Access Living is a change agent committed to fostering an inclusive society, one that enables all people with disabilities to live fully engaged and self-directed lives.
Access Living is a change agent committed to fostering an inclusive society that enables Chicagoans with disabilities to live fully-engaged and self-directed lives. With programs in housing, youth and education, civil rights, health care reform and economic empowerment, Access Living is a non-profit Center for Independent Living serving Chicago that offers direct services and systemic advocacy. Located at 115 West Chicago Avenue (the first office building to combine the principles of Universal and Green Design), Access Living also runs an Arts & Culture Project, designed to raise the visibility around Disability Culture.
Operating as usual
Survey: Accessible COVID-19 Vaccine Distribution to People with Disabilities
Now that vaccine distribution is picking up pace rapidly, we want to find where people with disabilities continue to face barriers in accessing the COVID-19 vaccine. We encourage you to answer all questions to the best of your knowledge because this data will help The Partnership strategize for equi...
"We were avid moviegoers, but she hesitated in honoring Christopher Reeve. Not because he was no longer a movie star, of course, but because she didn’t fully support his work in regenerative research. To Marca life, was all about acceptance." https://buff.ly/2R7uJzp
"As people with disabilities we feel bad about not having money and not being able to do the things we want to do financially. Just keep in mind that the system is created that way to create a certain level of poverty. So creating financial wealth and getting out of debt is a PROCESS." #FinancialLiteracyMonth
Financial literacy is all about starting this process and setting ourselves up for financial security and empowerment. Take your first (or 100th!) step today. We're here to take it with you.
https://www.accessliving.org/our-services/money-management-classes/
"Fair Housing Month provides an opportunity to elevate a most basic right: that everyone, no matter their profession, income or station in life, is entitled to clean, safe and affordable housing. But the principles of Fair Housing Month must be more than just words. We must take action."
Here's how to take action: Next month three housing bills that would benefit people with disabilities are up for vote in the Illinois General Assembly. Take action by asking your elected representatives to support HB 2775 and SB 1975
Guest columnists Toni Preckwinkle and Richard Monocchio: Throughout the last year, from the COVID-19 pandemic to the once-in-a-generation push for civil rights of 2020, one key principle has remained at the fore: equity.
Here is an exciting project. There is a new effort to develop an Easy Read Qu'ran for people with intellectual/developmental disabilities. They are looking for people to help do translation (Arabic/English/Easy Read) and feedback from Muslims with I/DD. The social media kit at the link has calls for people who want to do the translation and feedback work, as well as shareable images about the project to help amplify the call for help.
Tonight Lawyers Lend-A-Hand to Youth is presenting Access Living with the 2021 Thomas A. Demetrio Award of Excellence for our Disability Justice Mentoring Collective! It's a virtual event, 7-7:45, and DJMC mentor Suzen Riley and mentee Sydney Bryant will accept the award on our behalf. Attendance is free! Sign up to attend:
The Department of Business Affairs and Consumer Protection has launched the nomination period for the 2020 Taxicab Driver Excellence Award. The award focuses on taxicab drivers who serve our community of people with disabilities, drive WAV taxis, and provide exemplary customer service to passengers. The winners will receive a free Chicago taxicab medallion. Learn more and nominate your favorite driver here:
"State Representative Kelly Cassidy, D-Chicago, also advanced a significant bill with unanimous support to coordinate mental health services with the 911 system for people suffering a mental health crisis." A great article on our recent CESSA success:
The Illinois House of Representatives advanced several bills Friday dealing with concerns around public health and safety while debating other measures to combat gun violence.
May is Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month! This year's theme: “Stop AAPI Hate: Solidarity, Community, and Celebration.”
On May 2nd, join an anti-AAPI hate rally in Chicago's Uptown neighborhood. Start time is 12pm at the Buddhist Temple of Chicago (1151 W. Leland Ave). Wear a mask! We'll see you there.
According to the National Disability Institute the path to economic empowerment starts with....financial education! We can help with that. Join an Access Living Financial Literacy Workshop. The whole series is free and open to any who want to learn. https://buff.ly/3xscm8Y
National Disabilitiy Institute builds a better financial future for people with disabilities. Learn more on our "Financial Empowerment" page.
