Connect to Community

Our Team
Directors

Barb
Tobias

Dawn
Wiebe

Linda
Hall

Mary
Hanson

Sandy
Ricketts

Stephanie
Matthias

Judy
Senase

Customized Employment Specialists

Colleen
Getz

Our Story

Connect to Community (CTC) was founded in 2013 by a small group of parents who wanted to build a better future for their children with developmental disabilities.  Looking ahead to the time when their children would exit the school system at age 22, they realized that the supports they had always relied upon would be gone and they would need to find other ways to create a meaningful, quality day.

“Sometimes the smallest step in the right direction ends up being the biggest step of your life. Tip toe if you must, but take the step”

– Gemma Stone

Concerned that the kind of services they were looking for were not currently available in their area and realizing that other parents probably faced the same dilemma, they decided to forge their own path and follow their vision to form a not-for-profit, human service corporation serving clients in the northwest suburbs of Chicago. Designed to be community-centered and self-directed, the goal is to empower individuals to envision the life they want to live, and then assist them in making that vision a reality.

At the center of the mission is employment. Currently, many people with developmental disabilities are either unemployed or spend their days in a sheltered workshop with little exposure to their own community. With a customized employment model, the focus is on an individual’s strengths and skills in an effort to find employment opportunities that benefit both the job-seeker and the employer. We believe that employment is for everyone.

Our Logo

A colorful ribbon forms a circle representing our community. The three interwoven parts of the ribbon symbolize our connection to area businesses, civic organizations and educational districts. On another level, the three parts represent the services we will provide to our clients: customized employment, creative day programming and social opportunities. And at the center, most importantly, is the person.

Special thanks to our logo designer, Melissa Roels, for her patience and hard work. Melissa is a graphic designer currently living in Austin, TX. She has a cousin with special needs.

Our Website

ConnectToCommunityInc.org was designed with a minimalist approach that aims to push the boundaries of simplicity while retaining ease of use. Flat objects, bold colors, clean typography, and responsive design elements are all utilized to keep the site both clean and user-friendly.

Kevin Chang, the principal developer and designer, is based in the Chicagoland area with experience since 2007. Beyond web development, he is an avid violinist, runner, and connoisseur of fine jelly beans.