Thanks to those of you who attended the 2021 Illinois WIOA Virtual Summit! We understand how busy everyone is and appreciate the over 900 attendees who took the time to spend two days with us. This year’s theme was Service Integration: Collaboration and Innovation. After a welcome from IWIB Co-chair, John Rico, CEO of Rico Enterprises, keynote speaker Michael Karl encouraged the group to consider what is possible through partnership.

Day One continued a variety of workforce professionals sharing their insights through fourteen engaging breakout sessions. Attendees had the opportunity to learn strategies to enhance collaboration, communication, and partnerships. Other sessions focused on Equity and Inclusion, broadband availability, and using TPM strategies – just to name a few. The attendance numbers in the two pandemic-focused sessions (Managing Your Mental Wellness During the Pandemic and Doing Things Differently During Covid-19) showed that Covid-19 is still on our minds, and the workforce system continues to find unique ways to continue to offer services. The first day concluded with a lively panel discussion, featuring the program directors from ICCB, DCEO, IDES, and DHS.

The second day offered six different workshop opportunities presented by the Center for Workforce Development, the Institute for Work & the Economy, Zach Gibson-LCPS, Cygnet Associates, Chicagoland CareerPathways, and the U of I School of Labor and Employment Relations. Workshop participants learned about tools and best practices to assist customers, the implications of working remotely on workforce development, keeping youth supported and engaged during the pandemic, customer-centered design, and workers rights.

If you weren’t able to join us this year – presentations for many of the sessions are available now and recordings and resources from the Summit will be shared on the WIOA Summit page in mid-May. Thanks to everyone who helped make the 2021 WIOA Summit a success!

The goal of the career palooza is to inform, educate, and expose current high school students to the benefits and opportunities within a CTE program of study across Illinois.

Mark your calendars for the first week of May with a combination of live and on-demand videos, this week-long event will explore different career options within CTE and share how students can get started on a career path NOW!

It's back...it's live...and it's IN PERSON (or virtually, if you prefer!) The 2021 Forum for Excellence will be held on September 23 - 24, 2021 in Bloomington/Normal. The theme for this year's Forum is Through the Equity Lens. The committee is planning to hold this event in-person, paired with virtual components for those who prefer to attend online. Please know the safety of our attendees is our top priority, and we will continue to monitor our environment to ensure a healthy and safe conference for all attendees.

The Forum for Excellence Planning Committee is requesting presentations for the in-person conference in Bloomington/Normal on September 23 - 24, 2021 (paired with virtual components for those who prefer virtual attendance.) Through the Equity Lens is the THEME for the 2021 Forum. Please know the safety of our attendees is our top priority, and we will continue to monitor our environment to ensure a healthy and safe conference.

The deadline to submit is May 20, 2021. Click here to learn more about presentation requirements and submit your presentation.

March 24, 2021 was Equal Pay Day: a symbolic day that represents the number of extra days women, on average, must work to earn what men, on average, earned the year before. The pay gap is not the same for all women: In order to earn as much as non-Hispanic white men earned in 2020, Asian American and Pacific Islander women must work until March 9, 2021; White women must work until April 9; Black women must work until August 3; Native American women must work until September 8; and Latinas must work until October 21.

When Should I Disclose My Autism? provides a list of considerations and some helpful suggestions for students who face the decision to disclose their ASD to others. While designed for students with ASD, this resource is also valuable for professionals who are promoting self-advocacy or who need to understand the changes faced by individuals transitioning to postsecondary education.

Download "When Should I Disclose My Autism? "

As we commemorate Autism Awareness Month in April and Mental Health Awareness Month in May, we keep in mind that approximately 70% of individuals diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) have a dual diagnosis and often times the 2nd diagnosis falls in the mental health disorder category (Health and Mental Health | Autism Outcomes | Drexel University). Both April and May are months dedicated to raise awareness and break the stigma surrounding these diagnoses. Here are some ideas to help promote awareness: donate, volunteer, wear blue, light a blue light bulb, always show kindness and compassion to others, and educate yourself about autism and mental health disorders.   

Visit the ATTA website to view resources, videos, and documents.

UPCOMING PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT