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News

Title	Date
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
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 salutes the work of Mrs. Maggie Daley Access Living remembers the life and work of Mrs. Maggie Daley, who died of cancer on November 24, 2011.	November 30, 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
Advocates see Developmental Center Vote as Setback--FOR NOWEncouraged by Governor’s pledge to build capacity for community servicesOn November 10, against the guidance of Access Living and disability advocates around Illinois, the Commission on Government Forecasting and Accountability recommended that the Jacksonville Developmental Center remain open.	November 10, 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
Fight for State Funded Disability Programs!Throughout the Spring Legislative Session, Access Living will call on advocates to contact state politicians and urge their support for programs that empower the independence and self determination of people with disabilities. This blog piece calls for support of the Home Services Program, the Community Care Program, Centers for Independent Living, and the Community Reintegration Program	March 26, 2013
Employment First bill passes out of committee in Illinois On March 20, HB Bill 2591, Employment First for Persons with Disabilities, passed out of the Illinois House Human Services Committee. The bill, sponsored by Representative Golar, declares Illinois an Employment First State and establishes competitive employment in integrated settings as the first option for persons with disabilities in Illinois of working age	March 20, 2013
Take Action for Wheelchair Repairs and Equipment in Illinois Action alert around Illinois Legislation to protect people with disabilities who receive Medicaid and who use wheelchairs	March 15, 2013
New HUD Housing App a resourse for renters, homeowners, and housing providers Late last month, the US Department of Housing and Urban Development announced the release of a housing app for mobile devices. The new is designed to make information about fair housing more accessible to all users.	March 12, 2013
The Chicago Community Trust partnership fuels disability advocacy Access Living equipped to increase housing, community optionsAccess Living is proud to announce an award from the Chicago Community Trust. As Illinois navigates another year of fiscal crisis, the award will fuel advocacy efforts that support the independence of people with disabilities.	March 6, 2013

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
Access Living applauds Supreme Court decision in support of Affordable Care ActAccess Living of Metropolitan Chicago applauds the Supreme Court ruling to uphold the Affordable Care Act.	June 28, 2012
Access Living celebrates full closure of Jacksonville Developmental CenterGovernor Quinn of Illinois announces that all residents of the Jacksonville Developmental Center have moved out of the institution and into the community.	November 30, 2012
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
Access Living praises healthcare reform that gives people with disabilities option to stay in smaller communities Access Living of Metropolitan Chicago today praised Senator Baucus of Montana for including the Community First Choice Option in Healthcare Reform legislation.	September 24, 2009
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

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