West Suburban Chamber of Commerce & Industry Foundation Wins National Award for Media from the National Rehabilitation Association

Hodgkins, IL – On Saturday, August 25, at the Hyatt Regency McCormick Place, WSCCI Foundation will be awarded the National Award for Media for their production of the training DVD Improving Customer Service for People with Disabilities. In 2011 the Illinois Rehabilitation Association awarded The Foundation the Service Award for Outstanding Performance in Connection with Serving Individuals With Disabilities. The training DVD is available on the West Suburban Chamber of Commerce Foundation website, wsccif.org, and for sale at the Chamber offices.

Charlene Vickery, Foundation Board Chair, said, “This high-quality 8 minute training DVD, is an attempt to break down barriers of service, putting a face and a story before the disability so that the people on the front line of customer service see a person, not a handicap or a challenge.”

West Suburban business owner and Chamber member Gino Blando, Marry Me Jewelry, commented, “I wish to compliment and applaud the work done by the WSCCI Foundation. My daughter, Melanie, has a developmental disability and has been treated poorly in some businesses, as have many others with disabilities. Melanie, 23 years old, is attending Southern Illinois University (SIU) in a living skills program funded by the Department of Rehabilitation. She is thrilled to be in
college. In our hearts and minds we look forward to the day she is independent
and can expect to be treated with respect.”

WSCCI has a long history of service to all members of the community.  Their partnership with the LaGrange Area Department of Special Education has provided the opportunity to ensure that “all members” included people with disabilities, of all ages.  Since this partnership began 10 years ago, programs have been developed and instituted impacting over 100 Transitioning Students with Autism.   In 2004, the EmployAlliance project initiated the construction of networks of job developers across Illinois. EmployAlliance impacted more than 400 people with disabilities, placing them in jobs and training with over 200 businesses, and assisting employers with hiring and supporting their workers.  In 2006, EmployAlliance was honored by the State of Illinois Workforce Board for Most Innovative Program.  The project staff were also involved in the creation of the Chicago Chamber of Commerce disabiltyworks program and the job developers network continues to exist today.

 Another partnership project that paved the road to the award-winning
training video was BASIC (Business Approach to Social Integration and
Communication). BASIC ensured the employment of more than 220 people with
social communication disorders. In addition, it educated hundreds of businesses
on universal environmental strategies of setting up their workplace to strengthen communication for all employees.  In addition, the West Suburban Chamber partner-produced Pathways to Self-Advocacy. Pathways, funded by the IllinoisDivision on Developmental Disabilities, brought together 55 young adults, ages 16-24, for more than two years. This program used an Academy model to teach self-advocacy skills across home, school and community.

Contact Information:

West Suburban Chamber of Commerce &
Industry Foundation –   Katherine Leibforth, Foundation Director –
708-387-7550 or katherinel@wscci.org.
EmployAlliance/ LADSE – Karen Steffan, Program Director – 708-482-1170
or karensteffan@ladse.org.