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News

Title	Date
Urban Weatherization Initiative Helping Illinois Become GreenerGov. Quinn allocates $1.6 milliion for WeatherizationUrban Weatherization Initiative Helping Illinois Become Greener	October 26, 2011
Disability Advocates host “Institution Free Illinois Rally” at Springfield State Capitol	October 24, 2011
Access Living White Paper urges Illinois to modify Performance Evaluation Reform Act On October 19, Access Living released an education White Paper that projects the impact that The Performance Evaluation Reform Act of 2010 (PERA) may have on Special Education students in public schools throughout Illinois. The paper, “Holding Educators Accountable For the Academic Growth of Students with Disabilities” examines the relationship within PERA between the achievement of students with disabilities and the performance of teachers.	October 19, 2011
Colbert v. Quinn, Notice of Fairness Hearing Colbert v. Quinn is a class action case filed on behalf of people with disabilities who receive Medicaid and live in nursing homes in Cook County, Illinois. The case was originally filed in August of 2007. A settlement agreement was announced on August 30, 2011. If approved by the court, the settlement will offer people with disabilities in Cook County nursing homes the choice to transition from the nursing home, and live in apartments or homes of their choice in the community. A Fairness Hearing is scheduled for December 20, 2011.	December 20, 2011
Access Living’s response to news of institution closures in Illinois Revenue must be set aside for community infrastructure Governor Quinn’s September 8th announcement to close large institutions for people with disabilities indicates an opportunity to rebalance Illinois’ system of long-term care. But closing institutions can not be done strictly as a budget cutting move. More than anyone else, the decision to close institutions impacts people with disabilities.	September 9, 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
Immediate action needed to fight for hearing aid insurance!House Bill 1231 will be heard in the Illinois House Insurance Committee at 3 pm in Springfield on Wednesday, February 20 in Capitol Room 114.	February 19, 2013
Enforcing the housing rights of people with disabilitiesAccess Living is one of the few Centers for Independent Living in the country with a legal department. Here is a brief description that covers some of Access Living’s Fair Housing legal work.	January 31, 2013
Happy Ed Roberts Day January 23, 2013 has been proclaimed Ed Roberts Day. Access Living’s Director of Advocacy authors a post sharing Roberts’ legacy and applying his principles of self-determination, independence, and choice to the barriers people with disabilities face today.	January 23, 2013
Keep Warm and Safe during the Bitter ColdBitter cold temperatures are more than an inconvenience; they pose a serious threat to health and safety. The City of Chicago has many services available to help residents weather the winter months.	January 22, 2013
Disability Political News Roundup: New Session Starts TodayEntry from Amber Smock, Access Living’s Director of Advocacy, about recent political events in Springfield, Illinois, the State Capitol. The piece covers legislation that passed, or failed to pass, during the lame duck session, and looks ahead at what will happen with the new legislature.	January 9, 2013

Events Calendar

Title	Date
Advocacy Appreciation Day -- Power to the PeoplePower to the People Presents an Advocacy Appreciation Day	June 19, 2013
Abilities Expo Chicago Abilities Expo Chicago is new, it’s exciting, it’s fun and it’s back on June 28-30, 2013 at the Renaissance Schaumburg Convention Center!	June 28-30, 2013
Are You Prepared? Town Hall Meeting on Emergency Preparedness for People with Disabilities Town Hall Meeting on Emergency Preparedness for people with disabilities	June 26, 2013
People with Disabilities Speak Out on Health Care DisparitiesAccess Living’s Health Policy Team and the University of Illinois at Chicago’s Department of Occupational Therapy invite you to a Town Hall meeting to discuss the state of health care for Medicaid beneficiaries with disabilities	June 27, 2013
Access Living Open House Access Living invites you to the organization’s annual Open House. Thursday, June 27 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.	June 27, 2013

Press Releases

Title	Date
Disability community fights cuts to vital servicesProposed cuts to home services threaten independence of people with disabilities	August 28, 2009
Disability Community Rallies to protect independence Facing budget cuts that could force people into costly institutions, disability advocates and organizations representing thousands of people with developmental, psychiatric and physical disabilities rallied outside the State of Illinois Building today.	July 19, 2010
Disability groups rally against budget that fails to support people with disabilities in the communityThursday morning, February 24, individuals and organizations representing a wide range of disabilities rallied outside the Thompson Center against Governor Quinn’s proposed state budget. The advocates called on Quinn to rescind cuts to services that empower people with disabilities to live independently in the community.	February 24, 2011
Disabled Americans Want Work Now Applauds Introduction of Fair Wages Legalization Urges Passage of Fair Wages for Workers Disabilities ActDisabled Americans Want Work Now (DAWWN) applauds the introduction of Fair Wages for Workers with Disabilities Act – H.R. 831.	March 4, 2013
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

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