Advocacy Updates: 2/24/22

 

February 24, 2022 | by Emma Olson

Legislative Accessibility; AABD Cash; Supported Decision Making; Apply for Organizing Training

We have a lot of important Illinois updates today! Read on to catch up.

Extended Deadline for Organizing Training Applications:

We’ve extended the deadline to apply for Access Living’s new community organizing training, Building Our Power Together. You can still submit applications by end of day on Monday, February 28. The training is from April 18-May 20 and is virtual. Participants should be new to organizing and want to get involved with Access Living’s community organizing groups. The English application is at this link and the Spanish application is at this link.

Legislative Accessibility Act Passes Illinois Senate:

Earlier this week, the Legislative Accessibility Act (SB 180) passed the Illinois Senate! We’re very excited about this. Now, SB 180 is in the Illinois House under the leadership of State Representative Ann Williams. Help us work to educate our legislators about the need for improving legislative accessibility! You can send a quick email to your state rep at this link. Learn more about this bill on Access Living’s website.

Take Action for AABD Cash in Illinois:

Illinois’s Aid to the Aged, Blind or Disabled (AABD) program helps provide critical financial support for the seniors and people with disabilities with the fewest resources, including refugees and asylees. Today, the income support available to these Illinoisans is simply not enough; the program has been ignored for decades, forcing people who receive this assistance to live below the federal poverty level. Advocates are asking our state legislators to include an increase for AABD recipients in our state budget. Help support economic justice by sending a letter to your legislators at this link.

Supported Decision-Making in Illinois:

Last year, Illinois passed a law that creates Supported Decision-Making (SDM) as an option in guardianship for people with intellectual-developmental disabilities. SDM is an important option for people who need support with decisions, but not full guardianship. The Illinois Guardianship & Advocacy Commission is the lead state agency on SDM and has created a number of resources at this link for Illinoisans to learn more.

Please share these action alerts/updates with fellow Illinoisans. Thank you for your advocacy!