Image of Progress Center community members at Progress Center booth at the 2018 AccessChicago Expo

Statement from Progress Center for Independent Living on the 28th Anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act

Image of Progress Center community members at Progress Center booth at the 2018 AccessChicago Expo
Image of Progress Center community members at the 2018 AccessChicago Expo

Statement from Progress Center for Independent Living on the 28th Anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act

As Progress Center for Independent Living celebrates the 28th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) on July 26, 2018, we applaud the members of the disability community who advocated fearlessly to pass the law, which was signed by President George HW Bush on July 26, 1990. Their dedicated work has paved the way in securing equality and inclusion for people with disabilities.

Many physical barriers have been eliminated as a result of the ADA, giving people with disabilities and opportunity to participate in society.  The elimination of physical barriers benefits not only people with disabilities, but all people, creating better access for fathers pushing strollers, travelers carrying luggage, and seniors navigating their communities.

One significant barrier that people with disabilities still encounter, however, is misguided and antiquated attitudes and misconceptions about disability.  Many still believe disability should be pitied, disability should be cured, and that people with disabilities living their lives the way a non-disabled person would is inspirational.  The ADA can’t change these attitudes; as the law moves into its 29th year, it is up to people with disabilities and their allies to continue to educate and change perceptions some people have toward people with disabilities.  People often don’t pay attention to the views of disabled people, but as more and more do, attitudes and perceptions will begin to change.

The Americans with Disabilities Act is law that protects all people with disabilities, no matter their race, ethnicity, gender, or sexuality. Moving forward, disability advocates must also address racism, bigotry and prejudice within our own community.  For too long, the voices and concerns of people of color within the disability community have been silenced or ignored.  For too long, the community has not been a community that is fully inclusive and representative of all its members, and the community has failed to prioritize issues that impact disabled people of color and disabled people who are LGBTQ.

The ADA is a vehicle that drives the spirit of civil rights for people with disabilities.  In order to continue the success of the Americans with Disability Act, all members of the community and members of the non-disabled community must work together and create an inclusive movement that welcomes all members and that supports all members.  Progress Center is ready and Progress Center is excited to play a role in this effort.  People who have experienced or are experiencing discrimination, or who have concerns about issues impacting people with disabilities, are encouraged to call Progress Center at (708) 209-1500.

Progress Center is the Center for Independent Living that serves Suburban Cook County. Progress Center works to provide people with all types of disabilities the tools and resources to be independent in their own homes. Progress Center is one of 22 centers serving Illinois, and one of more than 400 centers in the United States.

For more information, contact Larry Biondi at lbiondi@progresscil.org or Gary Arnold at garnold@progresscil.org

 

 

 

 

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Flyer with voter registration information for Mount Prospect

Voter Registration Drive — Register to Vote at the Mount Prospect Public Library

 

Flyer with voter registration information for Mount Prospect
Flyer with voter registration information for Mount Prospect

The week of July 15 is the third – annual National Disability Voter Registration Week.  The week is coordinated by REV UP to increase the political power of people with disabilities while engaging candidates and the media to recognize the disability community.  REV UP stands for Register Educate Vote!  Use your Power!

The week is designed to encourage people with disabilities and their families, friends, neighbors, co-workers and caretakers to register to vote.

Voting can protect the issues people with disabilities care about, especially at the State and local levels.

The League of Women Voters will be at the Mount Prospect Library during this year’s NDVRW to register voters and answer questions.  Please bring two forms of identification with at least one showing your current address.

 

Sunday, July 15 noon to 4 p.m.

Tuesday, July 17 9 a.m. to noon

Wednesday, July 18 7 to 9 p.m.

 

Mount Prospect Public Library, 10 South Emerson Street, 847-253-5675

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Flyer with information about voter registration event at Arlington Heights LibraryNews

Register to Vote at the Arlington Heights Public Library

 

Flyer with information about voter registration event at Arlington Heights Library
Flyer with information about voter registration event at Arlington Heights Library

The week of July 16 is the third – annual National Disability Voter Registration Week.  The week is coordinated by REV UP to increase the political power of people with disabilities while engaging candidates and the media to recognize the disability community.  REV UP stands for Register Educate Vote!  Use your Power!  The League of Women Voters will be at the library twice during this year’s NDVRW to register voters and answer questions. Drop in!

Monday, July 16, 6 to 8 p.m.

Wednesday, July 18, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Arlington Heights Library.  500 North Dunton Avenue. Arlington Heights Illinois.  847-392-0100.  AHML.info

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Urge Governor Rauner to Sign Bills to Protect Immigrant Rights

The Campaign for a Welcoming Illinois is organizing a Day of Action in support of Illinois Legislation that supports keeping immigrant families together.  Access Living put together an Action Alert to make it easy to contact the Governor.

Below is information from an Action Alert creating by Access Living:

The Campaign for a Welcoming Illinois is asking people to call Governor Rauner’s office today to encourage him to sign bills that keep immigrant families together.  We’d like to ask you to help!

 The bills are:

 SB 34 (VOICES Act): provides some protection options for immigrant crime victims

 SB 35 (Safe Zones Act): prohibits state and local law enforcement from carrying out federal immigration efforts at locations including state-funded schools, state-funded medical treatment and health care facilities, public libraries, facilities operated by the Secretary of State, and state courts

 SB 3488 (No Registry Act): would ban creation of registries based on religion or national origin

 Please call the Governor’ s Springfield office at 217-782-0244, or send him an email.  If you would like to send an email, use this link:   Contact Governor Rauner

The Campaign for a Welcoming Family recommends that callers give a message similar to this:

“Hi.  My name is ___.  I am an Illinois resident. I am contacting you today to ask the governor to sign SB 34, SB 35 and SB 3488 to keep families together and make Illinois welcoming for all.  Thank you!”

Thanks for your work!

Thank you to Access Living for putting together the Take Action Message and thank you to The Campaign for a Welcoming Family for all of your work. At this link is more information about the campaign.

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