It takes U&I to spread the light of inclusion-ending the exclusion of people with disabilities. Stand with us for the marginalized. Help us ensure individuals with disabilities discover, develop and inhabit their whole, authentic selves. We believe in our clients and our clients believe in themselves!
To learn more about our employment programs or about hiring our clients, take a look at the different options we have available.
FOR
EMPLOYERS
Our Work Center Program provides on-site vocational training and rehabilitation. Our clients receive work experience through fulfillment or assembly projects at our facility.
FOR
CLIENTS
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Everyone has time, talent or treasure to offer.
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Time
U&I depends on group and individual volunteers to help us with many different projects, from maintaining our garden to throwing a party for our clients.
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Treasure
Giving a financial gift to U&I is a tangible way to contribute directly to life-long benefits to clients.
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Talent
Do you have a very specific skillset you would like to contribute? Take a look at our volunteer opportunities and contact us to find the perfect fit for you.
SERVICES
Work Center
Our Work Center Program provides on-site vocational training and rehabilitation. Our clients receive work experience through fulfillment or assembly projects at our facility.
Employee Placement
For adults with disabilities who choose to work in the community, we offer hands-on, customized employment placement services to help find the best and most fruitful fit.
Veteran Placement
U & I provides employment services and job search assistance to veterans with disabilities. Veterans may apply directly for services without going through a referral agency.
VAT Training
Classroom-Based Instruction for High School Students to improve self-awareness, soft skills, and job preparation
Academy
Our Academy is an interactive, accessible & adaptive learning experience focused on life skills and pre-vocational development for individuals with disabilities ages 18 and up. Learn More
Our mission is to empower individuals with disabilities and those with barriers to work to achieve their highest level of employment and independence.
/about
We are U&I
We work with a population of people that most don’t want to work with or simply prefer to avoid. It’s our priority and highest value to stand with and for the excluded – to spread the light of inclusion.
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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.
Celebrating 70 years of community impact, we have the opportunity and responsibility to carry the mission forward and make it flourish into the future. In 2051, we will celebrate 100 years of impact. That said, our VISION is to SPREAD THE LIGHT OF INCLUSION; ENDING EXCLUSION for people with disabilities with 1 MILLION PEOPLE BY 2051. It will take U & I, so join the movement and make together-history with us!"
