Mayor's Office for People with Disabilities (MOPD)

06/11/2026

Abilities Expo is this weekend, June 12-14, at the Renaissance Schaumburg Convention Center Hotel! Sign up for free: https://www.abilities.com/chicago/register

06/10/2026

Chicago residents, ages of 14 to19: Share your perspective with City officials on the Mayor’s Youth Commission!

The Mayor’s Youth Commission meets monthly to advise the Mayor and City staff on issues that impact Chicago’s young people. As a Youth Commissioner, you will connect with other young adults in the City, collaborate with policymakers, work on projects for the Mayor’s Office, and more. The Youth Commission is accepting applications for the 2026-2027 term. If selected, you will receive a stipend and CTA passes. Apply by June 19 at this form: tinyurl.com/MYCapp26. If you need accessibility to complete the form, please email [email protected].

If you’re interested but have questions, the Mayor’s Office will hold an information session on June 12 from 4:30-5:30 PM on Zoom. Sign up for those sessions here: tinyurl.com/MYCinfo26

Program Overview The Mayor's Youth Commission (MYC) is made up of 40 Chicagoans ages 14-19. Youth Commissioners will serve as liaisons between Mayor's Office and Chicago's youth. Working alongside the Mayor and his team, Youth Commissioners will meet on a monthly basis to foster youth-driven civic e...

06/09/2026

ASL interpreted Millennium Park Summer Music Series! All concerts will be held at the Jay Pritzker Pavilion in Millennium Park from 6:30 PM to 9 PM. For set times and more information, visit the Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events website: https://www.chicago.gov/city/en/depts/dca/supp_info/millennium_park_music_series.html

June 15, Arrested Development with Linda Sol and DJ Ca$h Era (Trilingual [Spanish] ASL Interpreters)

June 18, Let the Spirit Out! A Jubilant Celebration of Juneteenth with D-Composed and Kahil El'Zabar's Ethnic Heritage Ensemble with special guests Nona Hendryx and David Murray (Interpreter: Walter Mathews)

June 22, Sheila E. with Melody Angel and DJ Larz Natural

June 25, Patrice Rushen with Sparklmami and DJ Shon Dervis (Interpreter: Walter Mathews)

June 29, Sir Chloe, Venus & the Flytraps, DJ Jill Hopkins

06/05/2026

How do we grow job and career opportunities for people with disabilities? To address this question, representatives from MOPD participated in a national workshop last month hosted by the National League of Cities.

At the “Expanding Workforce Opportunities for All Learning Lab,” teams from eight cities shared research and developed strategies to better support job seekers and employees with disabilities. Representatives from World Business Chicago and the Lincoln Park Zoo also joined our cohort, representing Chicago partners in our work to increase job and career opportunities for people with disabilities.

As the only Midwestern city selected, we are proud to stand alongside Albany, New York, Birmingham, Alabama, Boise, Idaho, Houston, Texas, Little Rock, Arkansas, Miramar, Florida, and New York, New York in our common goals of strengthening support for employees with disabilities. Read more about our participation at our website:

CHICAGO — Today Mayor Brandon Johnson and the Mayor’s Office for People with Disabilities announced Chicago was one of eight cities invited to an inaugural technical assistance experience, led by the National League of Cities (NLC) Learning Lab, designed to accelerate the Johnson admin...

06/03/2026

ASL interpreted ! Set times and more information can be found at the Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events website: https://www.chicago.gov/city/en/depts/dca/supp_info/chicago_blues_festival.html

Willie Clayton, John Primer: Tribute to Theresa’s Lounge, Fireside Chat: 20 Years of the Mississippi Blues, Thursday, June 4, 5-10:30PM at Ramova Theatre, 3520 S. Halsted. Free tickets are required: https://www.tixr.com/groups/ramovatheatre/events/chicago-blues-festival-184154 (Interpreters: Jennifer McElroy, Walter Mathews, Diego Diaz)

75 Years of Billy Branch with Kenny Neal and Ronnie Baker Brooks, Ruthie Foster, Shakura S’Aida, Dylan Triplett, Saturday, June 6, 3:45-9PM at Millennium Park (Jay Pritzker Pavilion) (Interpreters: Jennifer McElroy, Walter Mathews)

Taj Mahal and the Phantom Blues Band, Chris Cain, Sue Foley, Women in Blues Tribute to Mama Yancey and Big Mama Thornton with Mary Lane, Deitra Farr, Katherine Davis, Nora Jean Wallace, Melody Angel, Lee Kanehira, and Lynne Jordan & the Shivers, Sunday, June 7, 3:30-9PM at Millennium Park (Jay Pritzker Pavilion) (Interpreters: Jennifer McElroy, Walter Mathews)

06/02/2026

Chicago: We need your input! Share your ideas for next year’s budget at an upcoming Budget Engagement Roundtable.

The Budget Engagement Roundtables are an opportunity for you to help shape the future of our City. City leaders want to know your ideas! What services do you need? How should the City spend money in your neighborhood? The Mayor and City departments will use this feedback to help create the budget, which is introduced at City Council in the fall.

Before each roundtable, MOPD and other departments will provide free resources. Come stop by!

Roundtable Dates:
• June 3, 2026 – Malcolm X College
• June 6, 2026 – Harry S. Truman College
• June 16, 2026 – Kennedy-King College
• June 24, 2026 – Curie Metropolitan High School
Youth Budget Roundtable (Ages 14–24):
June 25, 2026 – Harold Washington Library Center, Winter Garden

Sign up (optional) for one or more of these events today. Submit your access requests at this website: https://www.chicago.gov/city/en/depts/obm/provdrs/budget/svcs/FY2027BudgetEngagement.html

06/02/2026

06/01/2026

Apply for a DCASE CityArts grant to support your arts and culture organization by Wednesday, June 3 at 12 PM!

The Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events (DCASE) strives to provide arts programming in all 77 neighborhoods. To make this happen, the CityArts Program offers grant support to Chicago arts and culture nonprofits of all sizes and artistic disciplines.

To receive a grant, your organization must be a 501(c)(3) organization in Chicago, incorporated in the state of Illinois, and primarily serving Chicago residents with arts and culture activities or services.

Read about the requirements and apply for a grant at ChicagoCulturalGrants.org.

06/01/2026

Join MOPD, the Chicago Department of Housing, and the Cook County Assessor's Office for our Housing Access and Inclusion Fair! On Wednesday, June 3 from 1 PM to 4 PM at Central West Community Center (2102 W Ogden Ave), people with disabilities and older adults can learn about property tax exemptions, housing protections, home modifications, and other essential city services.

All are welcome. Sign up for the Housing Access and Inclusion fair today! https://bit.ly/2026WelcomeHome

ASL and Spanish interpretation provided. Wayfinding is also available. To request additional access, please contact [email protected] or call 312-744-3653.

05/29/2026

Whether commuting by bus, train, or both, you rely on the CTA. Now, the Chicago Transit Authority is relying on you.

Riders with disabilities are invited to share their experience with Chicago’s public transit system. Your comments will help the CTA make positive changes to the services we all need. Fill out the CTA survey by Friday, June 5: www.research.net/r/MoPDCTA. Participants can earn a chance to win up to $500 in prizes!