A Partner In
CARF has accredited Parents Alliance Employment Project for its Employment Services: Community Employment Services in Job Development, Job Supports, and Job Site Training Programs.	About Us
	Our Mission: The Parents Alliance Employment Project is an organization devoted to improving the quality of life for people with disabilities through individualized employment services. Our History: The Parents Alliance Employment Project has existed since 1982 to assist individuals with disabilities to obtain and maintain community based employment. The Project is unique in that it was parent initiated, and operated for many years staffed solely by parent volunteers. This network of parents had fought for mainstreaming their children in the public school system. They became proactive when the only employment option for their developmentally disabled young adults was a sheltered workshop placement. Our Funding: The Project relied on donations from service clubs and a strictly volunteer staff until 1985 when the Illinois Department Of Human Services-Division of Rehabilitation Services (DHS-DRS) chose the agency as one of 26 sites in Illinois to develop Supported Employment programs for persons with disabilities to integrate into their local business communities. Today, the Project receives funding from DRS, DuPage County Human Services, local community high schools, private foundations, service clubs, and individual donations. The Parents Alliance Employment Project is a tax-exempt nonprofit organization under Section 501(c) (3) of the Internal Revenue Code. Our Outcomes: In 2007, PAEP placed 32 individuals with disabilities into community employment, working on average 17.5 hours per week, making on average $7.36/hour. Our Board of Directors: The Board of Directors is committed to the philosophy of integration of individuals with disabilities. The Board is represented by members from the general community including parents, employers, educators, consumers and various professionals. Pat Loy, Spectrum Vocational Services, Chairperson Gina Strafford, DuPage County Human Services, Vice-Chairperson Laura Myers, Prairie State Legal Services, Secretary Kevin Bradley, McDonald’s Corporation Steve Gustis, College of DuPage Rosalie Scrivo, Lisle High School Chuck Sutcliff, DuPage Workforce Development Our 2008-2012 Long-Range Plan Parents Alliance Employment Project has been awarded grant dollars through the AT&T Foundation to collaborate with the DuPage County Workforce Development Division to increase exposure of the interactive, web-based application www.illinoisworkNet.com portal to individuals with disabilities. In June 2005, the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) launched a user-friendly, on-line portal, Illinois workNet, for job seekers and businesses to connect to resources and services to better meet the workforce needs of Illinois communities. Supported by Governor, Rod R. Blagojevich, Illinois workNet is meant to serve as the “one-stop” virtual on-line resource for all employment related needs. Based on this new initiative, PAEP has entered into an official agreement with the local Workforce Investment Area to be the lead agency of DuPage County to provide local content, and on-line outreach of the portal to individuals with disabilities. As part of the agreement, PAEP staff have become Certified Illinois workNet Advisors (CIWA’s), in order to become properly trained in using this technology to assist persons with disabilities locate career transition assistance, and more importantly, referrals to support services such as transportation. PAEP staff are equipped to introduce Illinois workNet and educate people with disabilities on how to use the resources within the site, including downloadable forms and hands-on interactive job search tools. Sponsored by the AT&T Foundation, PAEP is offering on-going demonstrations of www.illinoisworkNet.com to local organizations that support individuals with disabilities to assist them in reaching their employment goals. If you are interested in learning more about this program, please contact Kristen Crampton at 630-955-2075 or kcrampton@parents-alliance.org
2525 Cabot Dr. Suite 302, Lisle, IL 60532 Phone: 630.955.2079 Fax: 630.955.2080 TTY: 630.955.2098