"I think that it tells them that the doors are open, that it is not out of the realm of possibility that anyone with a disability could be on the red carpet in a wheelchair, with a walker, with their guide dog." #CripCamp #CripTheOscars #RepresentationMatters
Jim LeBrecht isn’t just wearing any ol’ tux to the Oscars. Instead, he’s in a custom-made navy blue Gucci ensemble with a black and ivory flower-print shirt. LeBrecht, the co-director of “Crip Camp…
The country’s resilience through and recovery from the pandemic are inextricably linked to the government’s collective responsibility to ensure that every person has a place that they can call home. The federal government must take bold action to create more equitable, accessible, inclusive, and affordable housing for marginalized populations, communities that have historically been excluded from quality housing, and individuals experiencing homelessness.
Recommendations from Center for American Progress:
The federal government should enact the following policy recommendations to increase affordable, accessible, and inclusive housing for all—especially people with disabilities.
The Added Cost of Disability: A household with an adult with a disability must spend an estimated 28% more income to get the same standard of living as a household with no disability. The research proves that these extra costs exist. The question remains, what can we, as a country, do – through policy and practice – to address this inequality? https://buff.ly/3tSmTs4
#FinancialLiteracyMonth
The research proves that these extra costs exist. The question remains, what can we do to address this inequality?
Thank you so much to all the advocates and allies that made this happen, and a huge thank you to CESSA's Chief sponsor
State Representative Kelly Cassidy and all its other sponsors; getting this bill through the House has not been easy. Your dedication and hard work made today's victory possible!
State Representative Mary Flowers
Jaime Andrade, State Representative, 40th District
State Representative Anna Moeller, 43rd District
State Representative Michelle Mussman
State Rep. Will Guzzardi - 39th District
State Representative Lindsey LaPointe
Maurice A. West II
State Representative Joyce Mason
State Representative Aaron M. Ortiz
State Representative Angelica Guerrero-Cuellar
Representative Barbara Hernandez
State Representative Delia Ramirez
State Rep Theresa Mah
State Representative Edgar Gonzalez Jr.
Robyn Gabel for State Representative
Representative Will Davis
Denyse for State Rep
Representative Justin Slaughter
State Representative Anne Stava-Murray - political candidate
State Rep. Rita Mayfield
Kathleen Willis
State Representative Michael J. Zalewski
State Representative Bob Morgan
Representative Curtis J. Tarver II
Representative Jennifer Gong-Gershowitz
State Representative Marcus C. Evans, Jr.
State Representative Kam Buckner
State Rep Mark Batinick
State Representative Natalie Manley
State Representative Elizabeth "Lisa" Hernandez
State Representative Jeff Keicher
State Representative Seth Lewis
State Rep CD Davidsmeyer
Rep. Joe Sosnowski
Keith Wheeler - State Representative
State Representative Tim Butler
State Representative Stephanie Kifowit
State Rep Sue Scherer
State Representative Margaret Croke
State Representative Mike Halpin
ID: A bi-colored graphic with an icon of a laptop. Text reads "Needing mental healthcare is not a crime". On the screen of the laptop is the hashtag #SupportCESSA.
Thank you so much to all the advocates and allies that made this happen, and a huge thank you to CESSA's Chief sponsor
State Representative Kelly Cassidy and all its other sponsors; getting this bill through the House has not been easy. Your dedication and hard work made today's victory possible!
State Representative Mary Flowers
Jaime Andrade, State Representative, 40th District
State Representative Anna Moeller, 43rd District
State Representative Michelle Mussman
State Rep. Will Guzzardi - 39th District
State Representative Lindsey LaPointe
Maurice A. West II
State Representative Joyce Mason
State Representative Aaron M. Ortiz
State Representative Angelica Guerrero-Cuellar
Representative Barbara Hernandez
State Representative Delia Ramirez
State Rep Theresa Mah
State Representative Edgar Gonzalez Jr.
Robyn Gabel for State Representative
Representative Will Davis
Denyse for State Rep
Representative Justin Slaughter
State Representative Anne Stava-Murray - political candidate
State Rep. Rita Mayfield
Kathleen Willis
State Representative Michael J. Zalewski
State Representative Bob Morgan
Representative Curtis J. Tarver II
Representative Jennifer Gong-Gershowitz
State Representative Marcus C. Evans, Jr.
