Access Living

02/01/2023

01/31/2023

Pilot program will make city clear sidewalks, which people with disabilities say impairs mobility

"It would mean a lot to me. It would make me feel very cared for by the community if I could actually traverse the neighborhoods I care about and live in," Zahedi said.

Snowy sidewalks can cover grooves and markings that help people with disabilities travel safely through the city. Should the city being clearing its sidewalks everywhere?

01/31/2023

Independent Living Technology Coordinator - Jobs at Access Living - Access Living

We're hiring!

Careers at Access Living Position: Independent Living Technology Coordinator Basic Function: The Technology Coordinator is responsible for providing critical technology and accessibility supports to individuals with disabilities in the city […]

01/30/2023

TOWN HALL DETAILS:

Tonight!

Join Access Living, Better Streets Chicago, and Alderman Gilbert Villegas in person or virtually at 5-6:30 PM CT for a Town Hall discussion on the campaign.

RSVP:

Please join Access Living, Better Streets Chicago, and Alderman Gilbert Villegas on Monday, January 30, 2023, at 5-6:30 PM CT for a Town Hall discussion on the City of Chicago Pilot Program () as a municipal service alongside community members, stakeholders, and government lead...

01/30/2023

Got City Debt? New Programs Offer Chicagoans Relief, A Way To Pay It Off

The city has launched a pilot program to provide some relief to people who face debt from administrative hearing violations, which can cover anything from littering to playing the radio too loudly. Hardship relief applications open 4/1. Check eligibility:

The city has launched a pilot program that will provide some relief to people who face debt from administrative hearing violations.

01/29/2023

Sundance Jury Walks Out of ‘Magazine Dreams’ Premiere Over Failure to Provide Captioning

"While the device was eventually repaired and the jury made plans to see the film at another time, the incident speaks to a larger debate about accessibility in the film festival community. In private discussions during the weeks leading up to the festival, jurors had expressed concerns about the festival’s accessibility and had asked for all films to feature open captions shown on the screen."

“The US independent cinema movement began as a way to make film accessible to everyone, not just those with the most privileges among us,” the jurors said in a statement.

01/28/2023

Money Management - Access Living

Every year, Access Living offers four workshops on money management for people with disabilities. Workshops are free, & instructors teach and offer 1:1 help with budgeting, understanding credit, and getting out of debt. Take control of your finances this year with Access Living:

Our money management classes are for people with disabilities who want to improve their credit, learn to budget, and save for the future.

01/27/2023

2023 Call for Fellows — Zoeglossia

Fellowship opportunity for disabled poets - Applications are open until February 15.

If you are a poet (age 21+) who identifies as disabled and is interested in building community and pursuing artistic excellence in a diverse cohort of writers, consider applying to be a Zoeglossia Fellow.

01/27/2023

Financial literacy and money management might be for you if you...
-Find yourself overspending
-Want to work on paying off debt or learning to budget
-You have goals to increase your savings or boost your credit score
DEADLINE FOR WINTER WORKSHOP IS 2/2: https://www.accessliving.org/our-services/money-management-classes/

01/26/2023

Rolling With the Punches: Self-Defense for Wheelchair Users

“The most effective technique to learn is how to use your voice to set boundaries and to send a message that you will not be easily victimized. Using your voice in a powerful manner requires practice. For many people, setting firm boundaries doesn’t come naturally.”

Self-defense experts offer tips to escape harm.

01/25/2023

TOWN HALL DETAILS:

We may not have had much snow (yet) this winter, but we all know that could change at any time. Next week, join us for a town hall alongside community members, stakeholders, and government leaders to discuss the campaign:

Please join Access Living, Better Streets Chicago, and Alderman Gilbert Villegas on Monday, January 30, 2023, at 5-6:30 PM CT for a Town Hall discussion on the City of Chicago Pilot Program () alongside community members, stakeholders, and government leaders. Please complete th...

01/25/2023

Twitter’s meltdown isn’t a punchline for disabled communities

"Twitter is a vital means of connection for many disabled people, and we still don’t have a suitable replacement. This isn’t just inconvenient—for some of us, it will be downright dangerous without access to the community networks of support and trust we’ve spent years building on Twitter."

Disabled users fear the loss of Twitter-based networks they’ve spent years building for communication, commerce, and connection

01/24/2023

California’s power outages are a life-and-death issue

Alice Wong offers an hour-by-hour account of the storms that recently battered northern California, and how pwd and older people are often left behind or unaccounted for in emergency and disaster planning.

A perspective on the impacts of storms for people with disabilities.

01/24/2023

People's Unity Platform Candidate Forum

1/26 - Come hear directly from the candidates running for Mayor about where they stand on the issues that our communities care about at the People's Unity Platform Mayoral forum. The People's Unity Platform is a coalition of neighborhood and community organizations that have been working on issues around housing, education, air and environmental quality, community safety, and worker's rights. This forum is an opportunity to go beyond TV commercials and mailers to understand where candidates stand on these issues as well as uniting our communities so we can be ready to hold whoever wins accountable to the promises they make to our neighborhoods.

