RSA-227 for FY-2025: Submission #48

State name Illinois

Report through date 09/30/2025

General Information

Designated Agency Identification

Name Equip for Equality

Address 20 North Michigan Ave., Suite 300

Address Line 2

City Chicago

State IL

Zip Code 60602

E-mail Address sujatha@equipforequality.org

Website Address

Phone 3123410022

TTY

Toll-free Phone

Toll-free TTY

Fax 3128000912

Operating Agency (if different from Designated Agency)

Name N/A

Address

Address Line 2

City

Zip Code

State

E-mail Address

Website Address

Phone

TTY

Toll-free Phone

Toll-free TTY

Fax

Additional Information

Name of CAP Director/Coordinator Sujatha Jagadeesh Branch

Person to contact regarding report Sujatha Jagadeesh Branch

Contact Person Phone 3128957217

Contact Person E-mail Address sujabranch@gmail.com

Part I. Non-case Services

A. Information and Referral Services (I&R)

1. Information regarding the vocational rehabilitation (VR) program 46

2. Information regarding independent living programs 363

3. Information regarding American Indian VR Service projects 0

4. Information regarding Title I of the ADA 19

5. Other information provided 9

6. Information regarding CAP 25

7. Total I&R services provided (Lines A1 through A6) 462

B. Training Activities

1. Number of training sessions presented to community groups and public agencies. 27

2. Number of individuals who attended these training sessions. 727

3. Describe training presented by the staff. Include the following information: Division of Rehabilitation Services (DRS) Vocational Rehabilitation New Counselor Orientations: In FY 2025, CAP continued to present at DRS’s orientation sessions for new counselors. During these orientation sessions, CAP staff introduce themselves to the new DRS counselors and provide an overview of what counselors can expect when CAP becomes involved. CAP presented at 4 orientations in FY 2025.

For other service providers: In FY 2025, CAP provided trainings for service providers who work with DRS customers or other individuals with disabilities. In September 2025, CAP provided a training on DRS services for an organization serving a large population of individuals who are blind or low-vision. In FY 2025, CAP established a new partnership with a community organization and provided a training to a group of young adults who were preparing for their first jobs. CAP presented about employment rights and services available through DRS.

In April 2025, CAP partnered with a school district to provide trainings for juniors and seniors with disabilities to explain the services they can receive through DRS and the role of CAP in assisting individuals to access DRS VR services. 55 students participated in these trainings and received direct support from CAP with opening a DRS case, requesting specific services, and discussing areas of concern about their DRS services to brainstorm solutions. CAP also provided trainings for parents and families of these students to help them support their children and loved ones with their DRS services. CAP continues to work with this school district and is looking forward to providing similar trainings in the next fiscal year.

In August 2025, CAP met with several transition coordinators from a local school district who work with youths between the ages of 14 and 22. CAP discussed some of the issues the coordinators and students were experiencing with DRS, including during the application/eligibility process. CAP explained our role in removing barriers to access for DRS VR services and encouraged the transition coordinators to provide our contact information to their students and families. This new partnership has resulted in referrals to CAP and a larger training for the county’s Transition Planning Committee.

Illinois Statewide Transition Conference: CAP presented at the Illinois Statewide Transition conference. This annual conference attracts families, providers, and stakeholders from across the state to learn and discuss important issues for transition-aged youth. CAP’s presentation focused on transition services and working with adult service agencies, including DRS and CILs, to prepare students for transition. Approximately 120 individuals attended the training in FY 2025, including parents, students, teachers, administrators, and Illinois State Board of Education personnel.

C. Agency Outreach

Describe the agency's outreach efforts to previously un-served or underserved individuals including minority communities. CAP engaged in extensive outreach in FY 2025, participating in 32 outreach events/activities and reaching 3611 individuals.

In FY 2025, CAP continued its efforts to engage in outreach to all communities.

CAP continued to prioritize outreach to individuals involved in the justice system. These efforts included ongoing participation in a workgroup with DRS to identify barriers for individuals currently or formerly involved in the justice system and collaborate on necessary supports to increase access to DRS VR services for this population. CAP continued to conduct outreach and provide training for probation officers in Cook and Winnebago counties. CAP also worked directly with juvenile probation officers, case managers, and other court stakeholders to connect individuals with CAP and Division of Rehabilitation Services (DRS) services available for youth involved in the court system. Additionally, CAP continued extensive outreach to youth in Winnebago County and Cook County.

