The Central Management Services Division of Examining and Counseling administers several programs and services for people with disabilities through the Disabled Workers Program. The Disabled Workers Program is conducted through the Springfield Assessment Center. The Alternative Employment Program (AEP), the Successful Disability (SD) Opportunities Program, and the Supported Employment Program (SEP) are administered to assist persons with disabilities pursuing state employment. The Accommodated Testing Program is administered to provide persons with disabilities testing assistance. For more information regarding any of the programs offered by the CMS Disabled Workers Program, you may contact:
CMS Disabled Workers Program Coordinator
Springfield Assessment Center
130 W. Mason Street
Springfield, IL 62702
217/524-7514 (Voice)
800/526-0844 (TTY)
Alternative Employment Program (AEP)
- The Alternative Employment Program was established by law to assist in finding alternative employment opportunities for certified employees who are on an approved leave of absence due to a work related or non-work related disability which precludes the performance of their current job duties.
- The employee must be determined by a physician to be permanently and totally disabled from performing his/her current job duties but not duties of any other position.
- Interested certified employees who meet the program criteria may inquire about the program through their agency and receive an alternative employment package.
- Participation in the program is voluntary and will not affect disability benefits if participation is declined.
- The agency must explore all reasonable accommodations available to the employee and reemployment opportunities within their agency before forwarding the package to CMS.
- Upon approval of the application, alternative position titles are recommended for the employee to establish eligibility. Titles recommended may only represent lateral or downward appointments.
- Applicants who meet the requirements for the selected position titles are issued an AE grade and their name is placed on the AE eligibility list for the titles and counties selected.
- AE grades are valid for a two-year period and participation in the program is a maximum of two years.
- An alternative employment candidate who declines to be interviewed or refuses an offer of employment will be disqualified from continued participation in the program.
- A candidate who accepts a position through the program must resign from his/her leave of absence position in order to complete a six-month probationary period or an approved training period for trainee titles.
- Acceptance of a position via alternative employment terminates the candidate participation in the program and all existing AE grades are no longer valid.
Successful Disability (SD) Opportunities Program
- The Successful Disability Opportunities Program provides persons with disabilities a greater access to employment opportunities with the State.
- Applicants must be a customer of the Division of Rehabilitation Services and have a Certificate of Eligibility completed by their Department of Human Services/Division of Rehabilitation Services' vocational rehabilitation counselor for each title on file at the time of testing.
- Applicants are able to select the SD option at the same time as they are taking a test for an open competitive position title. Immediately upon completion of the test and receiving a passing grade, in addition to their open competitive grade, their SD grade will be issued.
- SD grades are valid for one year.
- An agency may request the SD eligible list when there is a vacancy to be filled by other means.
Supported Employment Programs (SEP)
- The Supported Employment Program assists candidates whose disability seriously limits their functional capacities but who can perform certain jobs in State government with ongoing assistance of a job coach, technological support and/or other assistive technology.
- The program is set up for candidates seeking first-time employment with State government.
- The hiring agency has to be willing to provide whatever support (technological or job coach) the applicant needs and have the support lined up before starting the selection process.
- The support is provided until such time as it is no longer needed.
- Supported Employment candidates must serve a successful trial period of at least 3 months but no more than 12 months before the hiring agency can petition CMS for an SE appointment into the targeted title.
- If there is a match with the agency, the agency submits the candidates application to CMS to begin the process to place the supported employee on the open competitive eligible listing (SE option) for the targeted position title.
Accommodated Testing Program
- The Accommodated Testing Program provides persons with disabilities the opportunity to schedule accommodated testing at all five Assessment Centers around the State (Chicago, Springfield, Marion, Champaign and Rockford).
- The service is available upon request and appropriate certification of an individual’s disability. Certification can be a statement from a physician, psychiatrist, school official or a Department of Human Services/Division of Rehabilitation Services' rehabilitation counselor.
- Accommodations include: Braille exams, a reader and/or marker for the exam, a certified American Sign Language (ASL) interpreter, Zoom Text, High Contrast, closed-captioning and extra time.
- The Assessment Center sites are accessible and have computer test stations with larger monitors and tables that adjust to accommodate wheel chairs.
Please Note: Hiring preference is given to Illinois residents.