Author Archives: garnold

Progress Center’s Annual Meeting is coming up. RSVP today.

Se acerca la Reunión Anual del Progress Center. Confirme su asistencia hoy mismo.

Support people with disabilities by becoming a Personal Assistant.

• Free two-hour training
• Flexible schedule
• $18.25 an hour

To reserve your spot, call 708-209-1500 or email:
-kreis@progresscil.org (English)
-pquinonez@progresscil.org (English/Spanish)

Personal Assistant training dates for the month of May are here.

PROGRESS CENTER FOR INDEPENDENT LIVINGIS HOSTING ITS 37TH ANNUAL MEETING

Saturday, June 21, 2025

12:00 pm Lunch
1:00-3:00 pm – Program

LOCATION: Ophelia’s Banquets
13102 S. Western Ave
Blue Island, IL 60406

*Accessible entrance off Western Avenue

❖ Guest Speaker Dennis O‘Brien – Impact of sign language interpreter shortage
❖ Guest Speaker Mariyana T. Spyropoulos, Clerk of the Circuit Court of Cook County
❖ Learn about the ITAC Amplified Phone and iPhone Equipment
❖ Learn about the Home Modification Grant Program
❖ Current advocacy topics

ASL interpreters and Spanish captioning provided.

RSVP (708) 209-1500 or Nkhan@progresscil.org by Friday, June 6, 2025
Accommodation requests must be submitted by Friday, June 6, 2025

*Support people with chemical sensitivity by wearing no scented products*
Progress Center serves the community of people with disabilities of all ages.

Learn from leaders in advocacy and support services.

Progress Center has trained Senior Health Insurance Program (SHIP) Counselors at our Forest Park and Blue Island offices.

Goals of the SHIP program:

● To screen for eligibility for various subsidies to reduce your out of pocket costs.

● To explain the Medicare-Medicaid Alignment Initiative (MMAI).

● To explore Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act (MIPPA) and Medicare Savings Plan (MSP) eligibility.

● To provide an explanation of Medicare and to provide plan comparisons.

● To discuss eligibility for the Extra Help program to reduce prescription drug costs.

● To provide information on the new $2,000 cap for drug costs as well as the new Medicare Payment Plan.

● To provide assistance without pressure from insurance agents and companies.

To talk to a SHIP counselor call or email us at 708-388-5011 or SHIP@progresscil.org.

Here’s a short flyer on Progress Center – our services, locations, hours and phone numbers.

Hello Hello Everyone!

Today (May 19)  is Day 5 of our week of actions, which is mask distribution day! We know that people are more likely to mask when they have easy access to them, and financial and logistical barriers to getting high quality masks like N95s and KN95s can mean people who want better protection may not be able to get it. 

DAY 5: Provide Free Masks in Your Community

Progress Center for Independent Living, in collaboration with PPE for People With Disabilities Coalition, has been providing KN95 masks and other personal protective equipment (PPE) since the beginning of the pandemic. At one time, we were also helping the Dept. of Human Services provide large quantities of KN95 masks to non-profit organizations (we gave out over 75,000 masks!)

Our focus has been to provide PPE to people with disabilities and their Personal Assistants/Direct Support Professionals who live in Chicagoland, however, today we are offering to give people KN95 masks and hand sanitizer throughout Illinois. We can mail it to you for FREE!

If interested, please call Progress Center at (708) 209-1500 to speak with our front desk staff Marie Mister.

There are only two days left in the Illinois Legislative Session. Here is an action alert directed at legislation that will help end sub minimum wage for people with disabilities. This action alert is from material by Equip for Equality and Access Living.

A message from Equip for Equality:

All,

We have an opportunity to end subminimum wage for people with disabilities in IL by supporting HB 793, HFA 1, but we must act NOW.  The bill is set for hearing before the House Labor & Commerce Committee tomorrow morning at 9:30 a.m.  A fact sheet in support of the bill is attached.

