[OCT. 8, 2005] SPRINGFIELD -- On Wednesday, the Illinois
Department of Human Services recognized numerous companies for their
commitment to hiring people with disabilities. Grace Hou, assistant
secretary of the department, joined Robert F. Kilbury, Rh.D.,
director of the Division of Rehabilitation Services, in the official
recognition. Employers were selected to receive awards for their
willingness to hire, retain and promote significant numbers of
people with disabilities in quality jobs.
More than 180 people attended the fifth annual
employer workshop and recognition breakfast, which was at the Crowne
Plaza in Springfield. The event included an award ceremony; a
keynote address by Pamela Creager, human resources manager of Peoria
Productions; a presentation by Marianne Jodie, who shared the
challenges she encountered in employment; and two workshops. Leah
Gerlach, accommodations specialist with the Deicke Center for Visual
Rehabilitation, presented a workshop on workplace accommodations.
Ingrid Kays, recruiter with Jewel-Osco, presented a workshop on best
practices of hiring people through the Division of Rehabilitation
Services.
"Illinois' vocational rehabilitation program
continues to be nationally recognized for its extraordinary success
in helping people with disabilities find meaningful employment," Hou
said. "Undoubtedly, the positive relationships our DRS staff have
cultivated with many employers throughout Illinois have played a
critical role in this success. I commend all of the employers who
are here today, because they have demonstrated their willingness to
tap into a pool of skilled, productive and conscientious workers."
In the past three years, a phenomenal 22,662
Illinoisans with disabilities entered into competitive employment,
according to statistics from the Department of Human Services and
its Division of Rehabilitation Services. Each vocational
rehabilitation customer who became employed in fiscal 2005 is
expected to earn approximately $10,474 more per year after receiving
DRS services. Based on this estimate, the 5,875 customers who became
employed in fiscal 2005 can expect to earn $61.5 million more in the
next year than their prior level of earnings. In addition to helping
these individuals move toward becoming self-sufficient, the tax
revenue generated by this $61.5 million in earnings has an extremely
positive effect on the state.
According to department statistics, the average
hourly wage for DRS customers has steadily increased from $8.36 in
2003 to $9.01 in 2005. Equally important, the percentage of people
with disabilities who receive employer-provided health insurance
increased from 27 percent in 2003 to 29 percent in 2005.
During the breakfast ceremony, Sen. Richard J.
Durbin received the State Achievement Award for his ongoing
commitment to enhancing the quality of life for people with
disabilities through advocacy and legislation. Wal-Mart, recognized
as Employer of the Year, was honored for its ongoing partnership
with DRS and for employing a significant number of people with
disabilities in quality jobs in Illinois.
The winner of the Ongoing Support Award was
Staybridge Hotel in Springfield. Other nominees were A.B.M., St.
Louis, Mo; AMEREN Corp., Decatur; Bath and Body Works, Springfield;
Beginning Steps, Rochester; Bob Evans, Springfield; Buckley's
Prairie Landscaping, Springfield; Bunn Capitol, Springfield;
Chartwells at Quincy University, Quincy; Contech Construction
Products, Springfield; Cracker Barrel, Springfield; Culver's,
Springfield; Denmen Linen Service, Quincy; Denny's Restaurant,
Springfield; ELA Security, Springfield; Famous Barr, St. Louis, Mo.;
Finks Superior Cleaners, Springfield; Frito-Lay, Champaign; Good
Samaritan Home, Quincy; Guiffre Buick, Springfield; Hanson
Professional Services Inc., Springfield; Hardee's, Springfield;
Illinois Department of Transportation, Springfield; Isringhausen
Imports, Springfield; J & S Vending, Springfield; Jacksonville Area
Center for Independent Living, Jacksonville; Jewel-Osco,
Springfield; MacMurray College, Jacksonville; Maintenance Supply,
Springfield; Mario's Italian Pizza, Springfield; McDonald's,
Springfield; Memorial Medical Center, Springfield; Moscardelli
Moving Inc., Springfield; Papa John's Pizza, Springfield; Pizza Hut,
Springfield; Quincy Senior and Family Resource Center, Quincy;
Renaissance Grand, St. Louis, Mo.; Richland Community College,
Decatur; Ryan's Family Steak House, Swansea; St. John's Hospital,
Springfield; St. Joseph's Home, Springfield; Spherion, Normal;
Springfield Clinic, Springfield; Springfield Urban League Inc.,
Springfield; Taco Bell, Springfield; Truzing Tarps, Farmersville;
Wal-Mart, Springfield; and Wendy's, Jacksonville.
The Extra Mile Award went to Convergy's of Hazelwood, Mo. Other
nominees were AutoZone, Springfield; Best Buy, Springfield; Capital
CareCenter LLC, Springfield; Comfort Inn, Jacksonville; Corrective
Asphalt Materials, South Roxana; Custom Staffing, Granite City;
Family Video, Springfield; Home Depot, Quincy; Horace Mann
Insurance, Springfield; Kentucky Fried Chicken, Springfield; Kmart,
Springfield; Kroger, Peoria; McDonald's, Carmi; McDonald's,
Springfield; Maverick Steak House, Springfield; Mediacall Group,
Macomb; Old Country Buffet, Springfield; Peoria Charter Coach
Company, Peoria; President Abraham Lincoln Hotel, Springfield; Red
Lobster, Springfield; Sam's Club, Springfield; Sangamon Care Center,
Springfield; Shop N' Save, Springfield; State Journal Register,
Springfield; and The Bike Shop, Macomb.
The Moline
Dispatch Publishing Company, Moline, was given the Spotlight Award
for excellence in reporting on people with disabilities and creating
community awareness of services provided through the DHS-DRS office
in Moline. The News Gazette, Champaign, was also nominated for the
award.
The Director's Personal Achievement Award was
presented to Andrew Niebrugge. The Governor's Award was given to the
Jewel-Osco Corporation, and Ingrid Kays, recruiter with Jewel-Osco,
received the DHS Secretary's Award.
"On behalf of DRS, I want to personally thank all
employers who have hired individuals with a disability," said Robert
Kilbury, director. "These employers have found qualified, dedicated
employees, and thousands of people with disabilities are well on
their way to becoming self-sufficient participants in our society.
While we are celebrating our success today, much more needs to be
done if we are to bring down the unacceptably high unemployment rate
for people with disabilities. I encourage other Illinois companies
to follow the example of these businesses and join us in building a
stronger work force."
Outstanding employers in the Chicago area will be
announced at an employer workshop and recognition breakfast at the
Hyatt Regency O'Hare on Oct. 20.
As Illinois' lead agency serving individuals with
disabilities, the Division of Rehabilitation Services helps people
with disabilities prepare for and find quality employment that pays
a living wage and offers opportunities for advancement. The agency
works closely with employers through its corporate business partner
initiative to match them with qualified individuals with the skills
and qualities they need. As a division of the Illinois Department of
Human Services, DRS also offers a wide range of support services to
assist eligible individuals with disabilities in obtaining and
maintaining employment.
For more information about hiring people with
disabilities and about other services provided by DHS-DRS in the
Springfield area, call (217) 782-483 by voice or TTY.
