Ladse

What Ladse does

LADSE (La Grange Area Department of Special Education) is a public special education cooperative serving 15 member school districts — 13 elementary and 2 high school — in west Cook and east DuPage Counties, Illinois. Founded in 1957 as the first Special Education Joint Agreement in Illinois under modifications spearheaded by C. Lewis Martin to the Illinois School Code, LADSE delivers a comprehensive continuum of evidence-based programs and clinical services for students with disabilities ages 3 through 22. The cooperative operates specialized classroom programs (Communication Development for autism, Deaf and Hard of Hearing, Emotional Development, Multi-Needs, Phonological, Early Childhood Education, Extended School Year) housed in member district buildings or LADSE-operated campuses, supplemented by itinerant services including Assistive Technology (using the SETT evaluation framework), Behavioral Consultation, Occupational and Physical Therapy, Speech-Language Pathology, School Psychology, Nursing, and Wraparound support.

The cooperative's revenue mechanics are structured around member-district assessments that fund an FY2019-20 operating budget of $25,245,377, braided with federal IDEA funds, WIOA workforce funding via the Chicago Cook Workforce Partnership, Illinois Division of Rehabilitation Services STEP-IL grants, and charitable contributions through the LADSE Mission Foundation 501(c)(3). The Vocational Alliance initiative connects students with 80+ local employers and Project SEARCH host sites including AMITA Health (documented 100% job placement for five consecutive years) and Brookfield Zoo, providing work-experience pathways. Technology use is predominantly assistive and operational — AAC devices, Boardmaker, Google Workspace, and the AccessiBe AI-powered accessibility interface — rather than proprietary software, and the cooperative does not offer an API or commercial product.

Governance is provided by a Directing Board of 15 superintendents from the member districts, with Lyons Township High School District 204 serving as the administrative district whose Board of Education ratifies fiscal decisions under the Illinois School Code. The cooperative employs approximately 300 full- and part-time staff led by Executive Director Ellie Ambuehl, Ed.D., and is accountable to the U.S. Department of Education, Illinois State Board of Education, Suburban Cook County Regional Office of Education, and local taxpayers. LADSE is not an investable equity; it is a quasi-governmental entity whose expansion is structurally bounded by its Joint Agreement catchment.

Name

Ladse

Legal name

La Grange Area Department of Special Education

Website

https://ladse.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1957

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

LADSE is a public special education cooperative, founded in 1957 as the first such organization in Illinois, serving 15 member school districts in west Cook and east DuPage Counties by delivering evidence-based programs, clinical therapies, and vocational transition services for students with disabilities ages 3–22.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Special Education Cooperative Services

NAICS

Elementary and Secondary Schools (6111), Educational Support Services (6117), Child and Youth Services (62411)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Special Education Vocational & Transition Programs (18–22) (EDAKAAAG)

akta.pro secondary industries

District Student Services Administration (Special Ed, Counseling, Health) (EDADABAJ), School Transition & Independent Living Skills (OT) (EDAKAFAK), Group Therapy and Peer-Mediated Communication Programs (School-Age) (EDAKAEAO), Special Needs-Inclusive Early Learning Academies (EDACADAI), Youth & Young Adult Workforce Programs (Out-of-School Youth) (EDAAAOAD)

Keywords

• Special education cooperative
• Special education services
• Assistive technology services
• Vocational transition programs
• School psychology services

Headquarters

HQ city

La Grange

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Member District Assessments: LADSE is funded primarily through assessments (membership fees) paid by its 15 member school districts. These funds support the cooperative's operating budget of approximately $25.2 million (FY2019-20). Districts combine resources to provide comprehensive services more cost-efficiently than operating independently.
2. State and Federal Grant Funding: LADSE receives funding from government sources including IDEA (Individuals with Disabilities Education Act), WIOA (Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act), and state rehabilitation services. WIOA funding from The Partnership (Chicago Cook Workforce Partnership) provides work experience opportunities for students with disabilities.
3. WIOA Youth Program Funding: Funding from The Partnership under WIOA supports in-school youth with disabilities to gain year-round work experience, weekend workshops, and work-related activities. Managed through LADSE's Vocational Alliance partnership.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Ladse (La Grange Area Department of Special Education) is a special education cooperative that delivers a comprehensive continuum of evidence-based programs and services for students with disabilities ages 3-22 across its 15 member school districts. Its offerings span core related services (assistive technology, occupational/physical therapy, speech-language pathology, school psychology, nursing, behavioral consultation, autism consulting) and educational programs (early childhood education, communication development, deaf and hard of hearing, emotional development, multi-needs, phonological, extended school year), as well as vocational transition programs through the Vocational Alliance network.

