About CAU

Community Alternatives Unlimited coordinates services for people affected by both short and long-term intellectual and developmental disabilities. CAU provides freestanding case management and utilization review services that enable people to have alternatives for learning, working, and living in communities with dignity. Our goal is to help individuals live meaningful lives of their choosing.

CAU also partners with pregnant women and families to support healthy pregnancies and thriving babies. We provide education, resources, and individualized assistance/care to help promote a healthy family living environment.

Our History

Community Alternatives Unlimited was founded by our current CEO, Joanell Voigt, and incorporated in 1980 as the first Independent Service Coordination Agency (ISC) in Illinois. We are proud of our established history of helping individuals and families connect with the personal resources they need to live meaningful lives of their choosing.

Our organization is the outcome of true collaboration between the State of Illinois, community service providers, and people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. We were partly funded by the Illinois Planning Council on Developmental Disabilities and the State of Illinois Department of Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities. With the community’s support, the state chose to fund the first conflict-free case management agency. This means we provide case management and no other direct service for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

CAU is known  to be a reliable and trustworthy source of support, guidance, and information as individuals navigate the human services system. Our structure allows us to focus on people and their families. That way, our organization can remain “non-biased” and present all service options to families so they can make an informed choice.