Members of the Progress Center Community holding a banner that reads "Progress Center for Independent Living" at the Disability Pride Parade in Chicago.

Community mourns the loss of Disability Rights Champion Judith Heumann

Statement from Progress Center Executive Director Horacio Esparza on Judith Heumann

English Language Statement

Judy Heumann,

Your unexpected departure left me inert, exhausted, without being able to articulate words for more than twenty-four hours, without knowing what to say about all that I can say about you… about how great you were; of everything great that you did and that you achieved in favor of people with disabilities.

Judy, you not only dedicated your life to the movement of people with disabilities, you also gave the world your inexhaustible source of generosity and that wisdom that only the gifted can give to their peers.

Judy, I will never forget those evenings when together with your husband (Jorge Pineda — who is my great friend) we spent hours talking about the direct or indirect injustices of society. But, also during those talks, I was captivated by that great passion of yours when you talked about your great love for children, and especially for children with disabilities.

Judy, we will miss you… the world will lack your voice, but there you left all that legacy to remind the world that you are still present and fighting for the same cause, for that cause to which you dedicated your own life… for that cause for which I believe you were born to fight.

I had the longing hope that I would be able to see you and Jorge again this coming summer in Washington during the annual NCIL (National Council on Independent Living) Conference, but you are gone, because the times are not ours, but everything you leave us is infinitely invaluable, extraordinary.  You have left us a very advanced journey, but with a still very long way to go.

Thank you Judy, for all your great effort so that the world has a better future of inclusion in all fields for people with disabilities.

Horacio Esparza

Spanish Language Statement

Judy Heumann,

Tu inesperada partida me dejó inerte, exhausto, sin poder articular palabras durante más de veinte-cuatro  horas, sin saber que decir de todo lo tánto que yo puedo decir de ti… de todo lo grande que tú fuiste; de todo lo grande que tú hiciste y que tú lograste en pro de las personas con discapacidad.

Judy, tú no solamente dedicaste tu vida al movimiento de las personas con discapacidad, tú también le diste al mundo tu inagotable fuente de generosidad y de esa sapiencia que sólo aquellos sobredotados pueden darle a los semejantes.

Judy, yo nunca olvidaré aquellas tardes cuando junto con tu esposo (Jorge Pineda), (quien es mi gran amigo) nosotros pasamos horas hablando de las injusticias directas o indirectas de la sociedad. Pero también durante esas charlas, yo quedaba embelesado con esa gran pasión tuya cuando hablabas de tu gran amor por los niños, y especialmente por los niños con discapacidad.

Judy, te extrañaremos… al mundo le faltará tu voz, pero allí dejaste todo ése legado para recordarle al mundo que tú sigues presente y luchando por la misma causa, por ésa causa a la que le dedicaste tu propia vida… por ésa causa por la que yo creo que tú naciste para luchar.

Yo tenía la anhelante esperanza de poder volver a verlos a ti y a Jorge este próximo verano en Washington durante la conferencia anual de NCIL, pero te has ido, porque los tiempos no son los nuestros, pero todo lo que nos dejas es infinitamente invaluable , extraordinario. Nos has dejado un trayecto muy avanzado, pero con un camino aún muy largo por recorrer.

Gracias Judy, por todo tu gran esfuerzo para que el mundo tenga un mejor futuro de inclusión en todos los campos para las personas con discapacidad.

Horacio Esparza

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A woman in a wheelchair, in the court yard of a nursing home, behind a fence with tall iron bars. Woman is holding a sign that says Nursing Home Residents and a sign that says Lives Matter

Humanize Long Term Care: Take Action to support IRRC Legislation

Here is information from the Institutional Rescue and Recovery Coalition. The coalition is in Springfield, Illinois this week, pushing three pieces of legislation in support people with disabilities in Illinois who need community-based supports and who need support getting out of long-term care facilities.
From the Coalition:
The disability-led Institutional Rescue and Recovery Coalition developed policy demands that have been introduced in Springfield as three bills:
House
  • HB3629 – (increases PNA, adds enforcement for anti-retaliation, helps keep people out of facilities)
  • HB3716 – creates a task force to plan a transformation of long term care so people with disabilities and elders have a real choice for getting home or community-based care, instead of a facility
Senate
  • SB2262 combines provisions of both of the above
Hearings
To move forward, bills must pass committee by the end of next week (week ending March 10, 2023).
HB3716 (new directions task force) is posted for a hearing in Human Services committee:  Wednesday, March 8, 8:00am
HB3629 – ‘Dignity’ (PNA, anti-retaliation, prevention) Hearing is scheduled Thursday, March 9, 8:00am
(Other not yet scheduled, but stay tuned. Thursday morning is likely)

Please complete Witness Slips for the HB 3716 and HB 3629 to show your support for the legislation.

Here are guidelines for witness slips:
  1. Fill in the form with your information.
  2. If you’re not representing an org, you can enter SELF in ‘Firm’ and ‘Representation’
  3. Indicate PROPONENT and ‘RECORD OF Appearance Only’
  4. Accept the terms then click ‘Create (slip)’
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Headshot of Larry Biondi, white man with dark hair wearing dark shirt

Call for Applications: The Larry Biondi Fellowship for Radical Thought & Action

Call for Applications

Progress Center, in partnership with Chicago ADAPT, proudly announces a Call for Applications for the Larry Biondi Fellowship for Radical Thought & Action.  Applicants selected will be part of the inaugural cohort of Larry Biondi Fellows.  The application is a PDF Form. Please download the form to complete the application.  If you would like the application in an alternative format, please email  biondifund@gmail.com. 

The Larry Biondi Fellowship for Radical Thought & Action Application

The Call for applications is now open for the Larry Biondi Fellowship for Radical Thought & Action. If you are interested in a paid 4-6 month fellowship working on projects that advance the work of two leading disability rights organizations in the Chicago area, we look forward to hearing from you.  The Larry Biondi Fellowship is an opportunity for talented, disability-rights minded individuals to participate in four to six months of paid project-focused activity that advances the work of two disability-rights organizations: Chicago ADAPT and Progress Center for Independent Living.

For more information and for the application, please download the application.  If you would like the form in a different format, please contact biondifund@gmail.com.

Download the Application here:  LBFFellowApplicationFINAL

 

 

 

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