A 6-month study was conducted of Illinois job training, rehabilitation, and vocational education programs serving handicapped persons by the Illinois Vocational Education Task Force. From a list sent to 225 vocational and special education directors, Comprehensive Employment and Training Act prime sponsors, and rehabilitation services officers, eight programs were selected for in-depth case studies to determine their cost-benefits. The programs included three community colleges, two rehabilitation facilities, an area vocational center, a high school, and an evaluation and development center. Observations about the programs showed that these successful programs had extensive employer involvement, comprehensive services, strong professional personnel, excellent interagency coordination, and stable financial support from a variety of sources. The programs were expensive, averaging $4,175 per client. These costs, however, were offset by increased wages paid to the trained individuals, resulting in taxes paid and in reduction of public assistance, and by enhanced independence and self-concept. As a result of the study, recommendations were made to continue and expand economic incentives for employer participation in programs for handicapped persons, to continue federal legislative mandates for programs for them, to increase funding, to promote interagency collaboration, and to encourage local schools to provide career development education for handicapped youth. (KC)