Stories

Whitley Hofer, Director of Springfield Mental Health and Clinical Services, oversees clinical and operations management at the new Community Mental Health Center and ensures that services are delivered with care and make a lasting impact on clients.

One of the most impactful roles at Envision Unlimited is a Direct Support Professional (DSP). Our incredible DSPs help our members with a variety of daily tasks, from cooking to planning excursions in the community.

At Envision Unlimited, we recently celebrated our employees at our annual 2025 Employee of the Year Awards banquet.

Securing a job can be a profound moment for individuals with disabilities and mental health challenges. And through our job placement services, our staff is there to support them every step of the way.

To celebrate Disability Employment Awareness Month, we’re highlighting Envision Unlimited members who are thriving in the workplace. One of them is Robert at our Nashville Center, who landed his dream job with the Chicago Cubs this summer and handled janitorial work a few days per week.

Congratulations to Envision Unlimited member Phil who just celebrated his 59th birthday at the Henry Home, our state-of-the-art, ADA-accessible home in the Ashburn neighborhood.

We’d like to extend a warm welcome to Rev. Dr. Dawnn M. Pirani Brumfield, the Director of our Cultural Faith-Based Empowerment Program.

Late American painter Georgia O’Keeffe once said, “To create one’s own world takes courage.” We’re proud of our members who were courageous enough to participate in our second annual art show in celebration of Mental Health Awareness Month.

Our members and staff consistently go above and beyond, and we were proud to watch some of them receive well-deserved recognition at disability advocacy organization The Arc of Illinois’ 75th annual convention. Envision Unlimited took home five awards, four of which honored our QIDPs, Direct Support Professionals and volunteers. All were recognized for their outstanding commitment.

We’d like to extend a warm welcome to Mike Jersey, our vice president of community living and transition services. He brings nearly 20 years of experience to his new role, in which he’s tasked with developing, implementing and managing programs that will support people transitioning from SODCs to 24-hour community living arrangements.

William, Marcus and Rachel made such an impact that the museum has asked them to lead more training sessions for the rest of the year. We’re proud of these efforts!

Aging with proper support is an increasingly important concern for everyone, especially people with intellectual or developmental disabilities (IDDs).

As the days grow shorter and the temperature drops, many people find themselves feeling a little “off.” This can be more than just the typical winter blues — it can be a condition known as seasonal affective disorder (SAD).

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than one in five American adults live with a mental illness. Mental health impacts every aspect of our lives, yet we often overlook or shy away from discussing it due to stigma and fear of discrimination.

In celebration of World Mental Health Day earlier this month, our members and staff took important steps to prioritize mental wellness and reduce stigma.

Our member Andre wanted the world to hear his story, and the world has been listening. He and Envision Unlimited residential house manager Treena Glover sat down with WCPT 820 AM radio host Patti Vasquez to discuss the book they co-published, “Colorful Memoirs: A Journey Through Andre’s Life.”

When Envision Unlimited member Ernest was just 14 years old, he was struck by a car. But even though the accident nearly killed him, Ernest believes it saved his life, as it got him off of the streets and ultimately set his life on a better path.

We extend a warm welcome to Tina Lowry, our new director of quality assurance. In her new role, Lowry is responsible for leading multiple initiatives at Envision Unlimited, including licensing and accreditation and reviewing state and federal governing rules.

We’re extending hearty congratulatory wishes to our Frick Center Special Olympics team and coaches for being crowned winners of the 2024 Keith Magnuson Spirit Award.

Artwork created by members from our Rose Center was recently on display at Expo Chicago, which showcases leading contemporary and modern art galleries, public art initiatives and more. Members were commissioned by artist Anke Loh to dye textiles, which were later used in pillows with touch-sensitive embroidery.