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News and Events

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Title Date
2013-FinancialStability-Graduation-may Next Access Living Financial Stability Classes begin in June The New Financial Stability classes start Wednesday, June 19, 2013 and run through Wednesday, August 28, 2013. Spring 2013
2013-Ballard-SourceofIncome Housing Victory -- Cook County Board passes source of income protections for voucher holdersOn May 8, 2013, housing activists celebrated a victory when the Cook County Board voted 9-6 in favor of extending source of income protections to Housing Voucher Holders. The vote will extend significant protections to people with disabilities, people of color and others. May 9, 2013
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
2013-Foxes New organizing group launches program to connect with City Colleges Access Living’s Young Adult Employment Organizer is launching a new initiative to outreach to people with disabilities on Chicago’s City Colleges Campuses May 6, 2013
2013-OpenMic-Youth 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
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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
Beto and Jim at the White House 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
Advocates rally to eliminate IQ testing at VR ServicesOn October 6, a group of about 50 advocates from Chicago traveled to Springfield, Illinois to rally against IQ Tests run by Illinois Vocational Rehabilitation Programs. While vocational programs are supposed to help people with disabilities secure employment, people with disabilities believe that the IQ tests serve as an impediment, rather than a pathway, to employment. The goal is to eliminate IQ tests from VR Services. October 8, 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
Housing Rights document Image April is Fair Housing Month April is National Fair Housing Month. This is the 24th Anniversary of the Fair Housing Amendments Act, passed in 1988. April 3, 2012
disThis! Film Series Arts and Culture Events the Week of November 1, 2010This year, Access Living teamed up with the Chicago Humanities Festival to incorporate disability events into the festival. From film screenings and dance performances to lectures on ‘beauty,’ this week’s Humanities Festival includes a number of disability arts and culture events. For ticket information, and more information, visit the the Chicago Humanities Festival website. November 2, 2010
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Events Calendar

Title Date
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
Personal Assistant Informational SeminarJoin our pool of highly sought PA’s March 14, 2012
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
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
Men with a Purpose: Men with disabilities support group2nd and 4th Friday of each month Men With a Purpose. A cross–disability support group for men. The group addresses many issues, including health and wellness, relationships, networking, and empowerment. 2nd and 4th Friday of each month
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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
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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 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 73The Newsletter of Access Living Volume 73 of the Bullhorn, the Newsletter of Access Living, published in January 2012 January 2012
The Bullhorn Volume 74Volume 74 of The Bullhorn, The Newsletter of Access Living March 2012
The Bullhorn Volume 75Volume 75 of the Bullhorn, the Newsletter of Access Living, published in April 2012 April 2012
The Bullhorn Volume 77The Bullhorn Volume 77 August 2012 January 10, 2013
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