Anixter Center Establishes Inclusive Pathways Chicago: Healthcare

Anixter Center, a 100-year-old non-profit organization that provides an array of services and supports for people with disabilities and related challenges, has been awarded a two-year, $400,000 Signature Employment Grant from Kessler Foundation. It is part of $2.5 million in grants awarded by Kessler Foundation in 2018 to organizations across the U.S. to support initiatives that create and expand job training and employment opportunities for people with disabilities.

Partners in the Inclusive Pathways Chicago: Healthcare project who will be implementing the ambitious agenda funded by the Kessler Foundation’s generous grant include Anixter Center, Safer Foundation, Southside Occupational Academy and two area health and hospital systems, Sinai Health System and University of Chicago Medicine. The required matching funding is provided by the Chicago Community Trust Disabilities Fund.

The Inclusive Pathways Chicago: Healthcare project has been designed to assist healthcare workforce employers in implementing equity, diversity, and inclusion strategies that will result in reducing barriers to employment and job retention for people with disabilities, including those with previous justice system involvement. It is built upon the idea that nonprofit partners are uniquely qualified to match job candidates with disabilities to employers seeking to hire and retain diverse, dedicated talent. Partners in this project will embed workforce services directly within the employer site and employment culture. By expanding the scope of traditional human resources functions through a menu of support services for employees with disabilities, and by serving as an in-house training and technical assistance arm, partners will address disability-related needs and reduce statutory barriers.

“The healthcare sector provides promising opportunities for the employment of people with disabilities,” stated Rebecca Clark, President and CEO of Anixter Center. “With the generous support of Kessler Foundation and Chicago Community Trust Disabilities Fund, and the willingness of our visionary partners in this initiative, our program model of embedding disability services into the HR department of hospitals can produce lasting change in the hiring system of these employers as they strive to help support and improve the economic vitality of their surrounding communities,” she added.

There are more than 400,000 working age people with disabilities in the Chicagoland area. People with disabilities have the lowest employment rates and highest poverty rates of any minority group. Additionally, evidence indicates that the justice system involved population is three times more likely to report having a disability. These individuals face significant barriers to employment. However, once they secure meaningful employment, their likelihood of recidivism drops dramatically.

“An important part of Sinai Health System’s mission is workforce development and providing employment and career opportunities to members of the community. Partnering with Anixter Center on Inclusive Pathways Chicago: Healthcare is a tremendous way to achieve our workforce development goals and create lasting change in our communities and organization,” stated John Figiel, System Director, Talent Management, Sinai Health System.

Following completion of the demonstration model, collaborative relationships between educational, disability, and justice involved organizations will remain and serve as replicable examples to address employment needs of the healthcare industry and other employment sectors.

“People living with disabilities are striving to work,” explained Elaine E. Katz, MS, CCC-SLP, senior vice president for grants and communications at Kessler Foundation. “Our research indicates more than 68% are currently working, looking for work, or have worked since the onset of their disability. By supporting the expansion of job training and by examining how to remove barriers to hiring and retaining people with disabilities who have prior justice system involvement; we can make real progress in expanding employment opportunities for those with disabilities.”