A Community-Based Participatory Initiative to Promote the Social and Economic Well-Being of Refugees With Disabilities in Illinois.

This article focuses on the Partners of Refugees in Illinois Disability Employment (PRIDE) program, a federally funded, community-based participatory initiative designed to support refugees with disabilities (RWD) in Illinois by improving their access to employment, vocational training, and related resources. PRIDE employed culturally and linguistically tailored, rights-based employment training and capacity-building for service providers to address systemic barriers such as language proficiency, discrimination, and limited provider knowledge. Evaluation of 50 participants showed significant increases in knowledge of disability and employment resources and greater utilization of vocational rehabilitation services, though improvements in self-efficacy and employment outcomes were limited by persistent structural and interpersonal challenges. The program's collaborative, multi-sector approach and comprehensive supports demonstrate potential as a scalable model to enhance economic integration for RWD, while highlighting the need for longer-term follow-up and systemic policy changes.