Illinois: A State of Shame

Why did we need to create a new, private model? Because our current, state-sponsored system is failing individuals with disabilities, their families, and our overall society. Just look at the statistics.

In Illinois, individuals with disabilities will have fewer options:
• Only 11% enroll in two to four year colleges or vocational/technical programs upon graduation from high school compared to 67% of their non-disabled peers.
• Only 30% will be employed 3 to 5 years after high school, compared to 85% of their peers without disabilities.
• 34% of people with disabilities live in households with a total income of $15,000 or less compared to 12% of Americans without disabilities.

And, in Illinois, they have significantly fewer supported housing options:
• 85% of adult individuals with disabilities live at home as dependents.
• 30,000 individuals currently are living with caregivers over the age of 60.
• Fewer than 100 residential openings are available statewide in Illinois.
• Of the 1.2 million individuals with disabilities between the ages of 21-64 living in Illinois, only 8.5% are receiving residential or support services through the state.
• Only 14.4% of available funds go directly to individuals with disabilities who can then choose how to spend the money to arrange for the residential or support services that they need.

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