In addition, CAP attended numerous other outreach events, including career fairs and events for transition-age youth and their families. In FY 2025, CAP participated in 22 transition fairs and reached 2,097 individuals. CAP also led 12 transition trainings for 431 individuals.

D. Information Disseminated To The Public By Your Agency

1. Agency Staff Interviewed or Featured on Radio and TV 0

2. Articles about CAP Featured in Newspaper/Magazine/Journals 0

3. PSAs/Videos Aired about the CAP Agency 0

4. Publications/Booklets/Brochures Disseminated by the Agency 3611

5. Number of Times CAP Exhibited at Conferences, Community Fairs, etc. 32

6. Other 0

Please explain below N/A

E. Information Disseminated About Your Agency By External Media Coverage

Describe the various sources and information disseminated about your agency by an external source. In FY 2025, CAP did not experience any external media coverage; however, Equip for Equality attorneys did communicate with the media about various topics important to our clients.

Part II. Individual Case Services

A. Individuals served

1. Individuals who are still being served as of October 1 (carryover from prior year) 51

2. Additional individuals who were served during the year 182

3. Total individuals served (Lines A1+A2) 233

4. Individuals (from Line A3) who had multiple case files opened/closed this year. 12

5. Individual still being served as of September 30 (Carryover to next year. This total may not exceed Line A3.) 34

B. Problem areas

1. Individual requests information 6

2. Communication problems between individual and VR counselor 48

3. Conflict about VR services to be provided 43

4. Related to VR application/eligibility process 26

5. Related to assignment to order of selection priority category 0

6. Related to IPE development/implementation 38

7. Related to independent living services 2

8. Other Rehabilitation Act-related problems 2

C. Intervention Strategies for closed cases

1. Short Term Technical Assistance 137

2. Investigation/Monitoring 23

3. Negotiation 48

4. Mediation and other methods of Alternative Dispute Resolution 0

5. Administrative / Informal Review 0

6. Formal appeal / Fair Hearing 7

7. Legal remedy / Litigation 0

8. Total 215

D. Reasons for closing individuals' case files

1. All issues resolved in individual's favor 79

2. Some issues resolved in individual's favor 80

3. CAP determines VR agency position/decision was appropriate for the individual 2

4. Individual's case lacks legal merit 3

5. Individual chose alternative representation 1

6. Individual withdrew complaint 0

7. Issue not resolved in clients favor 7

8. CAP services not needed due to individual's death, relocation, etc. 2

9. Individual not responsive/cooperative with CAP 17

10. CAP unable to take case due to lack of resources 24

11. Conflict of interest 0

12. Other 0

(Please explain below) N/A

E. Results achieved for individuals

1. Controlling law/policy explained to individual 143

2. Application for services completed 5

3. Eligibility determination expedited 3

4. Individual participated in evaluation 1

5. IPE developed/implemented/Services Provided 29

6. Communication re-established between individual and other party 22

7. Individual assigned to new counselor/office 11

8. Alternative resources identified for individual 0

9. ADA/504/EEO/OCR complaint made 1

10. Other 0

(Please explain below) N/A

Part III. Program Data

A. Age

1. Up to 18 36

2. 19 - 24 41

3. 25 - 40 70

4. 41 - 64 82

5. 65 and over 4

6. Total (Sum of Lines A1 through A5. Total must equal Part II, Line A3.) 233

B. Gender

1. Females 117

2. Males 113

3. Nonbinary or Another Gender 0

4. Unknown 3

5. Total (Lines B1+B2+B3+B4. Total must equal Part II Line A3.) 233

C. Race/ethnicity of Individuals Served

1. Hispanic/Latino of any race 13

2. American Indian or Alaskan Native 3

3. Asian 11

4. Black or African American 83

5. Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander 0

6. White 115

7. Two or more races 8

8. Race/ethnicity unknown 0

D. Primary disabling condition of individuals served

1. Acquired Brain Injury 5

2. ADD/ADHD 12

3. AIDS/HIV 0

4. Amputations or Absence of Extremities 0

5. Arthritis or Rheumatism 1

6. Anxiety Disorder 13

7. Autism Spectrum Disorder 42

8. Autoimmune or Immune Deficiencies 3

10. Other visual impairments 14

11. Cancer 1

12. Cerebral Palsy 3

13. Deafness 5

