Coalition of Citizens with Disabilities in Illinois

05/09/2016

05/09/2016

To plan your trip to the Independent Living Day Rally on May 17th at the Illinois State Capitol, this link may be helpful to you.

A Guide for All Ages & Abilities. Springfield, Illinois disability access travel guide for wheelchair users, mobility impaired, blind, deaf and seniors requiring accessible transportation, hotels, restaurants, attractions, tours and services.

04/26/2016

http://www.rrstar.com/article/20160425/NEWS/160429668/?Start=1

ROCKFORD — Lisa Kotsirs can’t leave her 29 year-old epileptic autistic daughter alone in a room because she fears her daughter would

04/19/2016

http://cqrcengage.com/accessliving/app/onestep-write-a-letter?11&engagementId=196254

State Budget Action Alert: Where's Our Pumpkin Pie? Fight for Centers for Independent Living! Since July 1, 2015, Centers for Independent Living across the state of Illinois, like hundreds of other providers, have been waiting for funding that helps provide critical social services. The Illinois Net…

04/14/2016

From Our Friends @ SILC

Dear Disability Advocates and Stakeholders,

Every three years, the Statewide Independent Living Council of Illinois (SILC) submits a new State Plan for Independent Living (SPIL) to the Administration for Community Living, part of the Department of Health and Human Services. The development of the State Plan is a collaboration between the SILC and all Centers for Independent Living in Illinois. The majority of the SILC members and 51% of Center for Independent Living (CIL) directors must approve the plan. Each state and territory of the United States is required to submit a State Plan.

State Plans for Independent Living (SPILs) show how funding will support the state’s independent living programs and how we will continue to support, strengthen and expand our Independent Living Network, specifically services offered by Centers for Independent Living across Illinois.

The first part of the survey is the objectives, activities and ways we will measure each goal area. The advisory groups, CIL directors and other stakeholder groups have been working for the last year on develop this new State Plan. While our list of activities to accomplish was extremely long, we recognized that we have limited resources to assign to this plan.

The second part of the survey looks at the expansion of the IL network, including identification of the unserved and underserved areas in the State and the order of priority for serving these areas as additional funding becomes available. The term ‘unserved’ means an area not within the service area of any CIL regardless of the type of funding. The term ‘underserved’ means an area not within the service area of any CIL established with Part C funds.

The survey can be accessed through the link below. If you would prefer to respond by email, there are two documents attached. One contains the goals and objectives and the other the funding priorities. Please pass this opportunity on to your colleagues and others that you think should comment.

https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/SPIL1719SURVEY

Please take the time to complete the survey or provide your comments by April 21st. This is YOUR plan. If you prefer not to complete the survey, you may comment using the attached word documents or can also call our office and complete the survey verbally. If you have any questions or experience difficulties you can contact us by email at [email protected] or call Tara Dunning at 217-744-7777. Your comments are needed. Thank You!

Sarah Durbin
SILC Director


https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/SPIL1719SURVEY

Web survey powered by SurveyMonkey.com. Create your own online survey now with SurveyMonkey's expert certified FREE templates.

03/08/2016

http://www.rebootillinois.com/2016/03/03/editors-picks/emily-miller/the-human-impact-of-the-illinois-budget-impasse-nine-months-later/53926/

Voices for Illinois Children released an update to its September report outlining the devastating human impact of the Illinois budget impasse.

03/02/2016

http://capitolfax.com/2016/03/02/new-report-details-the-human-carnage-of-the-impasse/

With Illinois’ higher ed system on the brink of collapse due to the lack of a budget, it’s natural that a higher ed fix is at top of mind for the governor, lawmakers and the media. But it’s worth remembering that for every high profile budget hostage (like MAP grant recipients and higher ed institut…

02/29/2016

http://www.thearcofil.org/arc-and-senate-hearing-on-employment-first/

The debate to end sub-minimum wages and the use of segregated sheltered workshop has come to Illinois as the Senate Human Services Committee held a hearing on the state’s implementation of the Employment First Act. Robin Jones, Co-Chair of the Economic & Employment Opportunities for Persons with Dis…

02/22/2016

On Tuesday February 23rd, EFE will be testifying at a subject matter hearing about our Blueprint on Employment First – the policy that competitive integrated employment should be the first option for people with disabilities. EFE’s development and implementation of the Employment First Blueprint a…

02/22/2016

Under the ADA, employees can only ask two questions if a dog is not obviously a service dog:
(1) Is the dog a service animal required because of a disability?
(2) What work or task has the dog been trained to perform?
http://kxan.com/investigative-story/fake-service-dogs-the-harm-caused-by-pet-owners-who-break-the-rules/

Laws currently require no identification or government certification for service animals. However, the provisions have also opened up opportunities for abuse.

