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News and Events

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News

Title	Date
Access Living White Paper urges Illinois to modify Performance Evaluation Reform Act On October 19, Access Living released an education White Paper that projects the impact that The Performance Evaluation Reform Act of 2010 (PERA) may have on Special Education students in public schools throughout Illinois. The paper, “Holding Educators Accountable For the Academic Growth of Students with Disabilities” examines the relationship within PERA between the achievement of students with disabilities and the performance of teachers.	October 19, 2011
Access Living youth advocates rally for Restorative Justice on June 25Advance Youth Leadership power is part of the HighHOPES Coalition, which is advocating for the Chicago Public Schools to implement restorative justice within the public schools.	June 25, 2012
Access Living youth attend Library’s Lyricist Loft On Wednesday, April 10, a group of Access Living Youth met at the Harold Washington Library in the South Loop for the library’s weekly “Lyricist Loft” Open Mic.	May 2, 2013
Access Living youth continue to push anti-bullying and restorative justice agenda Access Living’s youth advocacy group Advance Youth Leadership Power continues to advocate around the issue of bullying and restorative justice.	June 20, 2012
Access Living’s 2009 Annual Report The 2009 Annual Report is now available online. For a hard copy version of the report, please contact Gary Arnold at Access Living	December 2, 2009

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
How did the Access Living Blog Get It’s Name?Lead On Honors Justin Dart, Jr.	Mar 7th, 2010
Welcome to the blog chronicling the work of Access Living of Metropolitan ChicagoAccess 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.	March 9, 2010
Seeking IndependenceThousands of people with disabilities are currently living in nursing homes despite the fact that almost all, if not all, of them could live independently in their communities. An overwhelming majority of people with disabilities who live in nursing homes would rather receive assistance and support in their own homes but, by default, many of these people are not given a choice and are forced to live in large institutions.	April 9, 2010
“Lead On”The name of this blog is an acknowledgement of and salute to Justin Dart, Jr. A key architect of the Americans with Disabilities Act and recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom, Justin Dart was a pioneer of the Disability Rights Movement.	April 22, 2010
Why I Oppose Managed CareAs an organizer supporting home and community services and high quality affordable health care with equal access for all at Access Living for many years, I have seen advances and setbacks for people with disabilities in Illinois based on state policy decisions related to Medicaid.	May 12, 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
Disability community fights cuts to vital servicesProposed cuts to home services threaten independence of people with disabilities	August 28, 2009
Disability coalition testifies in Springfield on behalf of community-based services On April 22, Access Living, as part of the Community for All Coalition, testified in Springfield in support of community based services in the Illinois Budget.	April 22, 2010
Disability and senior advocates rally to preserve independent living servicesDisability and senior advocates rallied in downtown Chicago on March 28 to protest against inequities in the state budget.	March 28, 2012
Disability advocates organize to restore budget cuts Cuts threaten independence of disabled and would cost State more money Throughout April and May, Access Living staff and consumers will meet with state legislators and senators, both at their home offices in Chicago and in Springfield. Disability advocates hope to get their support for services that help people with disabilities live in the community.	April 22, 2011
Disability advocates deliver Valentines to Governor Quinn Disability advocates deliver Valentine to Governor Quinn	February 14, 2012

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