About Us

Mission & History

Our Mission: Clearbrook is committed to being a leader in creating innovative opportunities, services and support for people with disabilities.

• Fall 1955
  Five families begin meeting with hopes of establishing a school for their special needs children.
  
  
• April 16, 1956
  Clearbrook’s first classroom opens in a barn in Rolling Meadows, designated as the “Rolling Meadows Community School for Retarded Children Council.”
  
  
• 1961
  Clearbrook acquires our first permanent building.
  
  
• Fall 1965
  Under the watchful eye of the Workshop Director , the Clearbrook Vocational Rehabilitation Center starts out with an enrollment of five trainees in a converted shoe repair shop in Rolling Meadows.
  
  
• March 31, 1970
  The Board of Directors approves the change in the corporate name, eliminating “For the Retarded” to reflect the expansion of the agency’s services to a broader group of individuals.
  
  
• July 7, 1973
  Clearbrook’s first residential program is opened when adult clients move into a Community Living Facility in Arlington Heights.
  
  
• October 1, 1974
  Clearbrook launches our Early Intervention/Infant Stimulation Program, called CHILD (Clearbrook Helps Infants Learn and Develop).
  
  
• April 26, 1978
  Clearbrook inaugurates a new residential program known as the Supported Living Arrangement.
  
  
• June 1979
  The day school is closed due to educational opportunities offered by the public school system, as mandated by public law 94-142. The school is replaced by another educational day program, Day Training for Special Needs.
  
  
• October 30, 1985
  Clearbrook Commons opens to 90 residents.
  
  
• August 1987
  Clearbrook purchases the former Sacred Heart of Mary High School building in Rolling Meadows and moves our administrative offices and workshops to that location.
  
  
• February 6, 1989
  The Day Training Transition Program, designed to prepare Day Training clients for future opportunities in a workshop setting, is established.
  
  
• September 1989
  Children’s Services implements the Preschool Mainstream Program for three- and four-year olds, offering support to special needs children, their families and community preschool staffs.
  
  
• Spring 1991
  The Clearbrook Clinic, designed to provide therapies to clients and the community, opens.
  
  
• September 1993
  Specialized senior day services are offered through the Developmental Training Program.
  
  
• May 1996
  The Wright Home in Gurnee comes under Clearbrook management.
  
  
• July 1996
  Our Respite Program begins providing in-home care to parents with children up to the age of three. Supported Employment Program is also introduced.
  
  
• Summer 1997
  “Center” is dropped from the Clearbrook name to more fully reflect the numerous locations serving clients.
  
  
• September 1997
  Clearbrook was awarded Child and Family Connections (CFC) of North/Northwest Cook County.
  
  
• April 1999
  New Resale Shop opens at southwest corner of Central and Wilke in Arlington Heights.
  
  
• Summer 2001
  Administrative offices move to Arlington Heights, while a new Developmental Training facility opens in Schaumburg.
  
  
• October 2006
  Clearbrook Cafe opens at Central and New Wilke Roads in Arlington Heights.
  
  
• January 2007
  The Hope/Clearbrook Partnership opens a group home for women with autism located in Hoffman Estates.
  
  
• June 2008
  The Hope/Clearbrook Partnership opens a group home for young men with autism located in Buffalo Grove.