A candidate forum to truly engage with the mayoral candidates of Chicago's 2023 Municipal Elections to know where they stand

01/23/2023

Money Management - Access Living

Every year, Access Living offers four workshops on money management for people with disabilities. Workshops are free, & instructors teach and offer 1:1 help with budgeting, understanding credit, and getting out of debt. Take control of your finances this year with Access Living:

Our money management classes are for people with disabilities who want to improve their credit, learn to budget, and save for the future.

01/23/2023

Ed Roberts Day: Honoring Pioneer for Equality and Disability Rights

Happy Ed Roberts Day!

The disability community as a whole takes this day to remember a man who was a catalyst for disability rights, access, and equality.

01/23/2023

On Jan. 28, learn how our Chicago mayoral candidates would improve walking, biking, and public transit if elected. Candidates who have confirmed attendance: Kam Buckner, Ja'Mal Green, Brandon Johnson, Sophia King, Rodrick Sawyer, Paul Vallas. Attend in person or watch the event streaming.
safestreets4all.org/forum

01/23/2023

01/23/2023

Demand HUD Protect Public Housing Land!

Remember when the City of Chicago decided to sell land they'd promised for public housing to the owner of the Chicago Fire? That's still a thing, and we need to push back HARD. Fight for quality public housing:

The "ABLA" public housing complex was once home to more than 17,000 Chicagoans. After the city announced their "Plan For Transformation", promising new quality housing for residents, their communities were almost entirely demolished. There are now only around 2,000 residents left. The thousands who....

01/22/2023

Independent Living Technology Coordinator - Jobs at Access Living - Access Living

We're hiring!

Careers at Access Living Position: Independent Living Technology Coordinator Basic Function: The Technology Coordinator is responsible for providing critical technology and accessibility supports to individuals with disabilities in the city […]

01/18/2023

Chicago Mayoral Forums for 2023

Upcoming forums for Chicago's mayoral candidates.

Chicago Mayoral Forums for 2023 Jan. 14: The Libertarian Party 2023 Chicago Mayoral Forum Host: The Libertarian Party of Chicago Location: Sulzer Regional Library, 4455 N Lincoln Ave, Chicago, IL 60625 Time: 11AM-12PM. Additional Details: Kam Buckner, Brandon Johnson, and Lori Lightfoot have dec...

01/18/2023

Demand HUD Protect Public Housing Land!

Remember when the City of Chicago decided to sell land they'd promised for public housing to the owner of the Chicago Fire? That's still a thing, and we need to push back HARD. Fight for quality public housing:

The "ABLA" public housing complex was once home to more than 17,000 Chicagoans. After the city announced their "Plan For Transformation", promising new quality housing for residents, their communities were almost entirely demolished. There are now only around 2,000 residents left. The thousands who....

01/18/2023

www.accesscovidtests.org

Free, rapid, at-home COVID-19 test kits to residents of eligible communities while supplies last. Check your zip code to see if Project Act ships to your location:

Project ACT (Access Covid Tests)

01/17/2023

CROR spoke with Karen Tamley, President and CEO of Access Living about how COVID-19 affected employment for . helped people find work, and drove career advancement, but there were some unexpected downsides, too. https://loom.ly/UqkJu8M City of Chicago Mayor's Office for People with Disabilities Research on Disability

01/12/2023

Independent Living Technology Coordinator - Jobs at Access Living - Access Living

We're hiring!

Careers at Access Living Position: Independent Living Technology Coordinator Basic Function: The Technology Coordinator is responsible for providing critical technology and accessibility supports to individuals with disabilities in the city […]

01/09/2023

The 2023 Disability Mayoral Candidates' Forum - Access Living

Thank you to everyone who helped Access Living make the Mayoral Disability Candidates' Forum such a success! The event recording is now available + a list of all the media coverage we've seen so far about the forum. Both can be found here:

Join Access Living for Panel Discussion on Disability Issues with Chicago Mayoral Candidates The election for the next mayor of Chicago takes place on February 28, 2023. Prior to early voting, Access Living […]

01/07/2023

Watch: Disability Mayoral Candidates' Forum Livestream - Access Living

Standing room only at the Disability Candidates' Forum at Access Living! Not here IRL? Tune into the livestream:

Livestream begins at 1:00PM on Saturday, January 7 Note: Captions will be turned on by default For the live event Spanish translation call (267) 930-4000. Access code: 742-185-485. Event Agenda […]

01/07/2023

The 2023 Disability Mayoral Candidates' Forum - Access Living

TODAY'S THE DAY!

