LITTLE CITY
A model for inclusion
The question “where will my child live?” can overwhelm older parents and caregivers who are worried about their loved one living with a developmental disability, because they know support and services will be necessary beyond their own lifetime. Differences known as intellectual/developmental disabilities (I/DDs) are those typically present from birth and have a specific impact on how a person develops physically, intellectually, and emotionally. Several of these conditions affect multiple body systems or parts and many adults will need ongoing assistance. According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), approximately 6.5 million people in the United States have an I/DD. As with anyone, the right support and education can empower individuals with developmental disabilities to realize their full potential and provide the opportunity to be part of a community while benefiting society as a whole.
In 1959, a group of parents who envisioned a revolutionary atmosphere for their children, whom “experts” frequently advised should be institutionalized, founded Little City. Today, Little City offers comprehensive care and programs to about 1,400 families in the Chicagoland area. Little City’s mission is to provide the best options and opportunities for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities to live safely, learn continuously, explore creatively, and work productively throughout their lives. Little City actively promotes autonomy, person-centered planning, and a comprehensive approach to health and wellness.
Former Congresswoman Marie Newman became the CEO of Little City in April of 2023 and has had a lifelong connection with the organization. “Life is a funny circle. When I was a very young girl, my mom brought us to a Little City event where we helped packing boxes. Two of my cousins have forms of autism. And then, when I was leaving Congress, there were a lot of people that thought I could be helpful to Little City, and it became clear that it was just a perfect fit.”
The organization has a 56-acre campus in Palatine, where Little City provides housing, programming, and educational options to 50 children and 50 residents aged 22 and up. Programs such as art and horticulture offer opportunities to create, work and connect with the community. Little City created the Center for the Arts where professional artists participate as facilitators. They encourage Little City artists to expand their reach and skills, resulting in art that transcends the disability of the artist who created it and opens the eyes of viewers to the limitlessness of creativity. The horticulture and gardening classes enable individuals to connect with nature, learn new skills and strengthen their abilities for possible future community-based employment.
Little City also has a foster care placement office in Chicago, and they recently added the Duffey Family Children’s Village of state-of-the-art group homes for children. Little City also doubled the square footage and capacity of the ChildBridge Center for Education, where services include in-home personal and family supports, clinical and behavioral intervention, 24-hour residential care, and special needs foster care and adoption. LifePath Adult Services in Little City provides a wide range of residential options, employment opportunities, home-based services, case management, day supports, Special Olympics, an award-winning Center for the Arts, and other services. Additionally, they operate 15 community integrated living arrangements (CILAs) in the northwest suburbs, which house four residents at a time and provide support to live as independently as possible in a home environment.
In July, a $433,911 grant was awarded to Little City for the purchase and renovation of a Hoffman Estates home that will provide elderly residents with the essential assistance they require to stay in their homes longer. About 60% of the adult residential population in Little City is over 50, and 34% is over 60. Elderly adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities are more likely to suffer from physical illnesses and dementia. Safety and comfort features like walk-inshowers, wider hallways and handrails, among other safety measures that will allow them to remain in residences such as this new CILA will help them maintain happy, healthy lives.
Samantha Alloway, Director of Government Relations for Little City Foundation, says “Overall at Little City, we facilitate for an inclusive community. We strive very hard to create a world in which people with intellectual and developmental disabilities are not shamed or hidden. We want to create an environment where people feel safest to be their best and truest selves.”
Employment First is a Little City staffing program that places highly qualified employees in successful positions while breaking down stereotypes about people with disabilities. The Employment First team matches job seekers with local job opportunities based on an assessment of their strengths, abilities, preferences, and goals. Marie Newman highlights Employment First as an area with tremendous impact for not only the Little City community but society as a whole. In the first seven months of her tenure, Newman has overseen the expansion of the employment services program by 50%. “Our candidates are great. And our employer partners that take on our candidates for training and hire them have a retention rate of 97%. If you go to any corporation, they’re going to tell you my retention is 78, maybe 79%. There are 4.5 million jobs in the nation that are not filled right now. Half of them are scalable tasks that are perfect for our population. Not only would they enjoy it and be good at it, but they would bring joy wherever they go. So, the reality is, we have a win win!”
