System Redesign: A Collaborative Vision for a Person-Centered I/DD System in Illinois

young woman providing in home support for adult woman

Illinois’ current system for supporting individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD) is complex, fragmented, and often difficult to navigate. Families and providers alike face a maze of agencies, funding streams, and service models that don’t always align with the values of dignity, inclusion, and person-centered care.

The Statewide System Redesign initiative is a three-year collaborative effort, the first year of which is funded by a grant from the Coleman Foundation, bringing together a first-of-its-kind coalition of statewide organizations and provider agencies committed to building a better, more responsive system.

Coalition partners include:

The Arc of Illinois
Illinois Association of Rehabilitation Facilities (IARF)
University of Illinois Chicago – University Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities Education, Research, and Service (UIC-UCEDD)
The Center for Developmental Disabilities Advocacy and Community Supports
The Institute on Public Policy for People with Disabilities

Keystone Alliance is proud of its participation in this initiative since its inception over two years ago. Keystone’s CEO now co-leads the IARF System Redesign Workgroup, which is organizing the system redesign data strategy, inter-agency collaboration, and analysis efforts. This role reflects Keystone’s values-driven commitment to advocacy and systems change; build a better system for nonprofits and the communities they serve.

What’s Broken, and Why It Matters

Today’s system involves a web of agencies and programs: Medicaid, DHS-DDD, DCFS, ISBE, HFS, SSI/SSDI, local school districts, transportation services, and more. Each operates with its own rules, funding mechanisms, and eligibility criteria. This complexity creates barriers to access, continuity, and quality of care.

For providers, the financial model is often misaligned with the realities of service delivery. For example, placing someone in community employment may result in a net financial loss due to reimbursement gaps—despite being the right outcome for the individual.

And for individuals with IDD, the consequences are stark: more than 100,000 people in Illinois with IDD are not connected to any formal support system. That’s not just a gap—it’s a call to action.

A Vision for Change

The coalition’s shared vision is a person-centered I/DD system that is easier to navigate, more equitable, and better aligned with the needs and goals of individuals and families. Crucially, the system must support people throughout their lives—from childhood to school age, into adulthood, and as they age. It must be seamless, responsive, and built around what people actually want and need.

First-Year Activities

The first year of the initiative is focused on laying the groundwork for long-term transformation. Key activities include:

Developing a shared framework for what a person-centered system should look like, informed by the lived experiences of people with IDD and their families
Mapping the current system to identify gaps, redundancies, and opportunities for integration
Defining measurable outcomes that reflect quality of life, access, and equity
Piloting new approaches to service coordination and funding that better reflect real-world needs
Engaging stakeholders to understand what people want from the system and how it can better meet those needs

Stakeholder Engagement

Stakeholder engagement is central to the initiative’s success. The coalition is actively involving:

People with I/DD and their families, whose insights guide the vision and priorities
Providers, who bring operational expertise and innovation
Funders, such as the Coleman Foundation, whose support has helped catalyze collaboration
State agencies and systems partners, whose alignment is essential for lasting change

This inclusive approach ensures that the redesigned system reflects the values and needs of the community it serves—and that it delivers real, measurable benefits.

Looking Ahead

System Redesign is a multi-year journey, but the foundation is strong and we all want the same thing. With shared goals, strategic collaboration, and a renewed spirit of partnership, the coalition is helping shape a future where services are easier to access, more responsive, and truly centered on the lives and goals of individuals with IDD.

The system should work for the people it’s meant to support. We’re proud to be part of this effort and look forward to what we’ll be able to accomplish together.

Keystone Alliance is an ecosystem of nonprofit organizations, services, and initiatives, working together and with the field as a collaborative force to help nonprofits strengthen and sustain their missions.

We support our family of organizations and the larger nonprofit community through Keystone Shared Services, our shared back office platform, and Mission + Strategy, our strategic consulting division.

Let’s talk to see how we can help create capacity, sustainability, and collaboration for your organization.