Community Integrated Services

Summer wouldn’t feel complete without a visit to a street festival, and we couldn’t be prouder to see David selling his artwork at one of the area’s best: Media, PA’s weekly Dining Under the Stars festival along the town’s iconic State Street.

David is a super talented artist and a part of CIS’s Art Works program. He’s just 1 of 3 artists who were chosen to exhibit their work during this summer’s Dining Under the Stars events, and David had a blast. Between setting up and selling his work, he got to chat with passerby, network with other artists, and make connections with area businesses who might be interested in featuring his work.

Making this story even neater is that David’s position as Featured Artist was sponsored by Game On State, the beloved arcade in the heart of Media that is not just inclusive of people with disabilities, but employs them as well.

We’re thrilled to see David’s artwork featured on such a fun and prominent stage, and grateful to Game on State for bringing the inclusive ethos of the arcade to the streets of Media by ensuring a platform for neurodiverse artists.

Our great thanks to CIS’s own Kathryn DeProspero who shared with us these great pictures of David. Check out his truly astonishing work at https://www.instagram.com/dakarasowfineart/.

Give it up for Keith P. (pictured right), who’s been taking his work to the next level of late in his job at the Philadelphia Zoo!

Much of Keith’s work happens behind the scenes, but everyone in the know knows its Keith and his team who really help make the zoo run smoothly. He’s on the utility team, and spends much of his days keeping the zoo’s dining and public gathering spaces looking crisp and clean and ready for visitors.

Keith’s in his second year at the zoo, and in this busy season has impressed his managers and coworkers alike by his hard work, eagerness to learn, and all the ways he continues to improve. He’s become increasingly independent on his shifts, mastering both the zoo’s layout and his roster of responsibilities at the different attractions and dining areas.

We are so proud to see Keith make the leap to the next level in his second year at the zoo, and grateful to our own Katrina Shuptar for sharing this fab picture of Keith taking a moment to celebrate. Keep up the great work!

To learn how you can join our team and how CIS works for people with a disability, head to cisworks.org!

This week is a meaningful one at CIS, as we join organizations around the country celebrating Direct Support Professional Recognition Week!

DSP Recognition Week honors the deeply impactful work of those who devote themselves to helping the people they support find connection, community, and greater independence.

At CIS, we help people achieve those goals through our commitment to employment. We serve over 2,000 people with disabilities each year, helping them find and thrive in meaningful employment in the communities in which they live. At the heart of our work are our employees, who each day help youth and adults with disabilities across Pennsylvania and Delaware live more independent and fulfilling lives.

Our heartfelt gratitude to our incredible staff at CIS, who are making a profound difference in the lives of the people we support!

Join us in celebrating a huge honor for Harry, who was named the 2026 Olive Garden Team Member of the Year!

It’s hard to do justice to what a big deal this is. The award is given to one Olive Garden team member across the entire country, and we can’t imagine a more deserving candidate: Harry was hired at an Olive Garden outside Philadelphia in 2016, and the care and commitment he brings to his job led his Manager, Art, to put him forward for the award.

As this year’s big winner, Harry was flown down to Florida for the company’s annual General Manager conference. Joined by his mother and surrounded by supportive colleagues, he took the stage to receive his award. He had a blast at the conference, networking with Olive Garden team members from across the country while also setting aside time to take in the sights, sun, and iconic Florida palms!

“Receiving this award has significantly boosted his confidence, independence, and motivation,” shared our own Lerma Licup-Ezekiel, who’s supported Harry throughout his time at Olive Garden. “It honors his job performance and the tremendous contributions he makes at his workplace, while also inspiring him to continue to grow, learn, and expand his role.”

We are so proud of Harry for this incredible achievement, and deeply gratified to see his excellent work recognized on this national platform. A big thank you is due to Art, Harry’s manager at Olive Garden, who’s advocacy and support of Harry helped make this possible. Art shared that the end of October will mark Harry’s 10-year work anniversary, so more celebration is on the way!

