Life Skills on the Job: How Our Program Helps Disabled Participants Earn Their First Paychecks

Maria, Amilcar, and Jorge with their program leader, coach, and mentor, Jovan.

Today is International Day of Disability Acceptance. Observed every January 20, the day promotes social acceptance of people with disabilities and honors the legacy of disability advocate Annie Hopkins, who championed the idea of acceptance over mere tolerance. It’s a reminder to embrace difference, educate our communities, and empower one another.

The need for acceptance and opportunity is clear. People with cognitive disabilities experience unemployment at nearly three times the rate of those without, and nearly 30% of working-age adults with cognitive disabilities have never held a job. In addition, discriminatory practices in some states still allow workers with disabilities to be paid far below minimum wage—sometimes as little as $1.50 per hour.

At Association House of Chicago, our Life Skills Education (LSE) program works every day to change those statistics by creating meaningful, paid employment opportunities for people with cognitive disabilities—right here within our agency and with trusted partners.

For LSE participant Jorge, whose dream job is coaching for the Special Olympics, work is about more than a paycheck—it’s about purpose and pride. “When I work, my focus is my family and my friends,” he says.

“I want to show my family I can do this, and my friends that they can too.” Through roles supporting our food pantry and community spaces, Jorge builds confidence and community connection that ripple far beyond the job itself.

Similarly, Maria has used her earnings to care for the things that matter to her.

“With the money I earned from my job, I saved up and got a harness and shampoo for my dogs,” she says. In doing so, she’s taken ownership of her goals and independence in a deeply personal way.

She dreams of one day lending a hand in a veterinarian's office, turning her passion for animals into work she cares about.

Amilcar, whose first jobs were at Skyline Design and Association House, reflects on the life skills he’s gained: “I learned how important it is to be on time, get better at your skills, and manage my money.” These lessons aren’t just practical—they’re empowering, helping reshape what work can mean for someone with cognitive differences.

Amilcar's artistic eye has made him the go-to photographer for program parties and events, but he hopes to involve it in a job of his own one day.

Inside Association House, more than 30 participants are employed at competitive wages above Chicago’s minimum wage, gaining real work experience while they attend LSE. We also advocate for systemic change; for example, Illinois recently passed the Dignity in Pay Act, closing the loophole for subminimum wage work.

On this International Day of Disability Acceptance, we celebrate the voices, talents, and contributions of people with disabilities—affirming that acceptance means creating real opportunities so everyone can thrive, belong, and be valued for their work and worth. ▪

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Learn more about Life Skills Education and other disability support at Association House here.

Find information on how to create more disability access in your workplace through resources provided by Access Living Metro Chicago.