State Representative Kam Buckner
State Rep Mark Batinick
State Representative Natalie Manley
State Representative Elizabeth "Lisa" Hernandez
State Representative Jeff Keicher
State Representative Seth Lewis
State Rep CD Davidsmeyer
Rep. Joe Sosnowski
Keith Wheeler - State Representative
State Representative Tim Butler
State Representative Stephanie Kifowit
State Rep Sue Scherer
State Representative Margaret Croke
State Representative Mike Halpin
ID: A bi-colored graphic with an icon of a laptop. Text reads "Needing mental healthcare is not a crime". On the screen of the laptop is the hashtag #SupportCESSA.
CESSA PASSES THE HOUSE UNANIMOUSLY!!! #SupportCESSA #HarmReduction
"For many, calling 911 or going to the hospital might seem like the only options in this situation. Instead, Baird and her family doctor reached out to the Gerstein Crisis Centre, a 24/7 support community and mobile team in Toronto for people experiencing addiction and mental health crises. It’s one of the only programs of its kind in Canada. They aren’t cops, doctors, or social workers. They’re trained in nonviolent de-escalation to help people find solutions in moments of peril and beyond. Many Gerstein staff are survivors themselves, peers who understand emotional crises firsthand." https://buff.ly/2H3TAiW
Police should not be the only option for mental or behavioral health emergencies. #SupportCESSA for emergency alternatives in Illinois. https://buff.ly/3tIITWd
The Gerstein Crisis Centre in Toronto, with its non-violent de-escalation approach, shows a way forward in defunding the police.
Community testimony in support of CESSA:
"In addition to my work as a trauma therapist for individuals with Developmental Disabilities, I am a CIT trainer focusing on interactions with individuals with Autism for law enforcement and corrections officers.
While I see the importance of CIT training for situations that involve violence, I have seen too many tragedies and traumas when law enforcement is asked to respond to mental health crises or crises involving people with Autism or other developmental disabilities.
The comment that I hear very frequently from officers in CIT training is "Why are we being asked to be social workers? We can't be everything to everyone." Their interest and their skill set are generally in the law enforcement "command and control" response. Mental health crises need specialized responders. The CESSA model meets that need.
A law enforcement officer once said to me that his goal in a crisis situation is "one thing: to get this person from this spot to where ever he needs to be safely." In his mind "where he needs to be" is either in the hospital or in jail, and "safely" has a focus first on the safety of others. This model often results in repeated crisis situations because there is little attempt made to help the individual remediate the circumstances that brought them to crisis.
The CESSA model, on the other hand, emphasizes de-escalation and connection with existing and community resources. Instead of the individual being bounced from crisis to detention, the CESSA model seeks to connect the individual with the supports and services needed to prevent future crises. The model promotes safety, connection to services, and the prevention of recurrence. It recognizes that mental health crises are not criminal acts, but rather a behavioral (and sometimes literal) cry for help. There have been too many tragedies already. Please support CESSA."
This is our last chance for CESSA to become law this legislative season. We need to tell Illinois lawmakers to vote YES on CESSA.
TODAY IS THE DAY. CESSA (HB 2784) will be voted on in the Illinois House. Please help our racial justice and other #HarmReduction advocates establish a 911 emergency alternative that doesn't involve police deploying to mental or behavioral health crisis! https://buff.ly/32GzqTj
ID: A bi-colored graphic with an icon of a laptop in the center. Above the laptop text reads "Needing mental healthcare is not a crime". The laptop screen reads, "#SupportCESSA".
TODAY IS THE DAY. CESSA (HB 2784) will be voted on in the Illinois House. Please help our racial justice and other #HarmReduction advocates establish a 911 emergency alternative that doesn't involve police deploying to mental or behavioral health crisis! https://buff.ly/32GzqTj
ID: A bi-colored graphic with an icon of a laptop in the center. Above the laptop text reads "Needing mental healthcare is not a crime". The laptop screen reads, "#SupportCESSA".
