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.

JVS Career & Employment, a part of the family of services within JCFS Chicago, is much more than a recruitment resource—it is a strategic workforce partner that helps employers find qualified talent while reducing the time, cost, and effort associated with hiring.

Alliance Ground International (AGI) has been a strong employer partner to HIAS Immigration & Citizenship, providing cargo, shipping and receiving warehouse positions to candidates—regardless of their English proficiency.

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.

One of the janitors who is employed through JCFS Chicago’s Contracted Employment Services (CES) accompanied CES Assistant Director Virginia Hopkins to SourceAmerica’s annual Grassroots Advocacy Conference in Washington, D.C... where he first shared his employment story with a group of fellow advocacy teams, and later presented a shorter version to legislators.

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.

Teri, who has been working at a local restaurant, called her Duman Employment Specialist (ES) to ask for help. She wanted to get more hours at her job, so the ES went to observe Teri at work to help her make improvements.

When Alex moved from Israel to be closer to family in the Chicago suburbs, he did not have a plan in place for employment.

“My transition to the U.S. was a little stressful,” he admits.

Two JCFS programs – Residential Supports and the Duman Opportunity Center – are working together to help individuals with intellectual/developmental disabilities (I/DD) achieve independence and be active members of their communities.