By: Katie Gira I remember the sun. Say Something Week stops me in my tracks because I remember exactly where I was the morning of December 14, 2012. My one and only child, James, was in preschool. It was a sunny morning in the sleepy suburban Chicago town of Palos Park, Illinois—a place strikingly similar …
At iCan Dream Center, we often talk about belonging — not as a buzzword, but as a lived experience. It’s the feeling a student gets when they walk through our doors and know, without question, “I am safe here. I matter here. I belong here.” Behind that feeling, every single day, are our social workers. They …
For many girls and women, ADHD does not look the way people expect it to. It is not always loud or disruptive. Often, it is quiet, hidden, and carefully managed. While ADHD in boys is frequently recognized early through hyperactivity or impulsive behavior, girls are more often praised for being polite, helpful, or imaginative. On …
Let’s just say it. You like them. You replay their texts.You check their story.You overthink the timing of your reply.You wonder if you’re being obvious. And instead of saying something clear…you do the safe thing. You react to their story.You keep it vague.You stay in the almost. Ambiguity feels safer.But clarity builds confidence. If you …
Through the Illinois Youth Investment Program (IYIP), our students at iCan Dream Center had the opportunity to participate in a powerful, grant-funded workforce development experience made possible through our partnership with Metropolitan Family Services. Being selected as an MFS partner allowed our students to step into real-world learning that builds confidence, responsibility, and career readiness. …
by: Zipporah Leach, Vocational Specialist iCan Dream Center We are incredibly grateful to Advocate South Suburban Hospital for welcoming our students with care, professionalism, and genuine inclusion. Their partnership provides more than volunteer opportunities, it creates space for growth, confidence, and dignity. On the first day of his internship, one of our students arrived eager, …
One of the most underestimated barriers facing young adults with disabilities isn’t ability, motivation, or talent—it’s transportation. At iCan Dream Center, we see this reality every day. Our students are capable, eager, and ready to work, learn, and participate in their communities. Yet without reliable transportation, even the most motivated young adult can find their …
By: Zipporah Leach, Vocational Specialist iCan Dream Center The holiday season brought twinkling lights, cheerful music, and a sense of excitement, but in the world of customer service, the most wonderful time of the year inevitably brings a modicum of stress, frustration, and very real human emotions. For many of our students who stepped into …
By Zipporah Leach, Vocational Specialist This semester, our students stepped into workplaces across our community with courage, curiosity, and a determination that deserves to be celebrated. As their Vocational Specialist, I have the privilege of walking beside them as they practice employability skills, discover their strengths, and challenge the world’s expectations of what students with …
By: Me, age 6 Everyone keeps saying it’s almost time to see Santa. They say it like it’s fun. Like it’s sparkly and magical and full of jingle bells. And maybe it is—for other kids. But for me? Well… it’s kind of a lot. When I think about seeing Santa, my tummy does a weird …