02/18/2016

http://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2016/feb/15/disability-voting-block-could-swing-2016-election

Smart candidates in the US election have an opportunity to promote development of a large block of people in what could be a tipping point for disabled voters

02/17/2016

Tune in to the governor's budget speech streaming live @ noon.
http://abc7chicago.com/live/23381/

Watch live streaming video on abc7chicago.com and stay up-to-date with the latest WLS news broadcasts as well as live breaking news whenever it happens.

02/17/2016

"It's hard to give a budget speech for a state that doesn't have a budget," Rauner said Tuesday while addressing the state's pork producers. "But you know what? It's not really about the budget. It's about the future direction of Illinois."

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/politics/ct-bruce-rauner-budget-speech-met-20160216-story.html

Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner will find himself Wednesday in the awkward position of delivering his second budget proposal before winning approval of his first, the result of unprecedented partisan gridlock that has closed social service programs, driven up the state's debt and threatens the operatio…

02/12/2016

http://www.wbez.org/programs/morning-shift/2016-02-11/whose-budget-impasse-worse-illinois-or-pennsylvania-114814

Next week, Illinois Governor Bruce Rauner will give his budget address eight months into the state’s budget stalemate. A situation Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf found himself in early this week. We compare.

02/10/2016

Live video available here @ 1:30 pm
https://www.whitehouse.gov/live/president-obama-addresses-illinois-general-assembly

Springfield, Illinois

02/10/2016

Please help call your friends and families to action to support HB 4351.

Action Alert for support of HB 4351, which would preserve the DON Score at 29 and protect Home Services for people with disabilities.

02/01/2016

REGISTERED TO VOTE? Make sure you are registered, details are accurate & up to date.

https://ova.elections.il.gov/

Illinois online voter registration.

01/29/2016

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/politics/ct-barack-obama-illinois-legislature-speech-met-0130-20160129-story.html

SPRINGFIELD — President Barack Obama will return to his old stomping grounds on Feb. 10 and deliver an address to the Illinois General Assembly .

01/25/2016

VOTER REGISTRATION TRAINING
Wednesday January 27: From 2:30pm-3:30pm
At Progress Center for Independent Living
7521 Madison Street, Forest Park

01/25/2016

Responsible Budget Coalition's State of OUR State Rally on Wednesday, January 27, 2016 @ Illinois State Capitol

01/22/2016

**CANCELLED: ADAPT Information/Training Session in Springfield
Saturday, January 30th
10:00a.m. - 4:00p.m.
Questions or concerns contact: Suzanne. 217-546-0015, 773-273-0101, or email to [email protected].

01/15/2016

http://www.illinois.gov/KeepWarm/SitePages/WarmingCenters.aspx

Warming centers are available in state facilities across Illinois to help Illinois residents reduce their home heating costs. These facilities are a safe, warm place to go during the day while you turn your thermostat down (do not lower your thermostat below 60 degrees). To complement the state effo…

12/16/2015

http://www.ecampusnews.com/top-news/guide-udl-online-188/

Montana State University professors discuss a 10-step plan to applying UDL in online courses.

12/07/2015

LIHEAP funding bill passed through Illinois House last week and the Illinois Senate a few minutes ago. Now it goes on to the governor for a signature!

http://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/lake-county-news-sun/community/chi-ugc-article-sente-votes-to-fully-fund-vital-programs-rel-2015-12-07-story.html

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. - State Rep. Carol Sente, D-Vernon Hills, issued the following statement following the House's passage of Senate Bill 2039 Wednesday, a bi-partisan bill that would release funds for numerous vital state programs including domestic violence shelters and money owed to local municipal…

12/04/2015

Today, the New Republic published a story about the Chicago Housing Authority (CHA) and the CHA’s failure to address housing demand in Chicago. In the context of Access Living's work to advocate for more accessible, affordable and integrated housing, the issue is that the CHA has built a reserve fund of over $400 million while thousands of public housing units sit vacant and tens of thousands of people with and without disabilities are in search of housing.

As the mayor reels from the Laquan McDonald controversy, he must deal with a housing authority with heavy pockets and empty promises.

11/16/2015

http://wuis.org/post/leaders-meetings-postponed-during-ongoing-budget-impasse-heres-why

Illinois' Governor and the four legislative leaders won't meet in Springfield this week after all; the gathering has been postponed until next month. Even