14. Hard of Hearing/Hearing Impaired 6

16. Diabetes 2

17. Digestive disorders 0

18. Epilepsy 4

19. Heart and other circulatory conditions 1

20. Intellectual Disability 19

21. Mental illness 27

22. Multiple Sclerosis 3

23. Muscular Dystrophy 0

24. Muscular/Skeletal Impairment 9

25. Neurological Disorders/Impairment 16

26. Orthopedic impairments 10

27. Personality Disorders 0

28. Respiratory Disorders/Impairment 0

29. Skin Conditions 0

30. Specific learning disabilities (SLD) 21

31. Speech Impairments 0

32. Spina Bifida 0

33. Substance abuse 0

34. Other disability 5

35. Total (Sum of Lines D1through D34. Total must equal Part II, Line A3.) 233

E. Types of Individuals Served

1. Applicant of VR 47

2. Individual eligible for VR services currently on a wait list 0

3. Individual eligible for VR services not currently on a wait list 110

4. Applicant or individual eligible for Independent Living 1

5. Transition student/High school student 29

6. All other applicants or individuals eligible for other programs or projects funded unther Rehabilitation Act 54

Part IV. Systemic Activities and Litigation

A. Non-Litigation Systemic Activities

1. Number of non-litigation systemic activities not involving individual representation that resulted in the change of one or more policy or practice of an agency. 2

2. Describe the systemic activities conducted by CAP during the fiscal year and its impact on other agency's policies or practices. Collaboration to Improve DRS Counselor Training: In 2024, CAP began an ongoing collaboration with DRS to address gaps in the training of new counselors and ensure that field office staff understand their obligations under state and federal regulations. Through our work with individual clients, CAP has noticed patterns with issues and areas of misunderstanding among DRS field office staff. CAP approached DRS and asked to observe the training provided to new counselors and suggested that CAP develop a focused training. DRS agreed to allow CAP participation and supported CAP's plan to develop supplemental training. CAP will present the trainings in FY 2026.

Court-Involved Individuals Workgroup: In 2023, CAP initiated a workgroup with DRS to address concerns about how to increase access to services for court-involved youth and adults with disabilities in Illinois. This workgroup expanded considerably in FY 2025 to include additional Equip for Equality staff with experience supporting court-involved individuals as well as DRS counselors and supervisors throughout the state. The workgroup identified outreach strategies to raise awareness of DRS VR services and has already begun making inroads in adult and juvenile facilities across the state, specifically in Cook, Winnebago, and St. Clair counties. CAP developed a youth-friendly fact sheet utilizing a plain language approach that can be readily shared by CAP, DRS, and various community partners during outreach activities.

In FY 2025, the workgroup analyzed the results of a survey that was sent to all DRS field office staff in FY 2024 about working with court-involved individuals. One of the issues identified in the surveys was the need for staff training about barriers faced by this population and available resources. DRS offered an initial training for staff. CAP and the larger workgroup continued to advocate for additional training for DRS staff on the unique barriers to employment and how to effectively support court-involved individuals. CAP has agreed to partner with DRS to lead some of these trainings in FY 2026.

B. Litigation

a. Number of cases requiring litigation involving individual representation filed during fiscal year. 0

b. Number of on-going cases pending at start of fiscal year (carryover from prior fiscal year). 0

c. Number of cases resolved through litigation during fiscal year. 0

2. Describe the agency's on-going and completed systemic litigation activities involving individual representation. N/A

Part V. Agency Information

A. Designated Agency

1. Agency Type (select only one option): External-Protection and Advocacy agency

2. Name of designate agency: Equip for Equality

3. Is the designated agency contracting CAP services? No

4. If yes, name of contracting agency: N/A

B. Staff Employed

1. Provide a description of all CAP positions In FY 2025, CAP services were provided by professional staff of 3.34 FTE and clerical staff of 0.2 FTE.

