(820 ILCS 97/10)

Sec. 10. Customized Employment Pilot Program. The Department of Human Services, through its Division of Rehabilitation Services and in collaboration with the Division of Developmental Disabilities, shall establish a 5-year Customized Employment Pilot Program that serves a minimum of 25 individuals by the second year of the Pilot Program. The Pilot Program shall include the following components:

(1) An intensive discovery phase during which the unique needs, abilities, and interests of the individual will be explored by the individual at his or her direction with assistance from family, friends, colleagues, advocates, community-based service agencies, and others as determined by the individual.

(2) A customized person-centered planning process based upon information gathered during the discovery phase that involves capturing, organizing, and presenting the information in a blueprint for the job search.

(3) An employer negotiation process in which job duties and employee expectations are negotiated to align the skills and interests of the individual with the needs of an employer. The negotiation process may result in agreement on options such as (i) carving out a job for the individual, (ii) creating a new job description, (iii) creating a new job, (iv) job-sharing, and (v) agreeing on job supports, transportation needs, assistive technology, work hours, location, or supervision needs.

(4) A flexible timeline for a comprehensive discovery, planning, and job placement process to accommodate the unique needs of the individual.

The Customized Employment Pilot Program shall be implemented through an individualized plan for employment developed by the individual with a disability and the vocational rehabilitation counselor employed by the Division of Rehabilitation Services. The individual with a disability may choose to have a personal representative participate in the development of the individualized plan for employment.

(Source: P.A. 101-368, eff. 1-1-20.)