Duman Opportunity Center

When a Duman Opportunity Center job seeker was hired as an elevator operator at The Breakers at Edgewater Beach, a senior living facility in Chicago, it opened the door for five more individuals with disabilities to secure positions there in the following months.

When Rivka was a high school senior at JCFS Chicago’s Knapp School & Yeshiva, she worked with a JCFS employment specialist to plan for her future.

JCFS Chicago is one of six agencies that are partners in the Strategic Workforce Opportunity Collaborative (SWOC). This collaborative of trusted workforce professionals focuses on increasing employment opportunities for Chicagoland individuals with disabilities, and just as important, assisting employers in hiring qualified, pre-screened candidates.

When Anna came to JCFS Chicago she was in the process of finishing her bachelor’s degree in English. Anna has a passion for reading and libraries, and she expressed to her employment specialist her desire to find a job in a library.

Thomas works at a local pizza restaurant, a position he secured with support from JCFS Chicago several years ago, but he recently expressed interest in finding a second job. So he turned to JCFS again, this time through our Customized Employment Program.

As a recent high school graduate, Daniel turned to JCFS Chicago’s Duman Opportunity Center for help finding employment. He began working with an employment specialist to explore opportunities that would highlight his strengths, build his confidence, and prepare him for long-term success.

During Jewish Disability Awareness, Acceptance, and Inclusion Month (JDAIM), we’re recognizing two local Jewish-owned businesses who have hired individuals with disabilities through the JCFS Duman Opportunity Center.

John came to JCFS Chicago looking for a part-time job for after school and weekends. John is funny, lighthearted and sports-obsessed, and he wanted to utilize his passion for athletics.