Perspectives & Press

Perspective from Herb Washington, CEO of CEL Every March, Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month (DDAM) is a time to reflect on inclusion, celebrate progress, and challenge society to do better. But what does “awareness” really mean? Are we simply acknowledging the existence of people with developmental disabilities, or are we working toward a world where inclusion […]

When Taylor Harris first walked into CEL, it was for a backup internship opportunity after her plan to intern in a school fell through. Her goal was to complete the requirement on her way to becoming a family and relationship therapist. What she didn’t anticipate was how her time with CEL members would change the […]

We’re proud to share that CEL has been selected as one of the 2024 grant award recipients by the Hellenic Foundation! CEL Board Secretary Mary Greanias is actively involved with the Hellenic Foundation, and saw an opportunity where the two organizations intersect. CEL programs are accessible to people from all backgrounds, and this grant allows […]

“Hello, Thomas. How’s it going?” This is the personalized hello that my son hears when he walks into CEL. It’s simple — and it’s truly what sets them apart. Hearing our son greeted by name and asked about himself by staff who genuinely care— as a parents of a son with autism and intellectual and […]

Elmhurst University recently highlighted our CEO Herb Washington, Class of 1997, in the “My Career Path” section of their Prospect Magazine, published in Summer 2024. The full magazine can be read here and the article appears on page 48. A Fateful Pivot A change in major set the course for Herb Washington ’97 to achieve […]

Imagine an everyday task like grocery shopping, broken down into individual steps: planning a list, getting to the store and navigating through it, budgeting and paying for everything, and then going home to prepare the meal with the correct ingredients. Now, consider how much more difficult that would be if you were missing even one […]

On a beautiful Monday morning, our sponsors, golfers, volunteers, and board members showed up and helped raise nearly $400,000 to provide vital programs and services to our members. We appreciate all of our sponsors for their generous support of CEL, our golf committee, the team of volunteers from AIT, CEL staff, and many other volunteers […]

CEL (CENTER FOR ENRICHED LIVING) ANNOUNCES NEW BOARD MEMBERS MIKE MARTY, MIKE NOEH, AND KRISTY WRIGLEY RIVERWOODS, Ill. – CEL (Center for Enriched Living), a non-profit organization providing programs and services for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD), proudly announces that Mike Marty, Mike Noeh, and Kristy Wrigley have joined their Board of Directors. […]

Riverwoods, IL – Center for Enriched Living (CEL), a privately funded nonprofit organization that provides programs and services for people with developmental disabilities, has proudly announced the appointment of Herb Washington as its new Chief Executive Officer (CEO). Assuming his new role effective November 13, 2023, Washington will help the organization build on its solid foundation and […]