
SCC Board President Ray Baker's Letter to the Editor of the Chicago Sun-Times
The Chicago Sun-Times article “ ‘Disability cliff’ awaits many young adults after high school” sheds light on a critical issue impacting individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. After aging out of public school at 22, many are left without a clear path forward, putting their hard-earned skills and potential at risk.
At Special Children’s Charities, we’ve worked for over 55 years to address this gap. As a driving force behind inclusion and empowerment for children and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities throughout Chicago, we have funded programs across every neighborhood, ensuring individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities have access to meaningful opportunities. Through longstanding partnerships with the Chicago Park District and Chicago Public Schools, we have worked to expand inclusive programming.
In 2022, we partnered with City Colleges of Chicago to launch the After 22 Program, a first-of-its-kind initiative in Chicago designed specifically for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. After 22 offers tailored courses, job coaching, internships and job placement support, providing students with opportunities to build skills, gain confidence and secure meaningful employment.
The individuals highlighted in your story, Carlos Mejia and Adrien Dancy, demonstrate the immense value people with disabilities bring to the workforce. Programs like After 22 help unlock their potential and give them the opportunities they need to succeed.
However, programs like these can’t meet the demand alone. In addition to state-funded programming, philanthropic organizations, foundations, and businesses must step forward to expand opportunities for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. We urge businesses to actively seek out and hire individuals with disabilities and ensure they have the necessary support to thrive. We call on other philanthropic organizations and foundations to make long-term commitments to programs like After 22, ensuring sustainable opportunities for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
Programs like After 22 are a step in the right direction, but we must work toward a future where all young adults have options after high school.
Together, we can make Chicago a national leader in inclusion — one where every person, regardless of ability, has the opportunity to contribute and thrive.