To read the full text of HB 793, HFA 1 bill: Click

To file an electronic witness slip on HB 793, HFA 1: Click

PLEASE FILE A WITNESS SLIP AS A PROPONENT OF THE BILL BY CLICKING ON THE LINK ABOVE AND ENCOURAGE OTHERS TO DO SO AS WELL.

Here is an information Sheet:

 2023-May 17-End Sub Minimum Wage_Support the Dignity in Pay Act (HB 793)

Thanks for your action and support!

This is an Action Alert shared by Equip for Equality regarding Accessible Vote by Mail. Thank you to Equip for Equality for creating this and sharing this.

ACTION ALERT:

Act Now to Ensure Accessibility of Vote by Mail for Voters with Print Disabilities, Military Families and Citizens Living Overseas

Tell Legislators to Support SB 282, SCA 1

Currently, Illinois voters with print disabilities (which includes people who are blind, low vision, have physical dexterity limitations or cognitive or learning disabilities) can receive, mark, and verify their vote by mail ballots electronically, using their own assistive technology.  However, they are required to print, sign, and return a paper ballot to their local election authority.  This requirement forces them to rely on assistance from a person without disabilities to complete and submit their ballots which, contrary to Title II of the ADA, deprives them of the right to vote privately and independently.  Military families and citizens living overseas also have the ability to receive vote by mail ballots electronically, but they are required to return them by mail.  This has been very problematic for military families serving abroad or relocating to new duty stations in the U.S., resulting in much lower voter participation rates.

To close this accessibility gap, voters with print disabilities must be able to return their vote by mail ballots electronically without relying on help from anyone else and military families and citizens living overseas must have that right as well.  SB 282, SCA 1 would allow voters with print disabilities as well as military service members, their families and citizens living overseas to return their vote by mail ballots electronically, beginning with the 2024 Primary Election.  The Illinois General Assembly is working on a large election law bill (called an “omnibus” bill) that will include provisions regarding various elections issues.  To give voters with print disabilities an opportunity to vote that is truly equal to voters without disabilities, and eliminate the voting problems faced by military families and citizens living overseas, it is critical that the language of SB 282, SCA 1 is included in the omnibus election law bill.

ACT NOW BY CALLING THESE LEGISLATIVE LEADERS TO URGE THEM TO SUPPORT AND INCLUDE SB 282, SCA 1 IN THE OMNIBUS ELECTION LAW BILL:

HOUSE

Rep. Chris Welch (Speaker of the House)—217-782-5350

Rep. Robyn Gabel (Majority Leader)—217-782-8052

Rep. Kelly Burke (Assistant Majority Leader)—217-782-0515

 SENATE

Sen. Don Harmon (President of the Senate)—217-782-8176

Sen. Kimberly Lightford (Majority Leader)—217-782-8505

IF ANY OF THE LEGISLATIVE LEADERS BELOW ARE YOUR PERSONAL REPRESENTATIVE OR SENATOR PLEASE CALL THEM AS WELL.  BE SURE TO TELL THEM YOU ARE ONE OF THEIR CONSTITUENTS!

HOUSE

Rep. Jehan Gordon-Booth—217-782-3186

Rep, Mary Flowers—217-782-4207

Rep. Elizabeth Hernandez—217-782-8173

Rep. Jay Hoffman—217-782-0104

Rep. Natalie Manley—217-782-3316

Rep. Kam Buckner—217-782-2023

Rep. Aaron Ortiz—217-782-1117

Rep, Barbara Hernandez—217-558-1002

Rep. Marcus Evans—217-782-8272

Rep. Robert Rita—217-558-1000

SENATE

Sen. Bill Cunningham—217-782-5145

Sen. Mattie Hunter—217-782-5966

Sen. Linda Holmes—217-782-0422

Sen. Laura Murphy—217-782-3875

Sen. David Koehler—217-782-8250

Sen. Napoleon Harris—217-782-8066

Sen. Cristina Castro—217-782-7746

Sen. Elgie Sims—217-782-3201