What you should care about Black autistic lives and CESSA. #SupportCessa #HarmReduction
Black males are nearly three times as likely to be killed by police than their white counterparts, and those with autism are seven times more likely to encounter police than “neurotypical” individuals. We must make mental and behavioral health professionals available as an alternative to the pol...
CESSA is a bill that would address the mental and behavioral health needs of people by sending support instead of police whenever appropriate, because a lot of the time the practices of law enforcement only escalate many of these emergencies. De-escalation works, and it can work for the people of Illinois. #SupportCESSA today for a better tomorrow: https://buff.ly/3tIITWd
CESSA is a bill that would address the mental and behavioral health needs of people by sending support instead of police whenever appropriate, because a lot of the time the practices of law enforcement only escalate many of these emergencies. De-escalation works, and it can work for the people of Illinois. #SupportCESSA today for a better tomorrow: https://buff.ly/3tIITWd
There are tons of ways to #SupportCESSA right now, including sending an email to your legislator or using the Cessa Social Media Toolkit to amplify our message on your social media! Check out the toolkit and all our other engagement options here:
This is our last chance for CESSA to become law this legislative season. We need to tell Illinois lawmakers to vote YES on CESSA.
This week, we hope to see the Illinois House vote on HB 2784, better known as CESSA, the Community Emergency Services and Supports Act. The deadline to pass it out of the House is Friday, April 23. If it passes the House, it will go on to the Senate. We need your help to support CESSA’s passage in the House. We need you, supporters, activists, allies, advocates, friends, family, coworkers, to make it clear to members of the Illinois House that we want them to vote YES on CESSA.
Get involved: https://buff.ly/3tIITWd
This week, we hope to see the Illinois House vote on HB 2784, better known as CESSA, the Community Emergency Services and Supports Act. The deadline to pass it out of the House is Friday, April 23. If it passes the House, it will go on to the Senate. We need your help to support CESSA’s passage in the House. We need you, supporters, activists, allies, advocates, friends, family, coworkers, to make it clear to members of the Illinois House that we want them to vote YES on CESSA.
Get involved: https://buff.ly/3tIITWd
115 W Chicago Ave
Chicago, IL
60654
Access Living is accessible by the Chicago stops on both the Brown and Red lines. Both of these stations have elevators. We are also accessible by several major bus routes.
| Monday | 08:30 - 17:00 |
| Tuesday | 08:30 - 17:00 |
| Wednesday | 08:30 - 17:00 |
| Thursday | 08:30 - 17:00 |
| Friday | 08:30 - 17:00 |
All services are free of charge.
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New disability documentary! "Code of the Freaks presents a radical reframing of the use of disabled characters in film. Using hundreds of clips spanning over 100 years of moviemaking, and a cast of disabled artists, scholars and activists, it’s a scorching critique of some of Hollywood’s most beloved characters." You can rent Code of the Freaks on Amazon for $5, or keep an eye out for upcoming virtual screenings! Learn more: https://buff.ly/2Hr5enK
History of the ADA, Part II: Chicago Awakens In the late 70s and early 80s, two organizations that would become powerhouses in the disability rights movement formed: Access Living in 1980 and Chicago ADAPT in 1983 (with a great deal of overlap between Access Living staff members and Chicago ADAPT members). Together, Access Living and ADAPT would lead the battle for disability rights in the Midwest. Before the ADA, activists fought long and hard for access to Chicago buses and trains: "In what would become a trademark strategy, ADAPT used the streets to apply pressure to concurrent legal actions. The group hired Kate Yannias to represent five of the activists as plaintiffs in what would become a landmark transportation lawsuit." #ADA30 #WeWillRide
"The ADA gave voice to a national outcry. Hundreds of community leaders and thousands of activists petitioned lawmakers on both sides of the aisle to recognize the civil rights of one of our nation's largest minorities. Join me in exploring the history of this monumental act, and Chicago's role in its making." Chicago: Road to the ADA Part 1
When advocacy goes digital. Page after page of advocates here for #GoingHomeCoalition20! We’re excited to be here, to hear from advocates including our very own Michelle García, and from representatives like Robyn Gabel. Video description: Video is a recording of the virtual advocacy rally on Zoom and of all the people who are attending remotely.
