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

Access Living

Access Living

Text: Small | LargeLayout: Wide | Narrow

About UsNews & EventsResourcesUniversal & Green DesignEmploymentContact UsDonate & Act Now

News & Events

News and Events

Print This Page Email Friend

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
“Believe Your Beauty”The Empowered Fe Fes and Blushing Poppy present “Believe Your Beauty.” Friday, November 16 at Access Living	November 8, 2012
National Council on Disability gathering stories about voting experiences The National Council on Disability, in collaboration with the National Disability Rights Network and EIN SOF Communications, Inc., wants to hear about YOUR voting experiences during the upcoming 2012 General Election.	October 29, 2012
Action Alert -- Protect Olmstead. Contact Governor Gregoire today!Today, October 22, Washington State Governor Gregoire will announce if she is appealing to the Supreme Court MR v. Dreyfus. Contact her office this morning. Urge her not to appeal.	October 22, 2012
Coverage of Chicago Ideas Week “Facing Disability” Event On October 10, Access Living was the site of a Chicago Ideas Week Event hosted by Facing Disability and Table XI. The event, “Building Community through Technology: Connecting Life Stories,” looked at the creation and evolution of the website FacingDisability.com	October 18, 2012
Support full access for people with disabilities along new bus route Cambiando Vidas, a community group organizing on behalf of Latinos with Disabilities, is mobilizing advocates to call for a fully accessible bus route along 31st Street.	October 16, 2012

Events Calendar

Title	Date
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
Meeting on home safety, modification and adaptive designPanel on home safety and adaptive design	June 18, 2013
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
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

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 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