Historical Background
The idea for Skills, Inc. was first conceived in 1966 by a perceptive group of community leaders who recognized a pressing need for a locally based vocational rehabilitation and training organization. Local support, combined with state and federal start-up money, transformed this idea into an operational reality in 1968.
Over the years the mission of the organization has changed very little. In the mid-1980’s the Board of Directors added services to persons with disadvantages, in addition to persons with disabilities, to the mission. This enabled the organization to serve the special needs population. The organization has been housed in three locations in Rock Island and Moline, Illinois over the past 30 years. In 1972, it moved into its current location at 1122 5th Avenue, Moline, Illinois.

Skills, Inc. has remained a unique organization within the Quad City area. The organization is neither disability specific or geographically limited to the population it can serve. Because of this uniqueness, Skills, Inc. has provided persons with disabilities and disadvantages in both Illinois and Iowa with quality vocational rehabilitation services. These services has included vocational evaluation, work adjustment training, occupational skill training (business training and custodial light maintenance training), placement services, and sheltered employment. The focus of Skills, Inc. has been to assist the persons served in finding and keeping competitive employment within the community.

In 1978, Skills, Inc. received its first accreditation from the Commission on the Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF) and has maintained its CARF accreditation of its vocational rehabilitation programs continuously to the present.

Over the years, Skills, Inc. has provided its vocational services to a variety of referral and funding sources. These sources include, but are not limited to, the Illinois Department of Human Services/Offices of Developmental Disabilities, Illinois Department of Human Services/Office of Rehabilitation Services, Iowa Division of Vocational Rehabilitation Services, U.S. Department of Veteran’s Affairs (Des Moines & Chicago regions), and private insurance carriers and rehabilitation companies. Skills, Inc. has collaborated on projects with Family Resources, Inc. and Vera French Mental Health Center. Currently, Skills, Inc. continues to collaborate with Vera French Mental Health Center to provide accredited vocational rehabilitation services to persons with mental illness.

Skills, Inc. also operates a Commercial Services Division, which performs contract work for business and industry in the Quad Cities. This division provides two purposes. It houses a small sheltered workshop and provides employment to the participants of the program. In addition, it performs contract work, which provides revenue to assist in the continuation of the delivery of programs and services to persons with disabilities and disadvantages.

Over the years, Skills, Inc. has provided vocational rehabilitation services to thousands of persons in Illinois and Iowa and provided them the opportunity to get and keep employment, assisting them in becoming contributing members of society.