Monthly Archives: November 2025

Progress Center invites you…

Illinois ABLE Account Informational Webinar

Wednesday, December 10 at 2:00 pm

Join online from any location, or meet at Progress Center in Forest Park to join the webinar.

Know about tax-advantaged IL ABLE savings and investment accounts if you have a disability or you help someone who has a disability. Join the IL ABLE team to learn:

• Who is eligible to own an IL ABLE Account and expanded eligibility starting January 1.
• Who can open an IL ABLE Account.
• How individuals receiving public benefits such as SSI and Medicaid benefits can build assets with an IL ABLE Account.
• How IL ABLE Accounts work alongside other financial tools such as special needs trusts and retirement accounts.

Call Progress Center at 708-209-1500 extension 118 or email dkaras@progresscil.org for information on how to join the webinar.

The 30-day public comment period for the City of Berwyn ADA Transition Plan has begun.

The City of Berwyn invites residents to review and share feedback on the draft Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Transition Plan. Comments are welcome through December 4th, and the plan can be viewed on the City’s website.

La Cuidad de Berwyn invita a todos los residentes a revisar y compartir comentarios sobre el borrador del Plan de Transición de la
Ley para estadounidenses con Discapacidades (ADA). Los comentarios serán aceptados hasta el 5 de diciembre, y el plan puede ser consultado en el sitio web oficial de la cuidad.

For a hard or electronic copy of the plan, or to request accommodations to view it, please contact:
Travis Helmkamp
travis.helmkamp@oatesassociates.com
618.345.2200

Para solicitar una copia impresa o electrónica de plan o para pedir adaptaciones para poder revisarlo, por favor comuníquese con:
Travis Helmkamp
travis.helmkamp@oatesassociates.com
618.345.2200

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/17KDiEzcqx/

Progress Center is encouraging Governor Pritzker to veto the physician
assisted suicide bill added as a rider to SB 1950 on sanitary food
preparation.

The physician assisted suicide provision or amendment of SB 1059 does
not provide adequate safeguards against misuse. The disability community
is especially vulnerable to coercion or decisions made on our behalf without
respect for autonomy and freedom of choice. Historical medical bias and
views on the quality and value of the lives of people with disabilities cannot
be left out of this discussion and have not been in the conversation as fully
as they should. Furthermore, a topic this large should not be attached to an
unrelated bill as an afterthought or tactic for passing legislation that had
previously not been successful; it deserves full attention and input.

Contact the Governor’s office and encourage him to veto the bill, SB 1950,
or return it to the legislators with changes, changes that will remove
physician assisted suicide, hence preventing it from becoming law in
Illinois. Go to https://gov.illinois.gov/contact-us/voice-an-opinion on
Governor Pritzker’s website to voice your opinion or call his office at
217-782-0244.

Progress Center for Independent Living

Now that the Illinois legislature has passed a bill creating some transportation system reforms and provides for added funding sources for the regional system, we would like RTA’s decision-makers, whose recommendations are almost assuredly fulfilled by PACE, to follow through with their commitment to reconsider the drastic cuts to the RAP and TAP programs.

On October 1^st, the number of one-way rides allowed per month for RAP and TAP per person were reduced from 240 to only 30. We encourage the restoration of rides per month. Since October 1^st we have seen Paratransit bus problems escalate. This is happening because people have to use Paratransit buses more since a lot fewer RAP (Rideshare Access Program) and TAP (Taxi Access Program) rides are available, so an already strained Paratransit is even more so strained now. Availability during booking has decreased, pick-ups come later, rides are longer, and drivers and dispatchers are more stressed.

The disability community is calling for the number of rides per month under the RAP and TAP programs to be increased. Contact RTA at communications@rtachicago.org and submit your opinion.

Progress Center for Independent Living

ASL COMMUNITY CLASSES
CLASS MEETS FOR 6 WEEKS IN PERSON

Learn the basics of American Sign Language,
including Deaf Culture, the alphabet,
numbers, greetings, farewells, family signs,
community vocabulary, and more.

When: January 15th, 2026
Every Thursday | 1pm to 3pm
Where: Progress Center for Independent Living,
7521 Madison Street, Forest Park, IL
Cost: FREE

Register before January 9th, 2026
Email: ASL instructor, Carol Nemecek-Kowalski
Caroln@progresscil.org