Dear Friends,

As we step into summer, I hope you’re enjoying the extended daylight hours and taking every opportunity to stop and smell the roses. This is a great time of year to get outside and experience nature at its finest, which is why I’m delighted to see our members exploring the great outdoors and taking advantage of what the season offers.

So far, many have already experienced camping in a forest preserve, gone cycling, and tended to our gardens. These experiences not only create lasting memories, but they also teach important life skills, such as independence, confidence and connection. 

I can’t wait to see what kinds of opportunities the rest of the season will bring, and I’m sure members will approach each adventure with great enthusiasm.

I invite you to read the stories in this newsletter and learn more about how we’re prioritizing wellness across our organization for people with disabilities and mental health challenges. And if you feel inclined, share these stories far and wide, so we can inspire others to make a difference too. 

Sincerely,

Mark McHugh

President and CEO

Envision Unlimited

Envision Unlimited is proud to be a trusted resource for nearly 2 million Illinois residents navigating mental health challenges. May marked Mental Health Awareness Month, and we celebrated with a graduation ceremony for individuals who completed our Certified Recovery Support Specialist (CRSS) program. This comprehensive, empowering initiative is designed to train and guide individuals with lived experience of mental health and/or substance use recovery towards professional certification and successful careers as peer supports.

Our program equips participants with the skills, knowledge and practical experience necessary to work as a recovery support specialist, providing peer-to-peer services in a variety of settings such as community mental health centers, hospitals and treatment facilities.

What happens when temperatures begin to rise and flowers start to bloom? Our members take full advantage of the great outdoors! They recently spent a couple of unforgettable weekends at Big Marsh Park – pitching tents, hiking, singing campfire songs and roasting hot dogs, potatoes and s’mores. Members are also enjoying our Adaptive Cycling program by pedaling down The 606 Trail and Big Marsh Park every week. They even took a recent spin around the nation’s second oldest velodrome in Northbrook as part of our Summer of Cycling series!

On July 22, we will welcome cyclists from – Pi Kappa Phi fraternity’s philanthropy initiative – The Ability Experience to our Westtown Center. The group's “friendship visit” takes place during its annual cross-country ride, which raises awareness about people with disabilities and the benefits of cycling. 

Shining a Light on Our Bright Stars

Going above and beyond often describes our employees, and Catherine Woods and Raul Barrera are dedicated team members who embody this phrase.

Through our Horticulture program, our members are taught basic gardening principles to help them understand healthy living and meal preparation. They tend and harvest crops, which are then shared with our residential homes, sold at discounted prices to neighbors and enjoyed in freshly-prepared meals from our Frick Center kitchen.

Under Garden Coordinator Catherine’s guidance, the Van Vorhees Garden at our Frick Center produced more than 1,700 pounds of produce last year – from corn, tomatoes and radishes to spinach, mustard greens and lettuce!

Meet the Assistant Director of Our

Mental Health Clinical Services

Reflecting on the amazing work throughout our organization, we’re spotlighting Courtney Atkinson, Assistant Director of Clinical Services.

In addition to community outreach and building referral partnerships, Courtney oversees two of our mental health programs: Outpatient Clinical Services and the Healthy Chicago Mental Health Collective, both of which offer individual therapy through our Ravenswood Community Mental Health Center and telehealth. 

“I've always been passionate about working in Community Mental Health Centers,” Courtney said. “Being able to provide services to people who might not otherwise have access to care is incredibly meaningful to me.” 

Celebrating Our Champion of Change, Dorothy O’Malley

We’re extending our deepest gratitude to our changemaker and compassion champion, Dorothy O’Malley, who is retiring from our Board of Directors after 40 years of service. For decades, Dorothy has supported Envision Unlimited’s growth and expansion of programs.

In 2023, she received our Humanitarian Award, which illuminates the dedication of individuals who make a significant difference in the lives of others. Known as an extremely humble, selfless leader and mentor, she was recognized for her unwavering commitment to our mission and admired for the example she set as a person of service. 

Protecting and Preserving Disability Civil Rights

and Community Inclusion

An alarming memo recently issued by the Department of Justice argues that states should not be required to provide in-home or community-based support to people with disabilities.

People with disabilities deserve the right to live, work and participate fully in their communities, and we’re deeply concerned by the opinions presented in this memo.

“This threat has the potential to strip millions of individuals with disabilities from their right to lead self-directed lives in communities of their choosing,” said President and CEO Mark McHugh. “We must be steadfast in protecting the legal foundation guaranteeing people with disabilities the right to participate fully in their communities and not be forced to live in an institution.”

Join the Envision Unlimited Team!

Photo credit: Envision Unlimited Media Club

Our staff is the heart of Envision Unlimited, and we’re always looking to grow our passionate, award-winning team! Explore our open positions below and help our members continue leading their lives with independence and inclusion. 

Program Coordinator, QIDP 

High-Intensity Clinical Therapist 

Member Content Spotlight

From scripting and producing videos to publishing newsletters about their weekly excursions, our members are talented creators. With guidance from our staff and support networks, the Envision Unlimited Media Club produced two videos that showcase how people with disabilities and mental health challenges are engaging with nature and building skills and confidence along the way.

Unlimited Voices



Outdoor activities take center stage in Vol. 130 of Unlimited Voices, a bi-weekly newsletter that lets readers see what life is like through the eyes of people with disabilities.



Our members write the articles, choose the color scheme and edit photos. 

Envision Unlimited is a full spectrum of care organization serving people with disabilities and mental health conditions from infants to senior citizens, regardless of race, gender, religion, or ability to pay. Founded in Chicago in 1948, Envision Unlimited has a legacy of evolving care delivered with empathy, every time and everywhere. 

To learn more, please visit www.envisionunlimited.org.