607
Contact: Jackie Aron (Intake)
312 454 9002
Park Lawn Sheltered Workshop
10833 LaPorte Avenue
Oak Lawn IL 60453
Contact: Karen Prisco
708 425 7377
Concentra Managed Car Service
640 N LaSalle, Suite 680
Chicago IL 60601
Contact: Stephanie Edwards
312 355 4800 (Evaluations Only)
South Suburban College
15800 South State Street
South Holland IL 60473
Special Services Coordinator: Linda Bathgate
708 596 2000 ext 2313
Moraine Valley Community College
10900 South 88th Avenue
Palos Hill IL 60465
Director of Special Services: Debbie Sievers
708 974 5711
Prairie State College
202 South Halsted
Chicago Heights IL 60411
Special Needs Coordinator: Diane Janowick
708 709 3500
708 708 3633
Joliet Junior College
1215 Houbolt Road
Joliet IL 60431
Director of Special Services: Carol Smith
818 729 9020
College of DuPage
425 Fawell Boulevard
Glen Ellyn IL 60137
Special Services Director: Jacqueline Revland
630 942 2306
630 942 2800
District Vocational Listing (revised 8/14/07)
Andrew High School, D/230
9001 W 171st Street
Tinley Park IL 60477
708 342 5800
fax: 708 532 7383
Director of Sp. Ed., John Hackett (342 5831)
Teacher: Jan Schmeski (ext. 5993)
Andrew CD: (342 4598)
Psychologist: Tammy Stamus
Bremen High School, D/228
15203 Pulaski Road
Midlothian IL 60445
708 371 3600
fax: 708 371 7194
Voc: Gloria Backman (708 687 0500 ext. 2731) gbackman@bhsd228.com
Voc: (ext. 3332)
Psychologist: Jennifer Castor
jcastor@ghsd228.com
Hillcrest High School, D/228
17401 Pulaski Road
Country Club Hills IL 60478
708 799 7000
Voc: Gloria Backman (708 687 0500 ext. 2731) gbackman@bhsd228.com
Voc: Amy Maniatis (ext. 2530) amaniatis@bhsd228.com
Psychologist: Kay Frazier
Lemont High School, D/210
800 Porter Street
Lemont IL 60439
630 257 5838
fax: 630 243 0310
Voc: Jessica Hoag (ext. 3278)
jessicah@mail.lemont.k12.il.us
Psychologist: Catherine Hassell (630 243 3227)
Catherine@mail.lemont.k12.il.us
HI Voc: Joanna Toppett (630 243 1849)
joannat@mail.lemont.k12.il.us
Oak Forest High School, D/228
15201 Central Avenue
Oak Forest IL 60452
708 687 0500
fax: 708 687 0594
Voc: Gloria Backman (ext. 2731) gbackman@bhsd228.com
Psychologist: Jennifer Keating
Sandburg High School, D/230
13300 LaGrange Road
Orland Park IL 60462
708 671 3100
fax: 708 361 9714
Voc: John Vivaldelli (ext. 3809) jvivaldelli@d230.org
Psychologist: Bob Means (ext. 3129)
Stagg High School, D/230
111th Street & Roberts Road
Palos Hills IL 60465
708 974 7400
fax: 708 974 0803
Director of Sp. Ed.: Ian McLeod
Voc: Debbie Ferrero (708 974 7792) dferrero@d230.org
Psychologist: Frank Kowalik
Tinley Park High School, D/228
6111 W 175th Street
Tinley Park IL 60477
708 532 1900
Voc: Gloria Backman (708 687 0500 ext. 2731) gbackman@bhsd228.com
Psychologist: Sheri Griffin
Transition Program
18521 Spring Creek Drive
Tinley Park IL 60477
708 633 9950
Supervisor: Judy Boyens
Coordinator: Jenny Wlodarski
Voc: Anita Shaffer
SW: Teresa Long, Dolores Oleskiewicz
Teachers: Sue Fumi, Chris Ireland, Monica Joyce, Cathy McEnry, Paulette Novakovich, Ron Ruhl
Project Challenge
16531 S Oak Park Avenue
Tinley Park IL 60477
708 444 1424
Teacher: Terry Koenig
Social Worker: Carl Boyens
Destiny High School Program
15201 Central Avenue, Door #24
Oak Forest, IL 60452
708 687 0500
Voc: Debbie Bumber (ext 2696)
Email: dbumber@swcccase.org
Palos Community Hospital TEP
123rd & 80th Avenue
Palos Heights IL 60463
Voc: Jan Rice (708 923 4899)
Bremen High School District 228
15233 Pulaski Road
Midlothian IL 60445
Spec. Ed.: John Krapf (708 389 1175 ext. 2011)
Oak Forest Hospital TEP
15900 S Cicero Avenue
Oak Forest IL 60452
Voc: Cathy Droy (708 633 4468)