For more on how CIS works for jobseekers with a disability, head to cisworks.org.

As we mark 25 years since the attacks of September 11th, 2001, we remember all those who lost their lives, and we honor the service members of our armed forces who fought and continue to fight to keep our country safe 🇺🇸

Here’s a fun one for hump day—our singing superstar Amira working two recent shows at Lincoln Financial Field.

Amira is not just a steadfast presence in her job at The Linc, but as a singer herself has found a job where she gets to be front and center to see some of her very favorite artists.

She’s pictured here working the recent Bruno Mars and Morgan Wallen shows, and was all smiles as she posed for a photo with our own Amanda Cohn.

Between helping fans find their seats and locate restrooms and refreshment stands, Amira got to take in the sights and sounds of the shows, and get some inspiration for songs of her own. She’s a super talented singer, writes her own compositions, and with her talent and drive may well one day take the stage at the very place she currently works—we know because we got to witness her in action at the Department of Behavioral Health and Intellectual disAbility Services awards event in early summer (picture 3 :)!

Congrats to Amira on over three years in her job at The Linc, and don’t be surprised if you see her name on the marquee one of these days!

Ride with us into the weekend with our main man Paul D., pictured here loving life in his job at a local equestrian center.

Paul’s in one of the coolest jobs we can imagine, working as a farmhand on the center’s beautiful land. He just got back from vacation and received a sweet surprise when he was asked to work with the horses for the day, grooming and bathing them while giving them handfuls of their own favorite daily surprises—carrots!

CIS’s own Amanda Manwiller sent in these fabulous pics, and shared that Paul also got to do one of his very favorite things by commandeering the “gator” (that sleek green golfcart-looking thing), steering it around the barn to pick up debris and clear pathways for the farm’s four-legged and two-legged occupants alike.

To make a great day on the job even sweeter, he joined his colleagues for ice cream as part of a celebratory send-off to a co-worker who’s heading back to school.

A big thank you to Amanda for the pictures, and a big congratulations to Paul on finding a job he looks forward to day in and day out. Enjoy the holiday weekend, everyone!

Give some love to Nicholas, Stephanie, Joey, and Patricia, four CIS participants doing a standout job at work!

As an organization committed to quality employment for people with disabilities, we know that no two work weeks look exactly alike, and these four “Sunday Superstars” consistently hold it down and raise the level on weekend shifts.

That term was coined by our own Katrina Shuptar, who stopped in to support each of these four last Sunday.

“This Sunday crew is absolutely exceptional,” said Shuptar. “Weekend retail is serious business, and they hold it down by their dedication and performance every week. I’m very proud of the work I see from them week in and week out.”

Congratulations to Nick, Stephanie, Joey, and Patricia—we have such admiration for their work ethic and are thrilled to see them finding so much success at their jobs.

For more on how CIS works for jobseekers with a disability, head to cisworks.org.

Congrats to all students, teachers, and staff of The School District of Philadelphia on a great first week back!

CIS is proud to support nearly 100 individuals who are employed at the District, and we're wrapping up the week with a spotlight on two more, Phyllis and Dylan, who have both found fulfilling jobs at schools in Philadelphia.

Both their stories are neat in their own way--Phyllis found at the District the administrative job she'd always dreamt of, and Dylan is employed by the very same school district he graduated from.

Here are Phyllis and Dylan in their own words. Have a great weekend, everyone ✨

On the third day of christmas…just kidding, though it is a week worth celebrating at CIS, with nearly 100 participants returning to jobs at The School District of Philadelphia!

On this third day of the new school year, we’re spotlighting Rayna and Desmond, both of whom were hired at the District in 2024. Rayna works on the Environmental Team in the Office of Grant Development, while Desmond works on the Dining Services team at a local K-8.

Now in their third year at the District, both have excelled in their respective positions and are eager to take on new tasks and grow in their roles. Check out the pictures to hear what they had to say about their jobs at the District, and head to cisworks.org for more on how CIS works for jobseekers with a disability.