There are a wide variety of post-secondary programs that focus on a variety and range of academics, functional life skills, and vocational skills. These programs vary in their eligibility and admission process. 

Below is a list of some of the programs located in the Chicagoland area:

• Elmhurst University - Elmhurst Learning and Success Academy (ELSA)

  • Address: 190 Prospect Avenue, Elmhurst, IL 60126

  • Contact: (630) 617-3752 or elsa@elmhurst.edu

• National Louis University - Path to Academics, Community and Employment (PACE)

  • Address: 122 S. Michigan Avenue, Chicago, IL 60603

  • Contact: (312) 261-3770 or paceprogram@nl.edu

• Options for College Success 

  • Address: 1515 Maple Avenue, Suite 190, Evanston, IL 60201

  • Contact: (847) 425-4797 or info@optionsforcollegesuccess.org 

• Harper College - Career Skills Institute (CSI)

  • Address: 1200 W. Algonquin Road, Palatine, IL 60067

  • Contact: Linda Hoeck, Program Coordinator at (847) 925-6000 ext. 2076 or lhoeck@harpercollege.edu

• College of Lake County - Personal Success Program

  • Address: 19351 West Washington Street, Grayslake, IL 60030

  • Contact: (847) 543-2990 or professionalworkshops@clcillinois.edu

• Bethesda College (Concordia University Wisconsin)

  • Address:  12800 N Lake Shore Dr, Mequon, WI 53097

  • Contact:  (262) 243-2712 or bethesda.college@cuw.edu

• Edgewood College - Cutting Edge Program 

  • Address: 1000 Edgewood College Drive, Madison, WI 53711

  • Contact: (608) 663-6869 or cuttingedge@edgewood.edu

• Shepherd's College

  • Address: 1805 15th Avenue, Union Grove, WI 53182

  • Contact: (262) 878-5620 or info@shepherdscollege.edu

• Judson University - RISE Program

  • Address: 1151 North State Street, Elgin, IL 60123

  • Contact: Gineen Vargas, RISE Program Director at (847) 628-2524 or gineen.vargas@judsonu.edu

Below is a list of some of the programs located outside of the Midwest: 

• COMING SOON!

Apprenticeship is a system for training individuals in a specific trade or profession. This includes on-the-job training and often some additional classes or study. Apprenticeship programs allow individuals to gain licensure. Apprentices are paid for their work during the apprenticeship/pre-apprenticeship; it is NOT an unpaid internship. Often, apprenticeships lead to full-time employment after being licensed. 

Black Diamond 

https://blackdiamondtoday.com/job/prospect 

PROSPECT (Pre-Apprenticeship) Program

Lauren Schubert

lauren@blackdiamondtoday.com

Mid-America Carpenters Regional Council Apprentice & Training Program

Vince Sticca - Director/Coordinator

https://chicap.org/ 

ICATT Apprenticeship Program

https://www.icattapprenticeships.com/ 

Evelyn Seiler - Applicant Outreach Manager

info@icattapprenticeships.com 

(312) 585-8000 

Training for specific occupations is available through a variety of sources: community colleges, private vocational schools, alternative post-secondary education programs, apprenticeships, publicly supported training programs, and on-the-job training. 

There are three basic options available for the individual to utilize:

• The transfer program provides the first two years of the traditional four-year bachelor's degree with an associate's degree being achieved when requirements are completed.

• Two-year vocationally oriented associate's degree programs are offered in a wide variety of career fields.  These occupational areas have been selected based on employment surveys of statewide and local business and industry needs.  Many of these programs may be extended or capped with a related bachelor's degree.

• Vocational proficiency certificate programs offer the opportunity to acquire specific career training in a demanding occupational area.  In these, the student takes only those courses related to the specific vocation.  While similar in nature to the typical vocational school program, these differ in that a student can later use these course credits as the foundation for additional two or four-year degrees, and they usually prove to be substantially lower in cost than private school training.

Because these institutions are publicly endowed, they are eligible for all federal, state and local governmental funding of support services for students with special needs. Division of Rehabilitation Services (DRS) may also offer financial support. Special needs services may be obtained by contacting the school's special needs office.

Oakton Community College

1600 E. Golf Rd

Des Plaines, IL 60016

Access and Disability Resources Center

(847) 635-1759

www.oakton.edu

Harper College

1200 W. Algonquin Rd. 

Palatine, IL 60067

Access and Disability Services

(847) 925-6266

www.harpercollege.edu

College of Lake County

19351 W. Washington

Grayslake, IL 60030

Office for Students with Disabilities

(847) 223-6601 ext. 2474

www.clcillinois.edu

Triton College

2000 Fifth Ave

River Grove, IL 60171

Center for Access and Accommodative Services (CAS) 

(708)456-0300 ext 3917

CAAS@triton.edu 

https://www.triton.edu/