Active Projects

IDD System Redesign Coalition

Five Illinois groups make up the Illinois Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (IDD) System Redesign Coalition. These groups are:

• Illinois Association of Rehabilitation Facilities
• The Institute on Public Policy for People with Disabilities
• The Center for Developmental Disabilities and Community Supports
• The Arc of Illinois
• UIC Institute of Disability and Human Development (IDHD)

The Coalition tries to make things better in the Illinois IDD system. The Coalition works with other partners, too. The Coleman Foundation pays for the Coalition’s work. IDHD researchers helped The Arc get feedback from people in Illinois who are part of the IDD system. IDHD created an online survey to ask people about their needs. IDHD also looked at case management in other states to see what Illinois can learn from them. IDHD is planning to make a website with data. The data will support advocacy to make things better in Illinois. Learn more about our work at https://disabilitypartnersil.org.

Funding: The Coleman Foundation

Aspire Employment Training Program

Aspire’s Employment Training Program, funded by the federal government, gives young adults with disabilities real work experience in growing job fields. The goal is to prepare them for future jobs. The study will show how well the program works to learn of the results it has for young adults with disabilities who are seeking jobs.

Researchers will check the program to see if it can grow into other types of work. To do this, surveys and interviews will assist the research team to learn about trainees’ experiences. Aspire Program job coaches will also check and record skills of trainees before and after training. The evaluation will help make the program better. It will also guide future planning and meet funder requirements. The assessment could lead to the creation of a job training model that can be used in other types of jobs and places.

Funding:  Aspire of IL

Money Follows the Person Environmental Scan

UIC looked at home and community-based services in Illinois. This information scan will inform Illinois’ second implementation of Money Follows the Person, or MFP. Under MFP, States receive more federal money for moving people to the community. People covered are those with disabilities and older adults. Illinois participated in Money Follows the Person the first time from 2009 to 2017. In 2022, the federal government gave five states/territories money to plan for MFP. These states were not using MFP in 2022. Illinois was one of the five states. The scan identifies barriers to community living. The scan also identifies ways to support community living.

Funding: Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services

Analysis of Movement from Illinois State-Operated Developmental Centers

Since 2001, UIC has analyzed the transitions of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) out of Illinois state-operated developmental centers (SODCs). In 2001, Illinois had ten SODCs. Three SODCs have closed since 2001. Lincoln Developmental Center closed in 2002. Howe Developmental Center closed in 2010. Jacksonville Developmental Center closed in 2012. Illinois currently operates seven SODCs:

• Fox Developmental Center (Dwight)
• Mabley Developmental Center (Dixon)
• Shapiro Developmental Center (Kankakee)
• Murray Developmental Center (Centralia)
• Kiley Developmental Center (Waukegan)
• Choate Developmental Center (Anna)
• Ludeman Developmental Center (Park Forest)

The Illinois Department of Human Services, Division of Developmental Disabilities provides data for each of the seven SODCs. The reports include:

• Descriptive statistics of the number of transitions
• The demographics and characteristics of people who leave
• The types of settings people go to
• The extent to which people stay in their post-transition settings
• Why people return to a SODC and technical assistance receipt
• A comparison of demographics and characteristics across transition settings
• The demographics and characteristics of people who died in a SODC or after they left
• The demographics and characteristics of people who leave for therapy but will return

Funding: Illinois Department of Human Services

Publications