Nursery closed when the board of directors changed the agency’s mission to begin serving developmentally disabled children.

Name was changed to Douglas Park Nursery and Training Center for Retarded Children

Ground was broken to build the school.

Agency was renamed the Chicago School for Retarded Children.

A workshop was added in the school’s basement to educate and train adults with developmental disabilities. Services were provided to approximately 40 children and 40 adults.

Anixter Center’s Packaging Business was launched.

Purchased Levy Center at 6610 N. Clark and expanded adult vocational training program to serve 100 participants.

Agency became known as the Chicago School and Workshop for the Retarded, although this was not an official name change.

Opened the organization's first residence, Renaissance House, a facility serving adults with developmental disabilities.

Initiated Transitional Employment Program, the first program of its kind in the nation to provide job training in industrial settings.

Anixter Center opened its only workshop in Evanston, located on Emerson Street, and it remained operational through 1992.

The 2032 N. Clybourn Building was purchased, becoming the agency’s flagship location.

The Job Skills Developmental Training Program was initiated; it achieved a 50 percent job placement record by the end of its first year.

The Chicago Bridge Building Center, at Ravenswood and Montrose, opened. It replaced the Uptown and Wilson workshops.

The agency’s name was changed to Chicago Services for Work and Rehabilitation.

Agency served 500 people.

Janitorial Service opened for business to provide full-service maintenance to major Chicagoland businesses.

Anixter Center’s first HUD building, the Skolnick Building, opened at 1401 W. Chase in Chicago.

Moved location of the Levy Center from 6610 N. Clark to 2032 N. Clybourn.

Started Supported Living Arrangement (SLA) Program with 50 scattered site apartments.

Reopened the school at the Byron Center with capability to serve 69 students because children and young people with the most severe disabilities couldn’t be successfully served in public schools.

Changed name of agency to THE CENTER for the Rehabilitation and Training of the Disabled.

Opened McLean and Hoyne Houses to serve individuals with behavior disorders and/or hearing impairments.

Began Microfilm Services, which earned $4,000 its first year. The name was changed in 1995 to Imaging Service.

Anixter Center had a $4 million annual budget and a staff of 175.

Developed Supported Group Living program at Jarvis House to serve individuals with mental illness.

Opened Clark Street Apartments, another HUD Building, for barrier-free residential settings. The agency’s administrative offices relocated to the first floor of this location shortly after the building opened.

Inaugurated the Factory Program to help special education students referred by the juvenile justice system in making the transition from school to work.

Created Employer Advisory Committee to stay informed about current trends in the labor market.

Gained authority to grant Continuing Education Unit Credits for in-house staff training programs.

Became known as THE CENTER for the Rehabilitation and Training of Persons with Disabilities, although this was not an official name change.

Purchased Pen Prints, Inc., a specialty imprinting and foil stamping business, to provide work experience to students in The Factory program. Pen Prints last year in business was 1995.

Opened Southwest Suburban Micrographic Services in Tinley Park. The business merged into the agency’s imaging business in 1995.

Began operating Community Integrated Living Arrangement Program (CILAs), which moved people with developmental disabilities and mental illnesses from nursing homes into the agency's community-based residential facilities.

Developed JobWorks to help individuals with hearing impairments secure competitive employment.

Created North Suburban Employment Services to help students with developmental disabilities make a successful transition from high school to employment. In FY97, the name was changed to Anixter Center North.

Anixter Center’s annual budget was $12 million with a staff of 280.

Formed a joint venture with Schwab Rehabilitation Hospital and Care Network to establish a health care facility exclusively for people with disabilities. The enterprise was renamed ACCESS at Anixter Center in 2002.

In conjunction with Schwab Rehabilitation Hospital and Care Network, Anixter Center started New Focus, a community reintegration program for persons with brain injuries.

Initiated a Literacy Program to provide individually designed literacy training to people with disabilities while enhancing their ability to obtain and maintain good jobs.

Began the Prevention Project, a program to develop substance abuse prevention practices for persons who are chronically mentally ill and/or developmentally disabled.

Began 24-hour operation of Microfilm Service.

Expanded agency operations to include 40 programs.

Placed 230 persons with disabilities into employment.

Agency-operated businesses generated $3 million in revenues of which $2.1 million was paid in wages to clients who participated in the work programs.

Developed Rehabilitation Aide Training in response to a shortage of qualified aides to give direct services to persons with disabilities.

Began offering case management services in a cooperative program with the Mayor's Office of Persons with Disabilities to address the needs of people with disabilities living in the community who were homebound and not participating in any specific rehabilitation program.

Opened Outpatient Substance Abuse Treatment to people with disabilities in the Chicagoland area. Expanded Addiction Recovery of the Deaf to include an outpatient component.

Name of agency was changed to the LESTER AND ROSALIE ANIXTER CENTER.

Opened the 21-unit Hoyne Apartments, another HUD location.

A collaboration with Wright College was formed to offer office skills training on campus to students in an integrated classroom that includes individuals with disabilities and nondisabled students.

Opened a HUD building in Evanston at Ridge and Dobson to provide accessible housing that also was affordable.

Initiated Total Quality Management (TQM) process.

Received 1994 National Safety Council Award for Improvement in the Quality of Life for People with Disabilities and the Illinois Department of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse 1994 Exemplary Program Award for Treatment - Special Populations.

Anixter Center was named Illinois Association of Rehabilitation Facilities Member of the Year.

Began internal reorganization of vocational, day training, employment and business programs to reflect organizational affirmation of Total Quality Management (TQM).

Byron School added a special education program for students who are medically fragile and opened an integrated preschool for students with and without disabilities.

