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

News & Events

News and Events

Print This Page Email Friend

News

Title Date
Town Hall Meetings: Fund Illinois Home Services SEIU Healthcare Illinois/Indiana has organized three Town Hall meetings this week on the issue of Illinois Home Services.
 		February 11, 2013
2013-DRS-Meet-Greet-3 DRS Director hosts “Meet and Greet” at Access LivingOn January 16, David Hansen, the new Director of the Division of Rehab Services, hosted a “Meet and Greet” at Access Living February 6, 2013
2013-DJMC Disability mentorship program creates lasting bondsThe next round of Access Living’s Disability Justice Mentoring Collective begins in February January 31, 2013
2012-UNTreaty Senate fails to ratify international disability rights treaty
On December 4, the U.S. Senate failed by five votes to reach the two thirds majority needed to ratify the United Nations Convention on the Rights of People with Disabilities 		December 18, 2012
Advocates push legislation during Lame Duck Session
Several Access Living staff made trips to the capitol in Springfield during the 2012 Lame Duck Session to promote specific legislation. 		December 18, 2012
 «  1  2  3  4  5  6  7  8  ...  » 

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
Text of Speech Against Managed Care on August 12.On August 12, scores of people with disabilities who are against a new program, that will force 40,000 people with disabilities into managed care, rallied in downtown Chicago. During the program in Daley Plaza, Tom Wilson of Access Living delivered a speech against managed care and the new program August 27, 2010
Bob Kafka and Steve Gold FY 2009 Institution vs Community-FY 2009 Breakdown of Medicaid Services for Older and Younger Americans with DisabilitiesSteve Gold is a civil rights attorney based in Philadelphia. He has collaborated and still collaborates with Access Living on disability rights cases, including the pending “Colbert” case that was filed on behalf of people with disabilities in nursing homes in Illinois. September 1, 2010
No Place Like Home No place like home, April 16, 2010Access Living offers peer oriented, independent living services to individuals with disabilities. One such program is the Deinstitutionalization (DI) Program. The program was created in response to Illinois disproportional support of institutional care. Though the Americans with Disabilities Act and the Olmstead Supreme Court ruling of 1999 both give people with disabilities the right to receive services in their own home, thousands of people are forced into institutions because no community options exist. September 1, 2010
Rod Estvan Testifies at CPS Annual Review of Chicago Public Schools BudgetAccess Living’s Summary Analysis of the CPS FY 2011 BudgetEvery year Access Living’s Education Policy Analyst, Rodney Estvan, reviews and presents an analysis of the Chicago Public Schools (CPS) Fiscal Year Budget. CPS currently has about 54,000 students with disabilities enrolled in its 680 traditional, charter, and contract schools. The total FY2011 budget for CPS, including for capital and debt payments, is about $6.4 billion. September 9, 2010
New Directions in Special Education Events at Access Living the Week of September 20, 2010The week of September 20, Access Living will host two community events that are free and open to the public. September 23, 2010
 «  1  2  3  4  5  6  7  8  ...  » 

Events Calendar

Title Date
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
2013-BodiesofWork Creative Movement Workshop A Creative Movement Workshop May 14, 2013
Cross Disability Support Group3rd Tuesday of each month from 1:00 - 2:30 p.m.For people of all ages, genders and disabilities. This support group is a chance for people with all types of disabilities to share concerns and ask questions, and engage with others. 3rd Tuesday of each month
Deaf and Hard of Hearing Support GroupPeer Support A monthly peer group for people who are Deaf and hard or hearing. 3rd Wednesday of each month
Deinstitutionalization Support GroupPersonal Assistant Health CareMonthly group for nursing home residents with disabilities who would like to learn about opportunities to live in
their own homes and communities. For information, 		3rd Thursday of every Month
 «  1  2  3  » 

Press Releases

Title Date
Committee for the Integration of Latinos with Disabilities - Embedded 6th Annual Building Bridges to Independence Conference:Press ReleaseChicago, IL - On September 27, 2008, the Committee for the Integration of Latinos with Disabilities (CILD), DePaul University College of Law’s Special Education Advocacy Clinic and Town of Cicero President Larry Dominick will present the 6th Annual Building Bridges to Independence Conference: Empowering Communities, Individuals with Disabilities, and Their Families. Sep 25th, 2008
A Huge Step Forward for People with Mental IllnessHistoric agreement reached to transition Illinois residents unnecessarily housed in large, impersonal nursing homesLast week was a good week for people with mental illness in Illinois. On Thursday, a federal judge granted preliminary approval for an historic agreement between the State of Illinois and thousands of people with psychiatric disabilities represented by a number of advocacy groups, including Access Living, and a private law firm - led, in this case, by the ACLU of Illinois - that will give thousands of people with mental illness an opportunity, if they choose, to move out of large, private nursing homes and into community-based settings. This agreement marks a sea change in Illinois state policy - which for far too long has relied on troubled, sometimes dangerous nursing homes to serve people with mental illness. June 14, 2010
Access Living analysis of FY 2013 CPS Budget critical of disability cuts Report calls for restoration of funds and move toward Universal Design Prior to each school year, Access Living publishes a review of CPS funding priorities and initiatives related to special education and students with disabilities. Access Living’s FY 2013 analysis examines the impact of CPS Budget decisions on students with disabilities. August 15, 2012
Access Living applauds Governor Quinn’s closure announcement Urges shift from institutional to community support for people with disabilitiesAccess Living statement responds to January 19, 2012 announcement from Governor Quinn on closure of Tinley Park Mental Health Center and Jacksonville Developmental Center. January 20, 2012
Access Living applauds institution closure, commitment to community

Urges support for services that promote independence for people with disabilitiesAccess Living responds to Illinois Governor Quinn’s February 22 Budget Address. 		February 23, 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  »