The Illinois Council on Developmental Disabilities (ICDD) has announced a new statewide initiative aimed at advancing the Dignity in Pay Act through technical assistance. The council will invest $354,673 in Economic Systems, Inc. (EconSys) to lead the project from December 2025 through September 2026.
The goal of the initiative is to help Illinois move from planning to action on the Dignity in Pay Act by supporting service providers and state agencies as they phase out subminimum wage employment and expand opportunities for competitive integrated employment (CIE) for people with developmental disabilities.
Illinois’ Dignity in Pay Act established a multi-year plan to end the use of 14(c) subminimum wage certificates and increase CIE opportunities across the state. As the 19th state to pass such legislation, Illinois aims to be a leader in this national effort.
According to ICDD, “The From Promise to Progress Technical Assistance (TA) project will help sustain this momentum by advancing provider transformation, inter-agency coordination, and statewide data infrastructure to ensure measurable progress toward ending subminimum wage employment for individuals with developmental disabilities.”
EconSys will work with a team of nationally recognized experts in Employment First and provider transformation. These include Lisa Mills, Rachel Pollock, Duane Shumate, Dale Verstegen, Shannon Webb, Abby Cooper, and Marc Gold & Associates.
A voluntary statewide survey will assess where 14(c) providers stand in their transition process. The survey is expected to identify progress made so far as well as barriers that remain. Findings from the survey will inform how technical assistance is delivered and help build a baseline for measuring future progress.
At least 18 providers can apply for intensive one-on-one technical assistance—up to 25 hours of direct support—to develop and implement their transformation plans. All current 14(c) providers who opt in will be organized into four cohorts; one cohort will focus specifically on customized employment. Monthly meetings, training sessions, peer learning opportunities, and open office hours are planned as part of the support structure.
Key state agencies involved include the Division of Developmental Disabilities, Division of Rehabilitation Services, Illinois Department of Employment Services, Illinois Department of Labor, among others. Policy experts will collaborate with these agencies on implementation projects tied to funding alignment and policies that support competitive integrated employment.
The project also seeks to strengthen data infrastructure so that individuals transitioning from subminimum wage jobs can be tracked over time using provider data and state systems. Providers may choose whether or not to participate in this tracking effort.
ICDD stated: “If you are a 14(c) provider, this project will offer new opportunities to receive targeted TA, join a TA cohort, and access tools and guidance specific to phasing out subminimum wage and expanding community employment.” They added: “If you are a person with a disability, a family member, or a community partner, this project is designed to move Illinois closer to a future where people with DD have access to CIE and Meaningful Day/Community Day Services, supported by systems that are aligned, accountable, and informed by data.”
Further information about participation opportunities and timelines is expected as implementation proceeds.