We experienced staff turnover on the CAP team in FY 2025, and at the same time, additional Equip for Equality staff devoted time to CAP work. When the CAP project manager left Equip for Equality, the Vice President, who had previously played that role, resumed it. One of our three CAP attorneys left Equip for Equality and was replaced. Several additional attorneys played a role in new CAP advocacy.

Part VI. Case Examples

Case Examples

Provide some examples of some interesting cases during the past fiscal year. Visually impaired client obtains funding for graduate school to advance with her own business: CAP assisted a client who is legally blind and has owned her own construction development company for several years. The client sought funding from the state Division of Rehabilitation Services (DRS) to pursue a Master of Business Administration to develop greater expertise in the industry, enabling her to communicate more effectively with stakeholders and grow her business operations. CAP provided her with the following assistance:
• Advised her about the applicable regulations and DRS criteria for job retention services;
• Reviewed her personal statement that she had prepared for her DRS counselor; and
• Provided extensive feedback to help the client explain why graduate school is necessary to advance in her employment goals and the benefits of the specific program she was applying for.
DRS agreed to provide funding for graduate school, and the client was accepted into the program of her choice at a prestigious institution. The client was very grateful for CAP’s assistance.

Client with a developmental disability and mental health condition obtains funding for non-degree training program:
CAP assisted a client with a mental health and developmental disability who attends a non-degree residential program and sought funding from DRS for the program. This residential program focuses on the development of independent living skills and other skills that are essential for college and training. DRS initially denied funding because it believed that the program would not lead to employment; however, in doing so, DRS did not evaluate how this program would benefit the client in his long-term educational and employment goals. CAP advocated on the client’s behalf with DRS leadership for an individualized assessment of this and other non-degree programs, consistent with the applicable state and federal regulations. CAP provided more details about the nature of the particular non-degree program and why it is necessary and appropriate for the client.

As a result of CAP’s negotiations, DRS revised their policies about “disability specific training” programs to require counselors to conduct an individualized assessment into the specific programs rather than applying blanket exclusions. This policy revision will have a positive outcome for other DRS customers. After applying the new policy, DRS agreed to provide funding for the client’s residential program and updated his Individualized Plan of Employment (IPE) to reflect approval of funding. The client was very happy with this outcome and appreciated CAP’s assistance.

Client with developmental disabilities obtains customized employment services:
CAP assisted a client with cerebral palsy and a developmental disability obtain customized employment services. Prior to contacting CAP, the Division of Rehabilitation Services (DRS) insisted that the client complete a trial work experience to demonstrate his ability to benefit from VR services before moving forward with customized employment services. CAP negotiated on the client’s behalf to challenge DRS’s actions as a violation of federal VR regulations. As a result of CAP’s advocacy efforts, DRS agreed to open a VR case for the client and made a referral to a provider for customized employment services. Additionally, DRS issued new policy guidance to counselors about trial work experience which complies with the federal regulations. This new guidance reinforces the presumption of ability to benefit from VR services and explains that trial work experience should not be applied in a manner to impede the delivery of services. DRS counselors must now obtain higher-level sign off to close cases on the grounds that a customer is unable to benefit from VR services. The policy revision will have a positive impact for other DRS customers.

Certification

Reports are to be submitted to RSA within 90 days after the end of the fiscal year covered by this report. Please be reminded that you can enter data directly into the RSA website via the internet. Information on transmittal of the form is found on pages 19 and 20 of the reporting instructions.

Name and Title of Authorized Certifying Official

I agree to submit this form by electronic means. By signing this form electronically, I certify under penalty of perjury that my answers are correct and complete to the best of my knowledge. I understand that an electronic signature has the same legal meaning and can be enforced in the same way as a written signature.

Full Legal Name of Signer: Sujatha Jagadeesh Branch

Certifying Official Title VP for Civil Rights and Systemic Litigation

By checking this box and typing my full legal name above, I am electronically signing this form. Yes

Date Certified (mm/dd/yyyy) 2026-01-26

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