Illinois needs you. So many people depend on the public services funded by #Censusu2020 money. So get counted! #DisabilityCounts2020 #YesWeCount https://buff.ly/2ITSnsn
“But what if I lost my Census letter?" FEAR NOT! 👉 Go to the Census website. 👉 Click ‘Start Questionnaire.’ 👉 Select ‘If You Do Not Have a Census ID Click Here.’ 👉 Fill out #Census2020. Boom. You're done. You've officially Censused. #SocialDistance high-five. #YesWeCount #MakeILCount #ILCountMeIn2020 #DisabilityCounts ID: Image is a screenshot of the Census website with orange arrows pointing at where to click if you don't have your Census ID. https://t.co/JafU2EWTtp
“But what if I lost my Census letter?" FEAR NOT! 👉 Go to the Census website. 👉 Click ‘Start Questionnaire.’ 👉 Select ‘If You Do Not Have a Census ID Click Here.’ 👉 Fill out #Census2020. Boom. You're done. You've officially Censused. #SocialDistance high-five. #YesWeCount #MakeILCount #ILCountMeIn2020 #DisabilityCounts ID: Image is a screenshot of the Census website with orange arrows pointing at where to click if you don't have your Census ID. https://bit.ly/CENSUSENGLISH
Celebrating #BlackHistoryMonth2020 with music, the movie Hair Love, and camaraderie. Video Description: Two musicians playing rhythmic music on bongo drums.
We’re here, DC, and we’re not going away. #NCIL2019 ID: Video or disability activists marching down a DC street in gray morning light, shouting and chanting and carrying signs.
He might not be a puppy, but he's our favorite good boy! In honor of #NationalPuppyDay, meet Moe the Service dog. ID: In the video, Moe the service dog helps his handler open a door by jumping up and pressing the accessibility push-plate for her.
Our #BlackHistoryMonth celebration is underway! Today we’re celebrating family and reunification, and the black activists, leaders, and change-makers who have left their mark on American history. Audio: General chatter and music performed by black musicians ID: Video of a room decorated with streamers, posters and hanging mobiles of famous black folks. Within the room the Access Living staff is gathering for a shared meal.
The most powerful group in the city of Chicago, Power to the People, announces the 2018 Advocate of the Year Award named after Helen Morley and Henry Williams. Congratulations Angela Lacy on winning the Morley-Williams Award!
Live press conference regarding Access Living’s lawsuit against the City of Chicago for affordable accessible housing. Please have patience with us as we figure out captioning as FB live does not caption during filming.
George Allen Brimmage is Access Living’s maintenance person and keeps the sidewalk in front of our building free of snow and other debris. Be like George. Please shovel your snow. #AccessIsACivilRight
Life outside of a nursing facility includes understanding e-mail. Stepping Stones facilitator Valerie Hines shows disabled Chicagoans how to create their first e-mail account.
The disability movement is really the story of many movements for the rights and freedom of people with disabilities. The work of Access Living was born from the work of the independent living movement, which co-exists with movements such as the self-advocacy movement, the Autistic movement, and others.
In 1972, the independent living movement, with roots in the civil rights and social change movements, began taking shape with the creation of the country's first center for independent living, the Berkeley Center for Independent Living. As other centers for independent living sprang up across the country, a new philosophy emerged -- an "independent living philosophy" that asserts that people with disabilities are their own best advocates and able to make the necessary decisions in order to live, work and socialize in the community. This was a significant shift away from the prevailing "medical model" which viewed people with disabilities as individuals who needed to be cared for. The community of people with disabilities entered the dawn of a new era.
In 1980, Access Living brought the independent living movement to Illinois when it was founded as part of the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago's quest to address the growing need for affordable, accessible housing for its patients ready to leave the RIC. Access Living remained a department within the RIC until 1984, when it became an independent non-profit group.
In the early 1980's society largely ignored people with disabilities. They were invisible: disrespected and viewed as little more than recipients of charity. Few options, if any, existed for to people with disabilities to engage in the community. Disabled people were segregated in housing, in schools, in cultural and sports arenas, in restaurants, shopping and entertainment. There was limited access to quality medical care, no accessible public transportation, no curb cuts, and communications access was rarely available. Employment opportunities were less than minimal. With early support from the RIC, Access Living’s committed staff took on the challenge of removing the obstacles that stood in the way of full equality for people with disabilities.
