Developmental Disabilities

Illinois Contacts

State Agency Responsible for Providing Services to the Developmentally Disabled

The Illinois Department of Human Services funds over 640 community-based agencies that serve individuals with developmental disabilities and administers 11 state-operated developmental centers and programs. To access the service system, contact an Independent Service Coordination (ISC) agency in your area. These agencies are the "front door" to Illinois' state-funded service system. Also known as PAS/ISCs, these agencies help develop a service plan tailored to individuals with developmental disabilities and then make referrals to local service providers. To locate a PAS/ISC agency in your area, go to http://www.dhs.state.il.us/OfficeLocator, and under Step 2, Office Type, select "Developmental Disabilities."

The Division of Developmental Disabilities Services (DHS), Illinois Department of Human Services, services and supports individuals with developmental disabilities and provides help to individuals with developmental disabilities to help them achieve as much independence as possible. DHS funds over 640 community-based agencies that serve individuals with developmental disabilities and administers 9 state-operated developmental centers and programs. Services funded by the State of Illinois are delivered in the least restrictive setting appropriate for the individual. To access services, an individual must first be assessed by an Independent Service Coordination (ISC) agency. These agencies are the "front door" to Illinois' state-funded service system and will perform a "Pre-Admission Screening" to document that the individual is eligible for the service and that the service is in the least restrictive setting appropriate to his or her needs.

State Agency Responsible for Overseeing Employment Opportunities for the Developmentally Disabled

The Illinois Department of Human Services, Division of Rehabilitation Services, Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) Program helps people with disabilities find and keep jobs. Their goal is to help customers find quality employment that pays a living wage and offers a chance for advancement. Many people with disabilities of working age are eligible for VR services. The staff talks with people about their employment needs and helps them find a job or get ready to go to work. They also make sure that people have the supports they need to stay on the job. Services are provided in 51 local offices located in communities throughout the state.

Sheltered Employment

The Illinois Department of Human Services programs for persons with developmental disabilities provide long-term employment opportunities in a sheltered workplace. These programs help to maintain work-related skills for persons whose functional levels require supervision and assistance. Training focuses on the particular skills associated with contract work and on improving physical capacity, stamina, production rates and accuracy. Attention is also paid to improving communication and interpersonal skills.

DHS regular work programs for persons with developmental disabilities provide long-term employment opportunities in a sheltered workplace. These programs help maintain work-related skills for persons whose functional levels require supervision and assistance. Training focuses on the particular skills associated with contract work and on improving physical capacity, stamina, production rates and accuracy. Attention is also paid to improving communication and interpersonal skills.

The Department of Human Services requires that sheltered workshops in Illinois be accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF). CARF requires an annual comprehensive safety inspection, emergency procedures, personnel training on safety issues, and critical incident reporting, among other things.

Competitive Employment

DHS, Division of Developmental Disabilities Services is also responsible for supported employment. Supported employment helps people with developmental disabilities work in the competitive workforce. Services provided to supported employment placements include supervision, advocacy, ongoing assessment, training and supports related to achieving outcomes, counseling and follow-up. The Illinois DHS also operates eleven developmental centers, which are residential programs serving people whose disabilities are complicated by severe medical or behavioral needs. Developmental training helps adults with disabilities prepare to enter the workplace. This training targets fine and gross motor skills, personal care, communication and interpersonal skills and vocational skills. Residents have a 50/50 split of classroom time and paid work. In addition, the DHS supported employment services can place workers with developmental disabilities in public employment.

The Illinois Department of Human Services supported employment helps people with developmental disabilities work in the competitive workforce. Services provided to supported employment placements include supervision, advocacy, ongoing assessment, training and supports related to achieving outcomes, counseling and follow-up.

Health and Safety

Private sector employers can request a free health and safety evaluation from the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO).

Regulation/ Admin Code that govern health and safety req: Part 350 of the Illinois Administrative Code (http://www.ilga.gov/commission/jcar/admincode/056/056003500A00100R.html) addresses how the Health and Safety Act (III. Rev. Stat. 1991, ch. 48, par. 137.1 et seq.) and the Safety Inspection and Education Act (Ill. Rev. Stat. 1991, ch. 48, par. 59.01 et seq.) protect public employees. The Health and Safety Act requires that employers provide to their employees a place of employment which is free from recognized hazards that are causing or are likely to cause death or serious physical harm to the employees. The Act also requires that employees comply with occupational safety and health standards adopted under the Act and with rules issued under the Act which are applicable to their own actions and conduct.

