Opportunity Knocks (OK) is a 501c3 non-profit organization serving communities in the near west suburbs of Chicago since 2009. OK was founded by families and embraced by a community that recognized significant opportunities to develop more substantial and responsive programs, support and partnerships that would build a community where people with different abilities would be more present with interdependent connections.

Our mission is to innovate and collaborate as a co-creator of programs, enterprise, and partnerships that contribute to developing a community where people with different abilities are fully included and able to live, work, learn, grow and pursue a life of their design. We believe that communities are at their best when they are fully inclusive of every body.

We view individuals living with intellectual and developmental differences as Warriors, champions of their own journeys. Rather than seeing ourselves as the providers of enrichment and empowerment, we see our role as partners in co-creating opportunities. Together, we work to design experiences that enable Warriors to take charge of their own enrichment and empowerment, fostering an environment of mutual respect and collaboration.

We believe in a dynamic, person-centered and community-based approach to programming that engages the voice of all Warriors, thrives on interdependent connections, encourages exploration, centers on holistic wellness and fosters healthy relationships.

VISION FOR THE WORLD

We envision an inclusive community where all individuals experience access, presence and support. We will work to help build this community that is open and embracing every body, in every way and in all of its places.

VISION FOR THE ORGANIZATION

Opportunity Knocks will be ever-present and prominent as a collaborator. We will connect with Warriors, Family and Community in our collective effort to create this vision for the world. 

We will be an innovative creator of programs, enterprise, and partnerships that contribute to creating spaces, places and opportunities for Warriors to live, work, learn, grow and play in a life by their design. We will work to influence perceptions about ability and be a relentless contributor in the collective work of building strong, inclusive and supportive communities.

We will use a Warrior-centric approach with foundational focus on choice and supported decision making. We will rally the highest-quality humans and organizations to join us as staff, volunteers, partners and supporters. We will fortify the organization with resources so that our presence and mission are stable, reliable and durable.