Product overview

Ladse (La Grange Area Department of Special Education) is a special education cooperative serving 15 member districts in west Cook and east DuPage Counties, Illinois. Founded in 1957 as the first special education organization in Illinois, Ladse provides a comprehensive continuum of evidence-based programs and services for students with disabilities ages 3-22. The organization operates as a collection of integrated educational programs and support services rather than a single product. Core service areas include Assistive Technology (AT) Services, Behavioral Consultation, Nursing and Health Services, Occupational/Physical Therapy, Professional Development, Speech Language Pathology, and School Psychology. Educational programs span Autism Support (ACT Team), Communication Development, Deaf and Hard of Hearing, Early Childhood Education, Emotional Development, Extended School Year, Multi-Needs, and Phonological programs. The Vocational Alliance represents a major initiative connecting students with work experience through programs including Career Academy, Project SEARCH, 1.2 Connect, ShredderWorks, TEP Worksites, STEP-IL DRS, and Partnership/WIOA. The LADSE Mission Foundation provides charitable support to families in need. Ladse does not operate as a technology product company and does not offer software products or APIs.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Assistive Technology Services Evaluations, consultation, and training to member district teams for assistive technology tools used by students with disabilities, using the SETT model to improve functional capabilities through device trials ranging from low to high technology.
• Behavioral Consultation Proactive consultative behavioral support that helps school teams develop behavior management plans and communication systems to maximize student strengths and reduce problem behavior.
• Nursing and Health Services School nurse consultant services supporting multi-district programs with health consultations, vision and hearing screenings, health education, and coordination between home and school.
• Occupational and Physical Therapy Therapy services for students with disabilities addressing sensory, postural, and motor needs through direct therapy and indirect consultation that trains educational team members.
• Professional Development Multi-year professional development plan aligned with the Response to Intervention model, focused on early intervention, improved outcomes, family involvement, and inclusion in general education settings.
• Speech Language Pathology Speech and language therapy for students ages 3-21 with speech and/or language needs, delivered through direct services, consultative services, or therapy integrated into educational programs.
• School Psychology Psychological services including universal assessment for at-risk identification, special education eligibility determination, individual and group counseling, crisis intervention, and student support team collaboration.
• Autism Support (ACT Team) Autism Consulting Team provides consultation, observation, coaching, and professional development to support Autistic students and their school teams across elementary through high school settings.
• Wraparound Services Support network for students in district-based programs providing a positive, strength-based, wraparound team approach with three levels of support to maximize participation in least restrictive environments.
• Communication Development Program Classroom-based instruction for students on the autism spectrum using evidence-based methodologies to progress communication, social, academic, and functional skills for ages 3-14.
• Deaf and Hard of Hearing Program Comprehensive program serving students with hearing losses from mild to profound, including Community Based, Applied, Academic, and Mainstream programs located at Hinsdale South High School and the Transition Center.
• Early Childhood Education Preschool classes for children ages 3-5 with special needs using blended or self-contained models, with screening, evaluation including Transdisciplinary Play-Based Assessment, and curriculum including Creative Curriculum and Teaching Strategies GOLD.
• Emotional Development Three-tiered support system at LADSE North and LRB Academy providing Level I (self-contained classrooms), Level II (Wraparound), and Level III (prevention/consultation) for students with behavioral challenges.
• Extended School Year (Summer) Summer programming to prevent regression in critical life skills for students requiring continuous programming, housed in member district buildings with coordinated transportation.
• Multi-Needs Program Program for elementary through junior-high students with significant physical, mental, and sensory impairments providing instruction in daily living, recreation, communication, academics, community, and vocational skills.
• Phonological Program Remediation program for children ages 3-6 with severe to profound speech disorders using the phonological therapy approach researched by Dr. Barbara Hodson, focused on speech intelligibility.
• Vocational Alliance Award-winning network connecting district vocational staff, community organizations, and employers to help students with disabilities gain work experience and employment opportunities through over 80 local business partnerships.
• Career Academy Summer program where 12-15 students visit up to 18 different industries to assess vocational interests, with over 220 job shadows facilitated since inception, operating through June with district high school referrals.
• 1.2 Connect Vocational curriculum preparing transition-age students for employment through six units covering employment preparation, portfolio creation, job search, soft skills, job competence, and everyday life skills.
• Project SEARCH Immersion transition program for students ages 18-22 with disabilities seeking employment, featuring daily classroom learning and three 10-week internships at host businesses including AMITA Health and Brookfield Zoo.
• ShredderWorks Micro-enterprise program at Riverside Brookfield High School offering document destruction services to the community, teaching students work skills through customer service, billing, and marketing.
• TEP Worksites Transition Experience Programs providing hands-on, on-the-job training in community business settings where students work alongside professionals to gain real-life workplace experience.
• STEP-IL DRS Secondary Transitional Experience Program providing work experience, counseling on post-secondary education and job exploration, workplace readiness training, and self-advocacy instruction for high school students with disabilities.
• Partnership/WIOA Workforce Innovation Opportunity Act program providing funding for in-school youth with disabilities aged 16-21 to gain year-round work experience and attend weekend workshops through The Partnership.
• NEXT STEPS Transition series developed with Illinois DRS and Virginia Commonwealth University to help parents and families prepare students for life after school, covering post-secondary education, employment, finance, and independent living.
• LADSE Mission Foundation 501c3 nonprofit organization fundraising for LADSE families in need, providing summer camps, transportation vouchers, clothing, and basic family needs support through partnerships with local businesses.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 275 students enrolled in Vocational Alliance services and supports annually
• +6 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core and moderate.

