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

Access Living

Access Living

Text: Small | LargeLayout: Wide | Narrow

About UsNews & EventsResourcesUniversal & Green DesignEmploymentContact UsDonate & Act Now

News & Events

News and Events

Print This Page Email Friend

News

Title	Date
2010 Annual Report Past is Prologue: 30 years of pride, independent living, and social change	December 16, 2010
2013 “Lead On!” Honoree feature of Chicago Reader cover storyAuthor and Activist Susan Nussbaum is featured in the cover story for the May 30 issue of the Chicago Reader. A former Access Living employee and the founder of the Empowered Fe Fes, Nussbaum is a 2013 “Lead On!” Honoree.	May 31, 2013
20th Anniversary ADA CelebrationsAround the country this summer, the community has celebrated the 20th Anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act.	August 10, 2010
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
A message for personal assistants regarding W-2 FormsW-2 information for Personal Assistants	January 15, 2010

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
Story on Illinois budget from Medill ReportsEarlier this week, journalism students with Medill Reports interviewed a few Access Living Staff about the impact of the Illinois budget on the independence of people with disabilities. The story ran on Wednesday evening on the Northwestern News Report, an Evanston cable access station.	July 24, 2010
Public News Service story about Illinois Budget CutsOn Saturday, at the 7th Annual Disbility Pride Parade, Public News Service reporter Mary Anne Meyers interviewed Gary Arnold and Rahnee Patrick of Access Living about impact of recent budget cuts on the independence of people with disabilities in Illinois.	July 27, 2010
ADA 20th Anniversary Celebration at the White HouseMore than ten Access Living staff and board members, as well as hundreds of others from the disability community around the country, attended the event. Access Living’s President and CEO, Marca Bristo, delivered remarks prior to the President’s address.	July 29, 2010
Remarks from Marca Bristo at the White House Celebration commemorating the 20th Anniversary of the ADAWhite House 20th AnniversaryMore than 20 years ago the then little known National Council on Disability — led by Sandra Parrino, Justin Dart, and Lex Frieden — launched the most comprehensive civil rights law since the Civil Rights Act of 1964. At first it was met with hesitancy but then a rag-tag army of people who couldn’t hear, couldn’t walk, couldn’t talk, couldn’t see and couldn’t speak did what everybody said couldn’t be done.	August 2, 2010
Rally to oppose managed care pilot in IllinoisDisability advocates unite to oppose Medicaid Managed Care program and preserve consumer controlRichard Jesonowski speaking at the managed care rally “I was shocked to learn that I would be forced into managed care,” said Richard Jesonowski, an advocate with Will-Grundy Center for Independent Living who is one of thousands of people with disabilities who will soon be placed into a new Illinois Medicaid Managed Care Pilot Program. “I am angry and concerned about what this will mean for myself and others who need specialists or specialized treatments.”	August 13, 2010

Events Calendar

Title	Date
The Disability Rights Action Coalition for Housing, (DRACH)HousingA twice monthly meeting of housing advocates who work to enforce and implement the housing rights of people with disabilities. The group meets the second Tuesday and fourth Thursday of each month.	4th Thursday of every Month and 2nd Tuesday of every month.
Task Force on Attendant ServicesThe Task Force on Attendant Services organizes consumers to expand and defend home and community services for people with disabilities of all ages.	Group meets the first Wednesday of each month
Stepping Stones A peer support group for people with disabilities who have just moved out of institutions and into their own homes through the Access Living Community Reintegration program.	Tuesdays in the Spring 2013
Personal Assistant Informational SeminarJoin our pool of highly sought PA’s	March 14, 2012
People with Disabilities Speak Out on Health Care DisparitiesAccess Living’s Health Policy Team and the University of Illinois at Chicago’s Department of Occupational Therapy invite you to a Town Hall meeting to discuss the state of health care for Medicaid beneficiaries with disabilities	June 27, 2013

Press Releases

Title	Date
Colbert v. Quinn News Release (2007)Illinois Residents Sue State Officials For Violating Americans With Disabilities Act, Failing To Provide Community ServicesA group of Illinois residents with disabilities asked a federal court today to force state officials to comply with the landmark Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), adopted seventeen years ago.	August 22, 2007
The Trujillo Case: Wheelchair user gains access to front door Settlement ends building policy discriminatory against people with disabilitiesCHICAGO – The United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois today entered a consent decree resolving a discrimination case brought by a disabled nine-year boy, his parents and the United States against the Triumvera Tower Condominium Association of Glenview, Illinois. The decree mandates the elimination of a policy that discriminated against wheelchair users and awards $83,500 in damages, penalties and attorneys’ fees.	Jun 11th, 2008
Access Living headquarters earns Gold LEED CertificationPress ReleaseIn late July, the U.S. Green Building Council awarded Access Living’s building at 115 West Chicago Avenue Gold LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Certification. Gold LEED is a landmark sustainability award; the second highest rating a green building can receive.	August 4, 2008
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
Renaissance 2010 and students with disabilities New report finds that students with disabilities do no better at Renaissance 2010 Schools	May 27, 2009

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