Join Today, or Sign-In if you're already a member.

News & Events

News and Events

Print This Page Email Friend

News

Title Date
2012-highhopes Access Living youth continue to push anti-bullying and restorative justice agenda Access Living’s youth advocacy group Advance Youth Leadership Power continues to advocate around the issue of bullying and restorative justice. June 20, 2012
2012-CME-budgetRally Home Services and Independence for People with Disabilities Henry Williams is fighting for his right and the right of others to receive support in his own home instead of a nursing home. May 23, 2012
Advocates travel to Springfield Illinois to protect independence of people with disabilities. May 16, 2012
2011-MyMedicaidMatters Access Living advocates in Springfield on May 3On May 3, Access Living staff and advocates will be in Springfield Illinois to communicate with legislators about the importance of maintaining Medicaid and community based services for people with disabilities. May 3, 2012
2012-Springfieldphoto Support Independence of People with Disabilities: Upcoming efforts to preserve Home Services Access Living and many other groups are organizing this spring to preserve, protect and strengthen Home Services for people with disabilities and seniors. April 5, 2012
 «  ...  5  6  7  8  9  10  11  12  13  ...  » 

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
Housing advocate testifies in Washington, D.C. in support of the Inclusive Home Design ActThe Inclusive Home Design Act aims to increase the number of homes accessible to people with disabilities by applying visitability standards. The principle of visitability seeks to create homes that are affordable and sustainable, and utilize a design approach that integrates accessibility features into newly-built homes. Last week, Beto Barrera, Access Living’s Manager of Community Development, testified in support of the Act in Washington, D.C. in front of the Subcommittee on Housing and Community Opportunity. Below is his testimony.
 		October 7, 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
Disability Rights Action Coalition for Housing Change in Senior Designation Plan opens up affordable, accessible housing for people with disabilitiesIn 2009, the Disability Rights Action Coalition for Housing (DRACH), a group of people with disabilities working to open up more housing opportunities in Chicago, launched a campaign to lower the age of senior housing at the Chicago Housing Authority from 62 years old to 55 years old. The campaign was designed to open up available housing units to people with disabilities. October 16, 2010
Election Day Disability Helpline!On November 2, our state’s Protection and Advocacy Agency, Equip for Equality, is standing by to make sure YOU have access to voting! November 2, 2010
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
 «  1  2  3  4  5  6  7  8  9  ...  » 

Events Calendar

Title Date
2013-gala-invite-3 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
2013-BodiesofWork Creative Movement Workshop A Creative Movement Workshop May 14, 2013
2013-Nussbaum-Gala 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
2013-Counterbalance-May 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-BodiesofWork 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
 «  1  2  3  » 

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
 «  1  2  3  4  5  ...  » 

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
 «  1  2  »