Under the Safety Inspection and Education Act the Illinois Department of Labor is authorized to enforce these standards, to conduct inspections, and to issue citations for violations of these standards.

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) oversees the enforcement of health and safety regulations in the private sector and should be contacted with any concerns about the work environment.

Public employers are encouraged to schedule a free advisory inspection and can set one up by calling one of the following Illinois Department of Labor offices.

The Illinois Onsite Safety and Health Consultation Program provides free consultation service to help employers improve their occupational safety and health management systems and to help employers comply with federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration regulations. The program also helps provide safe and healthy workplaces for employees by helping the employer locate and remove existing hazards in the facility, thereby reducing injuries and illnesses.

The Occupational Safety and Health (OSHA) Illinois Area Offices provide safety and health protections to most private sector workers and state and local government employees within the state. OSHA investigates complaints about workplace safety and health hazards.

Reporting Abuse and Neglect

Regulations that govern reporting abuse and neglect: Part 50 of the Illinois Administrative Code (http://www.ilga.gov/commission/jcar/admincode/059/05900050sections.html) requires the reporting and investigation of possible abuse or neglect occurring in either state-operated facilities or community agencies that are licensed or funded by the Office of Developmental Disabilities or the Office of Mental Health. In situations of abuse or neglect, the employee or their job coach (contracted by the State) assumes the role of "required reporter". The required reporter must call the Office of Inspector General (OIG) hotline at 1-800-368-1463.

OIG reports the results of investigations to the agency directors, who use the report to determine preventive and disciplinary action. If the OIG substantiates the reported abuse, the agency is required to submit a written response to the Quality Assurance Bureau. The agency may also be required to submit supporting documentation for any action they claim to have taken in the written response. Additionally, when an employee is responsible for physical or sexual abuse or egregious neglect, OIG forwards that employee's identity to the Department of Public Health Nurse Aide Registry.

The Illinois Department of Human Services, Office of Inspector General (OIG), Adults with Disabilities Abuse Program receives and assesses reports about adults whose disabilities impair their ability to protect themselves from abuse, neglect or exploitation in their own home. After OIG determines that there is a need to prevent abuse, and that the individual desires services, the Program refers him or her to the appropriate office within the department to develop and implement a service plan. Any adult (between 18 and 59 years old) who has been abused, neglected or exploited by a person who shares his or her private, unlicensed home and who has mental or physical disabilities that impair his or her ability to seek or obtain protection is covered by this Program. The OIG hotline is 1-800-368-1463. For more information, contact:

To report abuse occurring in an Intermediate Care Facility for the Developmentally Disabled (ICF/DD) or other healthcare facility, contact:

To report abuse of an adult with developmental disabilities who is over age 60 and living in a private home, contact:

Protection and Advocacy

Protection and Advocacy in Illinois is administered by Equip for Equality. Equip for Equality advances the human and civil rights of children and adults with mental and physical disabilities in Illinois through its various programs, including Self-Advocacy Assistance, Legal Services Program, Training Institute on Disability Rights, Public Policy Program and Abuse Investigation Unit. Equip for Equality strives to enhance people's ability to advocate on their own behalf, promotes full inclusion of people with disabilities, challenges discriminatory practices, ensures that services and supports are provided in the least restrictive environment, protects the fundamental right of self-determination, and seeks to prevent abuse and neglect in community programs, nursing homes, hospitals and state-operated institutions.

The goals of the Abuse Investigation Unit are to ensure that individuals with disabilities are safe, that public and private facilities and programs provide quality treatment and programming, and that State oversight and investigative systems are effective.

An independent, private, not-for-profit organization designated by the governor in 1985 to implement the federally mandated Protection and Advocacy (P&A) System in Illinois, Equip for Equality has broad federal and state statutory powers. These powers include broad access to private and public facilities, their participants and staff, and service recipient records and other facility documents. The mission of Equip for Equality is to advance the human and civil rights of children and adults with physical and mental disabilities in Illinois. It is the only statewide, cross-disability, comprehensive advocacy organization providing self-advocacy assistance, legal services, and disability rights education while also engaging in public policy and legislative advocacy and conducting abuse investigations and other oversight activities.

Established in 2000,the Illinois Department of Human Services Statewide Advisory Council on Developmental Disabilities provides a forum for various stakeholders in the developmental disabilities service system to come together and advise the Division of Developmental Disabilities on a host of issues. Council members include individuals with developmental disabilities, family members of individuals with developmental disabilities, service providers, and other professionals. Information about the advisory council and its meetings is available by phone: