This year marks the tenth anniversary of the Village of Progress Foundation’s Attendance Grant Program (AGP).

The AGP was created in the summer of 2014 when the Village saw that students graduating from special education were facing a huge obstacle. Many parents of children with special needs believe that when their child turns 22 the state will automatically continue to provide funding for local services (like attending the Village of Progress), just like the state did in school. Those same parents are dismayed to learn that, instead, Illinois puts their child on a waiting list for such services.

They’re further surprised to learn that their child could be on the waiting list for 7-10 years. Until then, the State will not pay for them to receive services.

Without state funding, most individuals with developmental disabilities cannot afford to attend day services programs, which can cost upwards of $2,000 a month. In the meantime, many on the waiting list had no prospects for vocational training or even social interaction. Many would simply stay isolated at home.

This is what gave rise to the Attendance Grant Program, a unique benefit provided only by the Village of Progress. Through this program, individuals who are on the State’s waiting list are allowed to attend the Village on a part-time basis. Essentially, the Foundation steps in and pays the state hourly attendance rate on an individual’s behalf until they’re pulled from the waiting list.

In this way, Attendance Grant recipients can still receive the services they need to thrive. Even daily transportation to and from the Village is included as part of the Attendance Grant.

Since its inception, seeded with a grant of $12,000 from the Lawrence Foundation, the Attendance Grant Fund has grown to over $676,600. This is thanks to other generous gifts from the community, estate bequests, and the proceeds from our fundraisers like the John Herrmann Golf Play Day and the TOSOC Bike Ride.

Over those same 10 years, the Foundation has provided over 15 individuals with 23,000 hours of services at the Village of Progress, at a value of over $350,000 of services. Even now, some of those who joined the AGP at its inception are still on the state’s waiting list for services.

There may come a day when the state funds disability services at a level that matches the need. Until then, however, the Village of Progress will be doing everything in its power to assure that all Ogle County individuals with developmental disabilities can live active lives in a supportive community.

Brion Brooks
Executive Director, Village of Progress, Inc.