Join Access Living for Panel Discussion on Disability Issues with Chicago Mayoral Candidates The election for the next mayor of Chicago takes place on February 28, 2023. Prior to early voting, Access Living […]

01/06/2023

City ignores housing rules for people with disabilities, lawsuit says

“Yet instead of focusing on remediation and collaborating with Access Living to arrive at a solution, they’ve chosen to fight the allegations in court, now to the tune of $4 million and growing,” Gallegos said. https://www.audacy.com/wbbm780/news/local/city-not-meeting-needs-of-disabled-in-housing-group-says

Access Living, which advocates for people with disabilities, claims that the city doesn't bother to check whether new affordable units meet accessibility requirements.

01/05/2023

Are you ready? with us on Saturday. Online or in-person.

01/04/2023

The 2023 Disability Mayoral Candidates' Forum - Access Living

In order for mayoral candidates to participate in the 1/7 Disability Candidates' Forum, candidates had to fill out a questionnaire about their disability platform and issue views. Their responses are available on our website now. Read what they have to say! Will we see you at the forum?

Join Access Living for Panel Discussion on Disability Issues with Chicago Mayoral Candidates The election for the next mayor of Chicago takes place on February 28, 2023. Prior to early voting, Access Living […]

01/02/2023

The Mayor of Chicago has a huge impact on services, programs, and legislation that impact everyone living in or visiting Chicago, like the CTA, bike lanes, traffic tickets, and the distribution of resources. Join us at Access Living on 1/7/23 to hear from the candidates themselves about how they would support or oppose some of these key issue areas. https://www.accessliving.org/get-involved/the-2023-disability-mayoral-candidates-forum/

01/01/2023

The 2023 Disability Mayoral Candidates' Forum - Access Living

New year, new democratic participation! In 6 short days, Access Living is hosting SEVEN candidates in Chicago's mayoral race at a Disability Candidates' Forum. On 1/7, join us in person or online to get ready to .

Join Access Living for Panel Discussion on Disability Issues with Chicago Mayoral Candidates The election for the next mayor of Chicago takes place on February 28, 2023. Prior to early voting, Access Living […]

12/31/2022

Donate - Access Living

Time is ticking for 2022. It's also ticking for our 3:1 year end giving! Right up until the clock strikes midnight, any gift received by Access Living will be TRIPLED. Let's welcome 2023 with a bang, shall we?

12/30/2022

Confronting Ableism on the Way to Justice

"To build a society that advances the human rights of all people requires the social justice movement to be intentional in including intersecting identities and diverse equity struggles."

To build a society that advances the human rights of all people requires the social justice movement to be intentional in including intersecting identities and diverse equity struggles.

12/29/2022

Chicago Resiliency Fund 2.0 | Heartland Alliance

DON'T FORGET: The deadline to apply for the Chicago Resiliency Fund is this Saturday! The Fund will provide up to 25,500 eligible Chicago residents with a one-time, $500 relief payment. Get your applications in ASAP.

Choose Language The fund is now accepting applications from households who filed 2019 taxes with claimed dependents 17 years or older. Click here to submit an Interest Form   Menu About the Fund Am I Eligible? How to Apply Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) Get Help CBO Resources Please note: No ques...

12/29/2022

Donate - Access Living

Thanks to a generous donor, all gifts Access Living receives through the end of the year will be matched by 3! That's one gift, triple the impact. Make your gift - and Access Living - go three times as far. Donate:

12/28/2022

The Disability Tax: Medical Bills Remain Inaccessible for Many Blind Americans - Q'Hubo News

"Health insurers and health care systems across the U.S. are breaking disability rights laws by sending inaccessible medical bills and notices, a KHN investigation found. The practice hinders the ability of blind Americans to know what they owe, effectively creating a disability tax on their time and finances."

The Disability Tax: Medical Bills Remain Inaccessible for Many Blind Americans

12/27/2022

“Out Of Control”: Dozens of Telehealth Startups Sent Sensitive Health Information to Big Tech Companies – The Markup

"An investigation of 50 direct-to-consumer telehealth companies found that quick, online access to medications often comes with a hidden cost: These websites were leaking the medical information they collected to the world’s largest advertising platforms."

An investigation by The Markup and STAT found 49 out of 50 telehealth websites sharing health data via Big Tech’s tracking tools

12/26/2022

Chicago Resiliency Fund 2.0 | Heartland Alliance

DON'T FORGET: The deadline to apply for the Chicago Resiliency Fund is this Saturday! The Fund will provide up to 25,500 eligible Chicago residents with a one-time, $500 relief payment. Get your applications in ASAP.

Choose Language The fund is now accepting applications from households who filed 2019 taxes with claimed dependents 17 years or older. Click here to submit an Interest Form   Menu About the Fund Am I Eligible? How to Apply Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) Get Help CBO Resources Please note: No ques...