The State of Illinois passed the Dignity in Pay act in 2025, outlining a plan to discontinue the use of subminimum wage services by December 31, 2029.

START is currently providing sub-minimum wage vocational services for many of our individuals to provide them work training opportunities at our facilities. Loss of this funding will require us to evaluate how we will be able to continue to provide vocational services to our individual using competitive wages. We will be considering ways to do this at our facility and in the community.

This site will be the hub for our transition plan and implementation. We are looking for participation and support from our individuals, teams, families, stakeholders, and community to help us use this change in legislations to provide valuable, new vocational services to our individuals.