Who Is The Current Head Of The Rehab Services

Rahnee Patrick has spent her unabridged career fighting for equity and inclusion for individuals with disabilities.

Now, Patrick will take the opportunity to apply her passion and expertise in a key state leadership position. Patrick was recently appointed director of the Illinois Department of Human Services' Division of Rehabilitation Services—the country's leading agency serving individuals with disabilities.

"I'1000 thrilled and humbled to exist moving into this position," Patrick says. "I accept a lot of experience helping people with disabilities, both every bit a professional and as a customer. I feel similar it'southward a great fit for me."

The Partition of Rehabilitation Services will exist gaining an experienced and proven leader who too brings immediate knowledge of disability topics. As an individual with disabilities, Patrick has used the Division's services and served on its Advisory Quango, where she provided counsel and advice based on her experiences as a client. This career advocacy comes on the heels of a 17-yr tenure at Access Living, where Patrick's work has included fair housing equally well as overseeing the agency's contained living plan serving 1,500 individuals each twelvemonth.

Two women sit behind a table, one speaking into a handheld microphone

Rahnee Patrick of Admission Living (right) was appointed to head the agency through the support of ADA 25 Advancing Leadership's Public Service Leadership Project, which advances candidates with disabilities and equips them with the training and knowledge to excel as leaders.

In pursuing her new position, Patrick had the strong bankroll of ADA 25 Advancing Leadership, whose Public Service Leadership Project works to increment the representation of leaders with disabilities in public service. The project brings leaders with disabilities to the attending of conclusion-makers and too gives emerging leaders the grooming, noesis and support they need to pursue public service opportunities.

"How Advancing Leadership identifies and supports leaders with disabilities is unique and innovative," Patrick says. "All public entities should have the fourth dimension to invest in this service and tap into individuals with disabilities as an under-resourced talent puddle."

ADA 25 Advancing Leadership executive director Emily Harris adds, "We applaud the Division of Rehabilitation Services for leading by example with appointed leadership that is truly inclusive and representative. Rahnee is an infrequent leader who volition bring critical firsthand perspective to this central position."

"Illinois' unemployment rate for persons with disabilities is very loftier: we rank 25th out of the 50 states. I'd similar to run into if the Division can help movement the needle on that."

Every bit director, Patrick will oversee the broad expanse of programming within the Division of Rehabilitation Services, which includes dwelling house services programs providing personal assistance, contained living, employment services, educational services and disability determination for Social Security. In addition to ensuring loftier-quality service delivery, she is eager to effect alter on a longstanding challenge for Illinois: employment of individuals with disabilities.

"Illinois' unemployment rate for persons with disabilities is very high: nosotros rank 25th out of the 50 states," Patrick says. "I'd similar to meet if the Division tin can assistance move the needle on that."

Given Patrick's long career helping individuals with disabilities live independently in their communities, she is also looking forward to shaping and supporting the growth of independent living across the state.

"Multifariousness is a strength for our community—the more than inclusive we are, the stronger our outputs and outcomes will exist," Patrick says. "If people with disabilities aren't fully included within our communities, we will lose our power to exist the all-time of the all-time."

To learn more about Advancing Leadership's Public Service Leadership Project, please contact Risa Rifkind at rrifkind@cct.org.