Search is a community-based nonprofit. Our programs serve more than 500 people and their families annually at locations stretching from the southwest side of Chicago to the northern suburbs of Waukegan and Mount Prospect. Search has provided high-quality services and supports for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities since 1968. Our services include supported living arrangements, adult learning and employment programs, as well as medical, behavioral, therapy and home-based services.
Search empowers individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities to achieve their full potential, accept a valued role in their community and lead rich, rewarding lives.
Search’s vision is of a world where all people live, learn, work and play alongside one another, bringing their unique abilities to the community.
Search got its start in 1968 as a grassroots movement of parents in the Cabrini Green neighborhood of Chicago advocating for the inclusion of their children into the public school system. Standing up against the segregation of people with disabilities from their communities is core to our legacy.
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Alan Nadolna, Chairman
Associates Group, Inc.
Ray Covyeau, Vice Chairman
International Real Estate Brokerage
Brett Johnson, Treasurer
Industrial Growth Partners
LaVon Green, Secretary
Purdue University Calumet
Suzanne Averill
Associates Group Inc.
Leo Durkacz
Federal Bureau of Investigation - Retired
John Friedland
Family Focus, Inc. – Retired
Ken Jenero
Holland & Knight
Thomas Nathan
Munday & Nathan
Paul Pappageorge
Ashland Capital Advisors
Pete Petersen
Rogers Benefit Group
Katie Schmid
NorthShore University HealthSystem
Cory Gumm
Chief Executive Officer
John Lipscomb
President
Search, Inc. is licensed by the Illinois Department of Human Services and is accredited by the Council on Quality and Leadership (CQL).
March is National Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month (NDDAM). Here at Search, we are excited to celebrate NDDAM 2021 with our profile series NeurodiVOICED, which is a platform to share stories, artwork, experiences, and celebrate the things that make those who are neurodiverse unique.
We’ll be culminating our DDAM activities with a Virtual Showcase Thursday, March 25 from 7-8pm on Facebook. The show will feature artwork by our very own Visibility Arts participants, and will be great opportunity for those who tune in to learn about the artists and to purchase their artwork.
What is Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month?
Since 1987, the month of March is Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month. This campaign focuses on the inclusion of people with developmental disabilities in all areas of community life and to the barriers that people with disabilities still face in communities. Developmental disabilities include disabilities such as cerebral palsy, autism, muscular dystrophy, learning or intellectual disabilities or Down syndrome.
During Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month, Spread the Word occurs on the first Wednesday: March 3. This year’s theme is connection, which is at the very root of inclusion. This is important for individuals to feel seen, heard and valued in their communities.
There are many ways to get involved, including starting with spreading the word and awareness campaign with friends and family. By simply sharing the message, we can get a lot more people involved in this important campaign.
Here are a few others ways you can get involved:
We encourage our community to come together and celebrate this important awareness month. Follow along on our social media channels for more information and celebration this month.
Search's Disability Awareness Training program was recently featured in the Wilmette Life!
The Keystone Alliance was founded in 2009 through a unique partnership between two like-minded nonprofits with similar missions, Glenkirk and Search, Inc. The Keystone Alliance was created in the interest of generating administrative efficiencies and sharing best practices. Today, Search’s administrative overhead is just 8.5% of its total expenses. Glenkirk and Search have benefited greatly from sharing innovations and best practices with one another.
