Perhaps the “scariest” thing about having a disability is worry about the future. Examples of questions that linger on the minds of those affected by disability and their loved ones are: “How will I support myself?” “What will my loved one do when I am gone?” and “How will I fit in in the ‘real world’ after I am done with school?” 

 

Unfortunately, these fears are not unwarranted because the odds of finding meaningful, self-sufficient employment are not high for persons with disabilities.

 

In 2007, Cornell University reported a 42 percent gap in the employment of people with disabilities compared to people without a disability. This means 79.7 percent of people without a disability are employed while only 37.7 percent of people with disabilities are employed.  

 

In order to change this statistic, new opportunities for jobs are needed which will open doors for people with disabilities for the 21st Century. 

 

Information technology is one employment area that will see a labor shortage in the future, and presents a great opportunity for people with disabilities to expand into. 

 

Of the 30 fastest growing occupations covered in the 2008-09 Occupational Outlook Handbook, one in five is directly related to the information technology industry.

 

As the number of younger workers shrink in the overall population, attracting and retaining experienced and reliable workers in technology must become a core business strategy for all employers. Hence, a logical partnership exists between the information technology industry, currently experiencing a labor shortage, and students with disabilities looking to expand their employment opportunities in the 21’st century.

 

For the first time in Illinois, Disabilityworks at the Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce and the Chicago Mayor’s Office for People with Disabilities MOPD are offering a summer internship program designed specifically for Chicago high school and college students with disabilities interested in careers in information technology (IT).

 

The TechWorks internship program will provide 20 students with the exclusive opportunity to participate in an 11 week IT internship with some of Chicago’s most prestigious corporations. 

 

     The paid and unpaid internships are supported by a grant from the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity DCEO which is made possible through the leadership of Director Jack Lavin and is part of Governor Rod Blagojevich’s Workforce Development Initiative. The TechWorks Initiative is administered through disabilityworks at the Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce, and the Chicago Mayor’s Office for People with Disabilities (MOPD), which provides technical assistance.