Chicago’s First Center for Independent Living By the mid-1980's Access Living was a thriving non-profit organization, growing from a small storefront on North LaSalle Street to a much larger loft space, headquartered on Van Buren Street. But Access Living did not let its relative youth prevent it from tackling many of Chicago’s most pressing problems: the lack of housing, personal assistance and transportation options for people with disabilities. Successfully linking powerful advocacy efforts around these and other crucial issues to specific client needs enabled Access Living to turn clients into activists, and activists into leaders.
Support and Services Access Living’s peer-based programs, including independent living skills training and peer counseling and support, provided thousands of people with the essential skills and motivation to take back control of their lives. For nearly three decades, Access Living has impacted the lives of thousands of individuals with disabilities through direct services, advocacy and education. Access Living’s mission, based on the philosophy of the Independent Living Movement, is to empower people with disabilities so they may lead dignified, independent lives and to foster an inclusive society for all people – with and without disabilities.
Advocacy A vocal advocate on the forefront of local and national change, Access Living has played a key role in many of the improvements that took shape in Chicago and across the country. At home, Access Living has been a part of several campaigns to make mainline public transportation more accessible. Today, 100% of all CTA buses are lift-equipped.
Also, Access Living successfully advocated for and won the allocation of $30 million of the Chicago Public Schools (CPS) budget Capital Improvement Plan for making CPS more accessible. In 2006, Access Living’s Youth Leaders led a effort to restore millions of dollars cut from the Public Schools Special Education Budget.
Nationally, Access Living initiated a disability housing coalition that was responsible for creating the Office on Disability Policy at the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), and had a leadership role in drafting and passing of the historic Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), passed in 1990. Access Living also developed an innovative Fair Housing Testing Program, designed to identify discrimination against people with disabilities in the sale and rental of housing. Access Living’s Testing Program and Youth Program have served as models for the development of similar programs throughout the country. These examples are just some of the ways Access Living has made an unparalleled contribution to the progress of the disability community.
Living the Vision In 2003 Access Living launched Living the Vision: The Campaign to Build a Permanent Home for Access Living. The goal of securing a permanent office space was to secure Access Living’s financial stability, while allowing the organization to continue to expand and pioneer new programs and standards of service for people with disabilities, both nationally and internationally.
On March 5, 2007, the dream became a reality when Access Living opened its doors at 115 West Chicago Avenue.
The new, state-of-the-art facility stands as a national model of Universal Design -- which reconceives fundamental architectural ideas and provides spaces that accommodate the broadest possible range of users. The building also will meet the needs of future users while having a limited impact on the environment, making it one of the first buildings to successfully combine Universal and Green Design.
Access Living's space is more than a new building. It is a testament to accessibility, sustainability and potential. A model of innovation, the elegant glass edifice facing Chicago Avenue welcomes everyone to pursue empowerment and independence.
While confronting the issues posed by inaccessible housing, transportation and public services may be a crucial step in achieving independence, a major component of breaking down physical barriers is changing the attitudinal barriers that built them in the first place. With an engaging array of cultural events, workshops, trainings and support groups, Access Living now focuses on instilling pride in the way people with disabilities view themselves and fosters dignity in the way others view the disability community. Access Living is also in an ongoing process of developing its ability to engage in intersectional work with a range of community partners.
Disabled Americans Want Work Now (DAWWN)
115 W Chicago AveThe Junior Board of Catholic Charities of the
721 N La Salle DrBritish-American Business Council Chicago
200 W Superior St, Ste 410Business Law Clinic at Loyola University Chic
25 E Pearson St, Ste 1005Grad, Prof. & Adult Student Life at Loyola Un
26 E Pearson StLoyola University Chicago PRSSA
51 E Pearson StAssociation for Library Collections & Technic
225 N Michigan Ave., Ste. 1300
Community Mental Health Council, Inc.
8704 S Constance Ave
RogersEdge Business Improvement District
6443 N Sheridan Rd
Chicago Children's Advocacy Center
1240 S Damen Ave
Little Achievers Learning Center
3801 w Diversey Ave