Join Today, or Sign-In if you're already a member.

News & Events

News and Events

Print This Page Email Friend

News

Title Date
Advocates Give Governor an F, call for closure of Howe Developmental CenterOn May 30, a coalition called “Community for All” held a news conference in Tinley Park to raise awareness around conditions at Howe Development Center, which after years of pressure, investigations and initiatives, continue to be deplorable. May 30, 2008
New legislation calls for free rides for low income persons with disabilitiesRepresentatives from Access Living and other disability rights organizations worked with Illinois legislators and transit providers on new legislation to benefit fixed route transit rides. The legislation has been approved by both the Illinois Senate and House, and is now awaiting Governor Blagojevich’s signature. He is favorable to the bill. August 4, 2008
Advocates celebrate the announced closure of the Howe Developmental CenterFor years, a coalition of disability advocates have fought for the closure of Howe Developmental Center, an institution in Tinley Park where more than 20 residents have died since 2005. On September 5, the Illinois Department of Human Services will host a news conference to announce the closure of the institution. October 10, 2008
Landmark victory for people with disabilitiesOn November 13, the disability community scored a huge victory when a class of people with developmental disabilities entered into a settlement agreement with the State of Illinois that will open up community services for thousands of individuals who have been trapped in institutions. November 13, 2008
Citizens With Disabilities Vote Candidates forum on disability issuesMeet The Candidates On: Monday, February 16;
Access Living, 115 W. Chicago Avenue 		February 2, 2009
 «  1  2  3  4  5  6  7  ...  » 

Lead On: The Access Living Blog

Disability Rights & Empowerment

Access Living is committed to the advancement and empowerment of people with disabilities in Chicago and nationwide. Our programs and services represent a multifaceted approach in attaining this goal.
Title Date
Young woman files Fair Housing Complaint against a condominium associationLast week, attorneys with Access Living and with Seyfarth Shaw filed a fair housing complaint on behalf of a woman who has been denied a reasonable accommodation. November 23, 2010
Testimony given to House Committee on Medicaid Reform The State of Illinois is in the process of undergoing Medicaid Reform. The House and Senate have convened committees to hear testimony and to propose a reform plan. Many people with disabilities worry that “reform” is code for cuts in services. In order to protect services, and to stress that any reform should include a strong emphasis on community based services, disability advocates have been submitting testimony before the house and senate committees. Below is testimony from Tom Wilson delivered to the House Committee on December 9. December 11, 2010
Community advocates organize around abuses at institutions Access Living, along with Chicago ADAPT, Jane Addams Senior Caucus, The Community Renewal Society and others began to organize in an effort to hold Alden accountable, improve conditions at the institution, and raise awareness around the need for more community-based service choices. December 22, 2010
Illinois Senate approves changes to Medicaid On Wednesday, January 5, the Illinois Senate, by a vote of 58-0, passed major changes to the current Medicaid package in Illinois. The package now goes to the Illinois House for a vote. January 6, 2011
Tragedy in ArizonaWith all of the work around Medicaid Reform, the upcoming Mayoral Election in Chicago, and the Illinois Budget, there has not been much dialogue at Access Living about the recent shootings and tragedy in Tucson, Arizona. January 13, 2011
 «  1  2  3  4  5  6  7  8  9  10  ...  » 

Events Calendar

Title Date
2013-gala-invite-3 The Access Living “Lead On!” Award Gala Join Access Living as we honor Lifetime Champion for the Civil Rights of People with Disabilities Senator Bob Dole
and Disability Activist Susan Nussbaum with the “Lead On!” Award. 		June 3, 2013
2013-BodiesofWork Creative Movement Workshop A Creative Movement Workshop May 14, 2013
2013-Nussbaum-Gala Good Kings, Bad Kings The Chicago playwright Susan Nussbaum signs and reads from her first novel, Good Kings, Bad Kings,for which she received the 2012 PEN/Bellwether Prize for Socially Engaged Fiction. May 18, 2013
2013-Counterbalance-May Counter Balance IVAn evening of physically integrated dance, poetry and spoken word that explores the intersection of disability, diversity and art. Friday May 17 and Saturday May 18
2013-BodiesofWork 2013 Bodies of Work Festival In May of this year, Chicago will host the 11-day Bodies of Work Festival. Featuring visual and performing arts that highlight the work of artists with disabilities, the festival celebrates national and international artists with disabilities who are creating cutting-edge theater, dance, literature, poetry, spoken word, film, and visual/performance art. May -- 2013
 «  1  2  3  » 

Press Releases

Title Date
Proposed legislation threatens progress made to support independence, integration of people with disabilitiesNews release announces Access Living concern over State plans that could potentially derail efforts to integrate people with psychiatric disabilities into community based settings May 8, 2013
Disabled Americans Want Work Now Applauds
Introduction of Fair Wages Legalization
Urges Passage of Fair Wages for Workers Disabilities ActDisabled Americans Want Work Now (DAWWN) applauds the introduction of Fair Wages for Workers with Disabilities Act – H.R. 831. 		March 4, 2013
Senate fails to ratify international disability rights treatyOn Tuesday, December 4, the U.S. Senate failed by five votes to reach the two thirds majority needed to ratify the United Nations International Treaty on the Rights of People with Disabilities. The final vote count was 61-38. Though the treaty earned bipartisan support, Republican Senators cast all 38 votes against the treaty. December 5, 2012
Access Living celebrates full closure of Jacksonville Developmental CenterGovernor Quinn of Illinois announces that all residents of the Jacksonville Developmental Center have moved out of the institution and into the community. November 30, 2012
Senator Reid Brings the CRPD to the Senate Floor
Access Living Applauds U.S. Senate for considering ratification of treaty on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities 		November 27, 2012
 «  1  2  3  4  5  ...  » 

The Bullhorn - The Newsletter of Access Living

Access Living’s bimonthly newsletter

The Bullhorn, the newsletter of Access Living, is published bimonthly.
Title Date
The Bullhorn Volume 78Volume 78 of the Bullhorn, the Newsletter of Access Living, from October 2012. January 10, 2013
The Bullhorn Volume 77The Bullhorn Volume 77 August 2012 January 10, 2013
The Bullhorn - Volume 76The Newsletter of Access Living Volume 76 of the Bullhorn, the Newsletter of Access Living, published in June of 2012. January 9, 2013
The Bullhorn Volume 75Volume 75 of the Bullhorn, the Newsletter of Access Living, published in April 2012 April 2012
The Bullhorn Volume 74Volume 74 of The Bullhorn, The Newsletter of Access Living March 2012
 «  1  2  »