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News & Events

News and Events

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News

Title	Date
Access Living President blogs on housing and independenceRecently, Access Living’s Marca Bristo authored a guest blog for IFF, a leading community development financial institution in the United States.	September 26, 2012
The November Election is approaching Election Day is coming up. The disability community is rallying around the vote. If you live in Chicago, vote early at Access Living.	September 19, 2012
International treaty on the rights of people with disabilities close to Senate Ratification The UN Convention on the Rights of People with Disabilities was moved to the Full Senate for Ratification by the Senate Foreign Relations Committee	August 17, 2012
Report from Medicaid 47th Anniversary Rally On Monday afternoon, July 30, around 100 people representing more than 20 disability, senior and community advocate groups commemorated the 47th Anniversary of Medicaid with a rally at Daley Plaza.	August 17, 2012
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

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
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
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

Press Releases

Title	Date
IFF and Access Living Launch $19 Million Public-Private Partnership with the State of Illinois and Chase Under Home First Illinois, IFF will develop, own and manage accessible homes—integrated within the community—that will remain permanently affordable to very low-income, disabled persons who require accessible housing and who rely on Social Security SSI payments as their primary source of income.	December 16, 2011
Access Living rallies for jobs and Medicaid funding for people with disabilitiesAdvocates join National Day of Action to support independence for disabled On Thursday, November 17 at 3:30 p.m., people with disabilities from Access Living will join thousands of other advocates at the Jobs Not Cuts rally at the Thompson Center in downtown Chicago as part of the National Day of Action. Access Living will call for investment in resources that employ people with disabilities, support people with disabilities while on the job, and eliminate physical, programmatic and social barriers that prevent people with disabilities from entering the workforce.	November 17, 2011
NURSING HOME RESIDENTS WITH DISABILITIES CELEBRATE PROPOSED AGREEMENT WITH STATE IN LANDMARK LAWSUIT Proposed Agreement brings residents one step closer to expanded opportunities for community living and meaningful individual choice	August 30, 2011
New legislation protects people with disabilities in hospitalsThe new legislation, which goes into effect January 1, 2012, represents the first effort in Illinois to assure that people with disabilities who need to be physically moved by hospital staff are protected with respect to their physical safety, dignity, and choice.	August 9, 2011
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

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