Our mission is to empower individuals with disabilities and those with barriers to work to achieve their highest level of employment and independence.

Inclusion is Our Umbrella

Collaboration is Our Spirit

Access is Our Home

Character is Our Key

Fun is Our Essential

Empowerment is our Commitment

The Next Right Step is Our Responsibility

Our Story

In 1951, a young woman named Jean Walker Bentley, opened her hands to innovate for children and families who were largely unnoticed and unpopular. She overcame barriers in her cultural context of being thought of as "less than" as a woman and of the people she wanted to serve being thought of as "less than".


U&I was originally the Children's Development Center designed to meet the scholastic and socialization needs of children with special needs. Through partnerships with Southern Methodist University, The University of North Texas, and The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Children’s Development Center achieved a worldwide reputation as a leader in the field of educating children with disabilities and was renowned as a pioneer in programming that facilitated the integration of individuals with disabilities into society.


In 1981, we redirected our program focus from the education of children with disabilities, now a federally mandated public school responsibility, to serving all adults with all-types of disabilities. As the Citizens Development Center/Achieve, we grew from a vocational training/placement center to serving and finding employment for veterans then we added vocational adjustment training for special education students preparing to transition out of high school.


Today, as one of the largest workforce development centers in DFW, we continue to meet the ever-increasing needs of the disability population through our programs that last year provided vocational training, job readiness training, paid work opportunities, and community placement to over 1000 youth and adults with severe intellectual, physical, and/or mental health disabilities.

5 Big Bright Lights

Metrics That Matter


The annualized earnings of U&I Clients in FY2022 was $5,976,497. Directly alleviating poverty and generational cycles of marginalized segments in DFW and beyond.


U&I made transportation accessible to 249 Veterans, Disabled Adults, and Youth that would not have access in transportation deserts in DFW.


By ensuring that 191 disabled individuals entered the workforce in FY2022, U&I tangibly improved DEI in DFW.


In FY2022, U&I empowered 246 clients with new skills that directly impact and increase employability.


U&I's employees with severe disabilities, deemed "unemployable" by virtually all other employers, earned paychecks for 62, 326 hours of work in U&I's FY2022.



Our Team

Bridgett Forge

Chief Executive Officer

Diane Jones

Director of Grants & Wage Services

Ed Vonder

Director of Veteran Affairs

Michelle Bryant

Director of HR & Compliance

Our Board

Matthew Milhauser

Matthew has experience working in both the public and private sectors, specializing primarily in corporate strategy and executive leadership. In his professional endeavors, he has led multi-disciplinary teams ranging from sales to operations and worked with leadership from SMB to multi-billion-dollar companies to develop and execute growth strategies. A tenured board member, Matthew has served U&I for over 5 years in various capacities and focuses his efforts on identifying and exploring opportunities to enhance the strategic position of U&I. He was drawn to serve U&I based on the alignment of its mission with his experience growing up with a disabled sibling and seeing firsthand how this community is largely marginalized, especially as they become adults. Matthew’s hope is that he can leverage his combined professional and personal experience to spread the light of inclusion and enhance the lives of those who need our help the most.

Obi Chukwumah

A Columbus, OH, native earned a bachelor!s degree in Politcal Science from Wake Forest University in December 2003 and Master!s Degree in Educational Leadership and Policy from the University of Texas at Arlington (UT Arlington) in May 2012. Obi is a former Senior Commercial Banker. During his tenure, he expanded the diversity within his institutions by lending the majority of $85MM of loan proceeds to businesses owned by people of color (2018-2021). AWer a 14-year banking career, Chukwumah launched Space_&_Equity, a holding company designed to educate, increase assets, and create new space for Black Entrepreneurs and those who identify with the need to expand wealth in their community. Space_&_Equity (www.spaceequitycorp.com), has three verticals; (1) Come Correct Podcast, the educational & entertainment arm that includes interviews, apparel sales, and events, (2) Come Correct Consulting, a commercial banking consultation platform, and (3) Kennaija Beans Holdings, a Scooter’s Coffee franchisee. Obi and his wife, Danielle, have two daughters Zina and Amara, and a son, Obi Jr. (OJ). They’ve called Garland, Texas home since 2016 aer several Air Force stops where Letia, honorably discharged with the rank of Major. Their daughters are active in Club Volleyball, Track and Field respectively; while OJ, is simply active! Free 4me for the family is filled with their love for domes4c and international travel. Obi serves as Board Chairman of Achieve DFW, a not-for-profit that seeks to eliminate exclusion as it pertains to the workplace for adults living with disabilities and barriers to work (2017 -). Finally, Chukwumah is fueled by his faith in God, and believes that Space_&_Equity is fulfilling his assignment.

