EXTRA, Extra, read all about it!  We have No Boundaries – and we’re going to shout it!  

Courtesy of www.socialnorms.org

Here at No Boundaries we help people with disabilities gain more independence by preparing for employment. Our motto, “train for work, train for life,” means the skills we develop here can be used in many aspects of life. We learn and practice the eight No Boundaries tenets in a professional setting: 

1. Communication
2. Independence
3. Judgment
4. Personal Responsibility
5. Self-Advocacy
6. Self-Organizing
7. Social Thinking
8. Technology

Our lessons cover a wide variety of topics like elevator pitches, resume building, interview preparation, money management skills, and much more. We like to show people that even though we have disabilities, we have No Boundaries!

Matt’s bio:

I live in Evanston and I have been working at Fleet Feet in Chicago for 10 years. I take the train to work each week. I am on the Special Olympics swim team and power-lifting team. I have been at No Boundaries for almost a year. I enjoy working on my budget and spending. I also work on social communication skills at No Boundaries. I would like to work on getting a new job working with little kids with disabilities.

Aliraza’s bio:

Alex, Abby, Matt Aliraza, Adrian

I am from Dar es Salaam in Tanzania. In Tanzania I worked in my father’s photo studio in the printing lab scanning photos and selling wood frames. I like working with customers. I came to visit my sister and her husband in America in Chicago for the second time.  While I am here, I am attending No Boundaries once a week. At No Boundaries I am working on computer and communication skills.   

Alex’s bio:

I am from Park Ridge and I just started at No Boundaries. I can play the guitar and I am into video games. I am currently looking for a technology job. I want to work for a phone store or a Game Stop. I know a lot about computers and fixing phones and Apple products. At No Boundaries I am working on improving my computer skills and practicing interviewing skills so that I can find a job.

Abby’s bio:

I was born in Manila in the Philippines, but I was raised in Chicago.  I am very good drawing cartoon characters and I am artistic. I am also a Special Olympic athlete. I am on the Search Squad basketball team. We got a silver medal at the state competition this year! Now I am starting to participate in Track and Field. I am also a Disability Awareness Player. We do disability awareness trainings at a lot of different businesses, libraries, and schools.  It is very fun to do.  

I’ve been at No Boundaries for quite a while. At No Boundaries, I especially like practicing social communication and self-advocacy skills. But I also practice organization, judgment, personal responsibility and writing. I wrote a blog comparing Planet Access Company, where I work, and the Comfort Lighting Warehouse that we visited.  I also do office work as an intern at No Boundaries. 

Adrian’s bio:  I live in Chicago, Illinois.  I work in downtown Chicago at The Fine Line tile showroom and I use the brown line on the CTA’s L to get there. I use the Metra to get to Evanston as well. When I’m at No Boundaries I refine certain skills and work on an advice column called Ask Adrian Anything. I also write poetry, song lyrics and fictional stories. I actually have two poems published in a book called “A Room of Golden Shells.” I even have my own writing blog that has over 200 poems on it as well as many other pages.

No Boundaries participants like Matt, Aliraza, Alex, Abby, and Adrian advance through curriculum-based classroom instruction, which is complimented by opportunities for practical, hands-on experiences in the workplace and community. Participants learn and practice real-world skills for employment and community living.

Could you benefit from No Boundaries unique approach to work and life skills training?

Please contact Tricia Luzadder at tluzadder@search-inc.org or 847-869-0000 to find out more!