• Illinois Division of Rehabilitation Services (DRS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDRS is a key partner in the Vocational Alliance, providing funding through the STEP Program (Secondary Transitional Experience Program) for work experience, counseling on post-secondary education, job exploration, workplace readiness training, and self-advocacy instruction for high school-aged individuals with disabilities.
• Chicago Cook Workforce Partnership (CCWP)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCCWP is part of the Vocational Alliance partnership, providing workforce development resources and support for students with disabilities transitioning from school to adult employment and education.
• Lyons Township High School District 204coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOne of two high school member districts in the Vocational Alliance partnership, providing vocational programming and work experience opportunities for students with disabilities.
• Riverside-Brookfield High School District 208coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOne of two high school member districts in the Vocational Alliance partnership, collaborating on vocational and transition programs for students with disabilities.
• AMITA Health Adventist Medical Center LaGrangecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHost site for Project SEARCH, an immersion model transition program where students ages 18-22 complete three 10-week internships. AMITA has achieved 100% job placement for five consecutive years for program graduates.
• Brookfield ZoocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHost site for Project SEARCH, entering its 3rd year. Externs learn skills in animal and educational programs, safety, and food service (BZ Red Hots). Previous externs have found employment at the zoo or in the community.
• Helping Hand CentercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in the youth Project SEARCH program alongside LADSE, AMITA Health, Illinois DRS, and The Partnership (Chicago Cook Workforce Partnership). Supports students with disabilities in transition programs.
• EmployAlliance/West Suburban Chamber of Commerce and IndustrymoderateGTM or Marketing PartnerGrant-funded affiliation where EmployAlliance and LADSE's vocational staff together plan for workforce preparation through economic and workforce development, leadership development, transition and employment training, and planning.
• Riverside Brookfield High SchoolmoderateStrategic or Co-development PartnerShredderWorks micro-enterprise program (document destruction services) is housed at Riverside Brookfield High School, designed in partnership with regular education business students.
• Over 80 Local Businesses (Vocational Alliance)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOver 80 local businesses partner with the Vocational Alliance to provide work experience opportunities for students with disabilities. Employers include those in hospitality, technology, early childhood, maintenance, landscaping, long-term residential facilities, library services, business administration, and local community support sectors.
• Hinsdale South High School District 86coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHost school for LADSE's Deaf and Hard of Hearing Program. LADSE serves as administrative agent for the high school and transition program within the regional DHH Program serving students with hearing disabilities ages birth to twenty-one.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Catapult Learning: Provider of special education, intervention, and professional development services to K-12 districts. Comparable as a contract service provider in special education and supplemental instruction, serving a similar buyer (school district administrators) to LADSE.
• ChanceLight: National provider of special education, behavioral health, and mental health services in K-12 schools. Comparable because it delivers similar therapy, behavioral, and special education staffing/services to school districts at scale, though across many states rather than one regional cooperative.
• Specialized Education Services Inc. (SESI): Operates private special education schools and programs for students with disabilities nationwide. Comparable as a scaled provider of K-12+ special education services, though delivered through private-pay and contracted arrangements rather than a public cooperative governance model.

Emerging players

• RethinkEd: Ed-tech platform providing special education behavior, social-emotional, and professional development resources to school districts. Comparable as a partial-overlap technology-enabled entrant into the special education support market LADSE serves, though delivered via SaaS rather than onsite staff.
• PresenceLearning (now Positivity): Provider of teletherapy and related special education services to schools. Comparable as an emerging, tech-enabled provider of SLP, OT, and mental health services — overlapping with LADSE's therapy/behavior services but delivered remotely and at multi-state scale.

Direct peers

• School Association for Special Education in DuPage County (SASED): DuPage County, IL special education cooperative operating the same regional joint-agreement structure as LADSE. Highly comparable given overlapping Illinois geography, similar member-district governance, and parallel service catalog for students with disabilities.
• Northwest Suburban Special Education Organization (NSSEO): Illinois special education joint agreement serving northwest suburban Cook County districts. Comparable as a regional cooperative with a member-driven funding model and a continuum of special education supports analogous to LADSE.
• Special Education District of Lake County (SEDOL): Illinois special education cooperative serving Lake County school districts under the same Special Education Joint Agreement model. Direct comparable because both organizations pool district resources to deliver specialized programs (autism, DHH, OT/PT, transition) that individual districts could not support independently.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Ladse