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News

Title	Date
Access Living opposes recommendation of commission to keep institution openAccess Living urges closure of Mabley and creation of more community supportsIn early September, Governor Quinn announced the closure of two state run institutions for people with developmental disabilities, including the Mabley Developmental Center. Access Living supports the closure of both institutions.	October 27, 2011
Action Alert! - Push for Closure of Jacksonville and Mabley Developmental CentersOn October 27 in the morning, the Commission on Government Forecasting and Accountability (COGFA) will vote on whether to close the Mabley and Jacksonville Centers for People with Developmental Disabilities.	October 26, 2011
Urban Weatherization Initiative Helping Illinois Become GreenerGov. Quinn allocates $1.6 milliion for WeatherizationUrban Weatherization Initiative Helping Illinois Become Greener	October 26, 2011
Disability Advocates host “Institution Free Illinois Rally” at Springfield State Capitol	October 24, 2011
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

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
Access Living’s Fair Housing WorkAccess Living has historically worked to eradicate housing discrimination through its Fair Housing Enforcement Project. Challenging discriminatory treatment is important because discrimination, combined with the lack of affordable housing and the gloomy prospect of finding accessible housing, presents a potent barrier for persons with disabilities in need of housing. This is an overview of Access Living’s Fair Housing Work	September 7, 2011
My Medicaid Matters Rally on September 21Join Access Living and scores of other groups on September 21, when thousands of people with disabilities will gather in Washington, D.C. and in cities around the country to rally in support of Medicaid Services that promote the independence of people with disabilities.	September 21, 2011
Athletes gear up for the 2011 Chicago Marathon Team For the third year in a row, Access Living will be a part of the Bank of America Chicago Marathon. More than 20 athletes have joined the Access Living Marathon Team and each one is busy training for race day.	October 4, 2011
Daily Law Bulletin highlights Olmstead legal coalition work In late August, a coalition that includes Access Living, Equip for Equality, the ACLU of Illinois, SNR Denton, and the Law Offices of Steve Gold, announced a class-action settlement that will end the forced, long-standing and unnecessary segregation of people with physical disabilities or mental illness in nursing homes. This piece highlights the legal coalition work in this case and two others.	October 14, 2011
Disability Advocates attend State Hearing to urge closure of institution for people with developmental disabilities. Access Living, a Chicago disability advocacy and services organization, will be sending a contingent of advocates to today’s State of Illinois legislative hearing on the closure of Mabley Developmental Center in Dixon, Illinois. The hearing will begin at 5 pm at the Dixon Theatre, 114 S. Galena Avenue in Dixon.	October 17, 2011

Events Calendar

Title	Date
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
Creative Movement Workshop A Creative Movement Workshop	May 14, 2013
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
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 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

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