‘They want to work’: Suburbanites with disabilities find opportunity at Carol Stream expo
Gabriela Wojciechowski and her son, Ivan, took their time perusing over 60 booths Thursday at a Disability Resource and Job Placement Expo in Carol Stream.
Ivan, who studies horticulture and culinary arts among other subjects at the College of DuPage, was interested in job leads.
“We have applied everywhere, but we haven’t heard back,” Wojciechowski said of her adult son, who has Down syndrome.
“I think it’s wonderful they have this for families with children with disabilities,” the Bolingbrook mom said.
Hundreds of suburbanites took in the exhibits at the event organized by state Sen. Seth Lewis of Bartlett.
It was the second expo Lewis sponsored after supporting the Dignity of Pay Act, which the Illinois General Assembly passed in November 2024.
The first in 2025 was such a success it prompted the Bartlett Republican to stage another.
A 2023 Arc of Illinois report ranked Illinois 49th in the U.S. for services to people with disabilities, “and I believe we can do better,” Lewis said.
The expo was aimed at people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Along with job placement and training services, groups offering transportation, health, legal, financial and technical support attended, as well as state agencies.
Lewis noted that agencies from the secretary of state to the treasurer’s offices and the Illinois Department of Public Health have specialized programs for disabled residents but “nobody really knows about it.”
Diaonna Cain, Ray Graham Association administrator of employment services, said the disability advocacy group has found jobs for suburbanites ranging from retail to hospitality and other fields.
“They want to work, and they want to be part of the community,” she said.
Eileen Major was looking for leads for her 65-year-old sister, who has mental-health disabilities.
The sister’s workshop closed amid COVID-19, “so there’s no work for her anymore. I’m just trying to look for opportunities. Something to keep her socially interactive.”
Jennifer Levitt with Countryside-based Helping Hand said there’s employment available at grocery stores, senior residences and manufacturing. She also cited a client who works as a certified surgical technician
“There’s a big span of people with developmental and intellectual disabilities,” Levitt said. “We try to customize what they’re looking for to fit that particular person.”
Meanwhile, Jim Champion and his support dog Bowie demonstrated a different type of service.
Champion, who is a disabled veteran, volunteers for Paws Giving Independence. The Peoria-based organization provides people with service dogs free of charge.
“The dogs, the equipment, the leash, you don’t pay a dime,” he said. “They train the service dog for what your needs are. If you need a dog for mobility, they train the dog for mobility. If you need a dog to complete tasks, they train the dog for that.”
mpyke@dailyherald.com