Aspire Employment Training Program
Grant
Disability Innovation Fund, Creating a 21st Century Workforce of Youth and Adults with Disabilities - Assistance Listing Number 84.421F
Grant Number
H421F240008
Project Topic Areas
Early Intervention and Workforce Reintegration Strategies for Disconnected Youth and/or Disconnected Adults with Disabilities
Grantee Name
Aspire of Illinois
Grantee Service Areas
Chicagoland, surrounding suburbs, Southeast Wisconsin, and virtual programs
Grantee Disability Focus
Intellectual or Cognitive Disability
Project Award Amount
$9,267,122.00
Aspire’s Employment Training Program helps youth and adults with disabilities find jobs in the warehouse/distribution sector and other industries through competitive integrated employment. Serving individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities in Chicago, it supports the shift from sheltered workshops offering sub-minimum wages to meaningful competitive integrated employment. The program provides simulated job training, on-the-job experience, paid internships, virtual life coaching, and transportation assistance. Aspire, with partners like James Emmett Consulting, aims to connect 227 individuals with disabilities to living-wage jobs and create a replicable model to expand access to competitive employment.