Tailored Pathways: Advancing Customized Employment Initiatives in Illinois

 

This content was originally developed and shared through an initiative supported by the Illinois Council on Developmental Disabilities.

MG&A is continuing to offer access to these resources independently to extend the reach and impact of the original investment.

OPEN OFFICE HOUR SESSION NOVEMBER 6, 2025 at 3 PM CT

MG&A invites those registered for the Provider Transformation Cohort series to its Open Office Hour event.

We hope you’ve had a chance to view our 5-part webinar series, and look forward to you attending this open office hour session with any questions you may have regarding the implementation of Customized Employment. We’ll also discuss how Discovery might be leading you to other life outcomes besides employment.

Registered? Join us (yes, for free!) on Thursday, November 6th at 3pm CT by clicking here.

The Illinois Council on Developmental Disabilities (ICDD)—in partnership with nationally-known training experts from Marc Gold & Associates (MG&A)—offered a series of trainings and webinars at no-cost to those invited to participate. Though this project concluded in September 2025, we continue to provide information on opportunities available to registered Tailored Pathways participants.

VISIT THE TRAINING SITE

Registered to attend a CE Webinar series? Visit our training platform by clicking on the button below, and start your journey there.

VISIT LEARN.MARCGOLD.COM

About the Courses

Learn more about the courses presented through Tailored Pathways by clicking on the + sign alongside the course title.

  • The Comprehensive Customized Employment Course is an in-depth, interactive, and engaging class, based on MG&A’s forty-plus years of organizational expertise. This class offers learners all the foundational information and basic competencies of Discovery and Customized Job Development.

    This class is also the starting point for those who are interested in working alongside an expert mentor to deepen their Customized Employment skills through MG&A’s Performance- Based Certification – and those who may consider working with MG&A to become a mentor in the future.

    This 40-hour virtual class is offered over 9 half-days (4.5 hours/day), presented over 3 consecutive weeks, and covering over a dozen topics in the areas of Discovery, Customized Job Development, Customized Employment, and Operationalizing Customized Employment.

    Those who successfully complete the course (by maintaining class participation and completing homework) will receive an ACRE Certificate with an Emphasis on Customized Employment.

  • Our Customized Employment (CE) Webinar Series was designed for program staff within the Department of Rehabilitation Services, providers who are involved in the CE demonstration in Illinois, and others with specific interest in learning more about CE. The course features:

    • Nearly three hours of instructional content over two pre-recorded videos, inclusive of discussions with relevant subject matter experts (SMEs);

    • A CE Alignment Chart to compare the CE for Individuals with Disabilities Act to the IDHS CE Contract to MG&A's CE Best Practices and Deliverables;

    • Additional resources such as sample forms and documents, white papers, and relevant links;

    • Access to all of the above through June 30, 2026.

    If you are employed with the Department of Rehabilitation Services within the State of Illinois and have been redirected here, and you are interested in accessing these materials, we encourage you to speak reach out to ICDD for a copy of our invitation PDF, which you may use to register. Please reference “Tailored Pathways with MG&A” when speaking to your contact.

  • Our PTC Webinar Series delivered instruction in core concepts of Discovery and Person-Centered Planning for employment and community activities. Course registrants receive:

    • Five hours of instructional content over five recorded webinars, featuring MG&A instructors and subject matter experts;

    • A monitored community space for all participants, to foster peer-to-peer networking by trading practical insights, resources, and success stories; 

    • Access to all of the above through June 30, 2026.

    If you are of this cohort within the State of Illinois who has been redirected here and is interested in accessing these materials, we encourage you to speak reach out to ICDD for an archived copy of our invitation PDF, which will allow you to register. Please reference “Tailored Pathways with MG&A” when speaking to your contact.

In partnership with the Illinois Council on Developmental Disabilities. This communication is supported in part by grant number CFDA 93.630 from the U.S. Administration for Community Living, Department of Health and Human Services, Washington, D.C. 20201. Grantees undertaking projects with government sponsorship are encouraged to express freely their findings and conclusions. Points of view or opinions do not, therefore, necessarily represent official ACL policy.