Schwab at Anixter Center added 700 feet of new offices and examining rooms, thereby increasing service capacity to 40 patients a day. Anixter Center purchased a building at 2001 North Clybourn.

Imaging Services added CD-ROM capability.

Rosalie “Pinky” Anixter passed away.

Federal, state and city governments reacted to November elections by initiating budget cuts that adversely affected programs for people with disabilities. The Rehabilitation Aide program was eliminated while some potential programs were shelved and belts were tightened agencywide.

Anixter Center cosponsored The First National Conference on Substance Abuse and Co-Existing Disabilities.

American Rehabilitation Association presented its Innovative Rehabilitation Award to Access at Anixter Center. 

Anixter Center North expanded services, including opening an Arlington Heights office to offer service options to people in the northwest suburbs.

CALOR, a Humboldt Park agency specializing in services within the Latino community to individuals and their families who are living with HIV/AIDS, merged with Anixter Center in March. 

Residential Services opened two new CILAs – one on Beacon and another on Rockwell. 

The Retirement Research Foundation awarded a 1997 ENCORE Award to Greater Life, a Community Resources and Support program for senior citizens with disabilities. 

The Training Institute moved to larger, renovated quarters at 2032 N. Clybourn that featured a 13-station computer lab.

The Polk Conference Center, a flexible meeting area with seating for 150 people and many high-tech features, debuted. 

Chicago Hearing Society, an organization that has been providing services to people who are deaf or hard of hearing since 1916, merged with Anixter Center in July. 

United Way of America honored Anixter Center with a prestigious national award, a Bronze Level Excellence in Service Quality Award – national level.

Anixter Center began operating the Center Court Grille, a food service training program which serves as a cafeteria for the Illinois Department of Transportation’s (IDOT) Administration Building in Schaumburg.

18^th Street CILA opened in Zion, Illinois. Other residences open on Talman and Roscoe.

A charter member of the Metro-Chicago Human Services Coalition, Anixter Center began increased its presence in Springfield and advocated for a Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA).

Chicago Hearing Society introduced a victim assistance program for people who are deaf or hard of hearing and are victims of violent crime.

Anixter Center held its first-ever “Kids Disability Awareness Day.” 

Anixter Center observed its 80^th Anniversary.

Construction started on two pediatric residences in Evanston and Chicago for medically fragile children. According to an innovative concept developed by Anixter Center, the homes will be converted into adult group living facilities when the children reach 21 years of age.  

Residential Services, celebrating 25 years of service, opened Highland Court CILA in Winthrop Harbor, its second Lake County facility. 

A Professional Job Placement Program for People with Severe Disabilities was launched in partnership with the Department of Human Services/Office of Rehabilitation Services.

Evanston Home opened in June for eight medically fragile children.

An accessible playground for the 177 children of Byron School was dedicated in September. 

Professional Job Placement moved beyond the metropolitan area and began providing services in Springfield. 

Early in the year, CALOR opened Casa Contreras, a 17-unit apartment building for individuals and families in the Latino community affected by HIV/AIDS. In the fall, CALOR opened a Resource and Wellness Center to provide a variety of general health and prevention services for people with disabilities.

The Adult Community Transition Program (ACT) began operation. It is a collaborative project of the Parent Advisory Group, North Suburban Special Education District, Anixter Center and Community Alternatives Unlimited, to transition students from special education into independent life in the community.

As it had many times before, CARF, The Commission on the Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilites, awarded its highest ranking, a three-year accreditation, to Anixter Center’s Employment Services, Community Services and Alcohol and Other Drug Programs.

As a means to ensure that the voices of people with disabilities would be heard in Springfield and elsewhere, and to advocate for full funding of community-based programs for people with disabilities, three groups were formed within Anixter Center that work in concert to speak out on agency issues: GAC, the Government Action Committee; CGAC, the Client Government Action Committee; and EGAC, the Employee Government Action Committee.

Hearing Loss Link, an agency that served late-deafened adults, merged with Anixter Center and then became a part of Chicago Hearing Society.

Lester J. Anixter, the agency’s benefactor and namesake, passed away in February.  

Avondale Home opened its doors to eight children who are medically fragile.

Transition Services opened. It is a program that assists students moving from special education classes at Chicago Public Schools to work opportunities in the community.

Working with Chicago advertising agency Chicago Creative Partnership, Anixter Center launched a successful membership campaign and an extensive and successful awareness-raising campaign themed, “We see the ability in everyone.”

The Factory is renamed The Roberta Bachmann Lewis Factory Program in honor of a beloved board member.

National Lekotek Center, the country’s central source on toys and play for children with special needs, merged with Anixter Center in December.

The Chicago Hearing Society, a division of Anixter Center, began providing interpreters to Communication Services for the Deaf, a national nonprofit organization, for its pioneering new Video Relay Service (VRS). Using VRS, individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing can make telephone conversation anywhere in the world using sign language, a two-way Internet connection and video technology.

This year was an important one for Anixter Center’s advocacy efforts. Hundreds of people – including employees, clients and friends of the agency – participated in a well-organized advocacy campaign that included a letter-writing drive, frequent communication with legislators, rallies and other efforts. In a very difficult budget year for the state of Illinois, Anixter Center managed to achieve a 4 percent funding increase, representing a solid victory for the agency and its supporters. 

Anixter Center was named Chicago’s 13th-largest charitable organization by Crain’s Chicago Business. 

Stuart Ferst, who served Anixter Center for 35 years and was president and CEO from 1983 to June 2004, retired. Allan I. Bergman, a nationally recognized leader and expert on disability rights, services and advocacy, joined Anixter Center as president and CEO in July.