Evanston Resident Honored for Work with the Disabled

Evanston resident Jane Doyle will be honored Oct. 1 at JJ's List's first annual fundraising benefit at Pinstripes in Northbrook.

JJ's List is a not-for profit organization that promotes disability awareness, teaches disabled adults employment and computer skills, and raises money to expand the impact of their programs. Based out of Evanston and Wilmette, the organization runs a website where volunteers can post reviews of local business' disability access and services.

Doyle is an inspiration to the entire Evanston community due to her "unwavering and lifelong commitment to inspire the disabled to lead normal lives," said JJ Hanley, founder and director of JJ's List.

Doyle is the co-founder and executive director of the Center for Independent Futures and has been an active advocate for the mentally handicapped for over twenty years. A former faculty member of National Louis University PACE Program and University of Illinois at Chicago, she co-founded the Center with Kay Branz in 2002 to provide a community- based support service in Evanston for the disabled.

"The Center started because Jane and Kay, two mothers with disabled daughters, felt that their children were falling through cracks,"said Margaret Tannenberger, the Center's Community Outreach Coordinator. "There weren't services meeting their needs."

What was once an idea between two worried parents over a kitchen table now affects over 100 disabled people and their families annually. In the eight years since its founding, the center has opened four community living option residences in Evanston, provided life-skills tutoring and personal support services, and piloted a program to work with high school age special education students.

According to Tannenberger, the community living option program was one of the Center's first goals.

"Kay and Jane put forth a call to action amongst other families with disabled children," Tannenberger said. "Fourteen families came together [...] that's how it was born."

Beginning in 2003, the residences allow disabled adults to live away from home while receiving support from fellow residents and a live-in community builder.

In addition to addressing the lack of community and government resources for the disabled, Doyle's work has paved the way for other organizations, such as JJ's List, to grow and succeed.

"Jane gives untold hours, energy, and professional expertise to support individuals with disabilities to be an active part of their communities," Hanley said. "JJ's List works toward full integration of people with disabilities into the community and Jane's leadership and generosity has helped pave the way for our successes. When I was working to get JJ's List off the ground three years ago, she did what a lot of organizations only talk about doing, collaboration."

The benefit will take place from 6-8:30 PM and feature a raffle with prizes and live entertainment by the Disability Awareness Players. Howard Shultz, executive director of the North Suburban YMCA, will emcee. For tickets and more information please visit http://jjslistfundraiser.eventbrite.com//