Mark Heymann

Mark Heymann is the Managing Partner of Mark Heymann & Assoc, an organization focused on assisting organizations with their strategic direction while developing solid foundations for growth and expansion. Previously, he was a founding partner, CEO and remains a Director with UniFocus, LP the leading workforce performance firm in the service sector. He brings more than 45 years of experience in a variety of service industries, particularly in hospitality. Initially starting in the productivity / process improvement industry in the mid-70’s, Mr. Heymann pioneered the development of labor management system technology in the early ‘80s, and in 1991, introduced one of the earliest resource and labor management software programs, Watson R.M.™ In 1998, Mr. Heymann coordinated HGI’s merger with Strategic Quantitative Solutions and CST to create UniFocus, the first company to deliver the full array of performance management systems for the hospitality industry. UniFocus’ first-to-market innovations include automated dynamic scheduling, touch-screen time clocks and task-based labor for meetings and conventions. During Mr. Heymann’s years in business he has facilitated strategic planning, participated in workflow design, participated on for profit and non-profit Boards, while at the same time functioning as CEO for UniFocus, LP, a multi-national organization. Mr. Heymann has and continues to publish articles for Forbes, Hotel Executive and Global Business and Organizational Excellence. Mr. Heymann holds a B.A. in Economics from Brown University and an M.S. in Business from Columbia University.

Todd White

Todd is an experienced executive in the finance industry with over 30 years of experience. He currently manages a limited liability company that invests in small businesses and offers advisory services. Todd’s previous experience was in Asset management in insurance at Columbia Management/Ameriprise Financial as a managing director. Before that, he worked at HSBC as MD global Head of ABS/MBS business and North American Interest rate trading. Todd began the first 18 years of his career at Lehman Brothers where he was MD in charge of Global Mortgage trading. He is a proud parent of three adult children all living in Texas and celebrates his 29th wedding anniversary this year. Todd is dedicated to giving back to the community.

Joyce Mazero

As Co-Chair of Polsinelli’s Global Franchise and Supply Network practice, Joyce Mazero represents national and global product and service-based companies leading them through major initiatives including structuring franchise and distribution networks, purchasing cooperatives and buying groups; negotiating strategic alliances, joint ventures, domestic and international licensing, franchising, manufacturing, retail and logistics deals; buying and selling franchise chains, food service providers and manufacturing plants, and litigating franchise, intellectual property and distribution disputes around the world. Managing supply chain risk and leveraging supply chains to maximize competitive advantage and, increase cash flow opportunities; managing risk in domestic and international franchise systems to enhance market expansion opportunities and foster sustainable value relationships among franchisors, franchisees and suppliers, in her capacity are critical focal points of Joyce’s practice. Joyce is a certified mediator for complex commercial disputes. Chambers USA, the world's leading guide to the legal profession, has ranked Joyce “Top Ranked” in Band 1 for Franchising Nationwide for the past 14 consecutive years, since 2008. She is also highly ranked by Chambers Global. She is the recipient of several leadership awards from the International Franchise Association, the Women’s Foodservice Forum and the Dallas Business Journal. A frequent national speaker and writer, Joyce recently co-authored Franchise Management for Dummies, a Dummies series publication released in April 2017, was an editorial legal advisor to Franchising for Dummies, was co-editor of the ABA Forum on Franchising’sMonograph on Financial Performance Representations, and is a Contributing Writer for American City Business Journals and Forbes.com.

Chase Miller

Chase is a Principal at NAI Robert Lynn and specializes in Buyer/Seller Representation, Tenant Representation, and Institutional Leasing in the Brookhollow/Trinity Industrial submarket. Chase, a Dallas native, is a highly motivated, results-driven individual who is recognized for his tenacity, work ethic, and attention to detail. He is focused on market trends and providing high-quality service to his clients through a competitive advantage in the market. He and his team, personally track every acquisition, disposition, and lease of industrial space within the Brookhollow/Trinity submarket. Chase joined NAI Robert Lynn after a successful four-year collegiate basketball career including three Conference-USA Championships and two NCAA Tournament appearances. Chase has taken the success and energy that he applied on the court into the commercial real estate marketplace. In just four years in the business, Chase has sold over 200 buildings and completed well over 300 deals and $600 Million in transaction volume - the highest production volume in any broker’s first four years at NAI Robert Lynn. In 2022, Chase was promoted to Executive Vice President, and in 2023, Chase became a Principal, making him the youngest person to earn such distinction in the company’s 60-year history on both occasions.
Share by: