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News and Events

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News

Title	Date
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
Action Alert!- Contact Illinois legislators and Governor Stop cuts to services that support people with disabilities Many legislators are still working to understand why we are fight so hard against budget cuts to services for people with disabilities. This week, your legislators are working from their home offices. Please give them a call and ask them to stop budget cuts to services that support people with disabilities.	March 23, 2011
Advocates begin work around legislative session During the legislative session, Access Living will advocate for issues and pieces of legislation that support the independence of people with disabilities.	February 25, 2013
Advocates celebrate the announced closure of the Howe Developmental CenterFor years, a coalition of disability advocates have fought for the closure of Howe Developmental Center, an institution in Tinley Park where more than 20 residents have died since 2005. On September 5, the Illinois Department of Human Services will host a news conference to announce the closure of the institution.	October 10, 2008
Advocates Give Governor an F, call for closure of Howe Developmental CenterOn May 30, a coalition called “Community for All” held a news conference in Tinley Park to raise awareness around conditions at Howe Development Center, which after years of pressure, investigations and initiatives, continue to be deplorable.	May 30, 2008

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
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
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.
Men with a Purpose: Men with disabilities support group2nd and 4th Friday of each month Men With a Purpose. A cross&ndash;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
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
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

Press Releases

Title	Date
Mayoral questionnaire indicates broad support for people with disabilities in ChicagoAccess Living recently released the results of a questionnaire issued to candidates running for mayor in Chicago. All of the candidates participated and each candidate indicated broad support for the disability community.	February 1, 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
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
Olmstead Settlement may transition thousands of people with disabilities into community-based settings A landmark agreement between the State of Illinois and thousands of persons with mental illnesses will result in significant reforms of Illinois’ outmoded, overcrowded and scandalized nursing home system.	March 15, 2010
President Obama to sign UN Convention on Rights of People with Disabilities By signing this treaty the US is reaffirming its commitment to basic human rights of all people with disabilities, said Marca Bristo, the President of Access Living and USICD, who played a significant role in bringing the US toward signing the treaty	July 24, 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