Did you miss our voter education workshops?

Join our one-hour individual voter education workshops to learn about the voting process – how to register to vote, where to vote, how to find out what’s on your ballot, how to learn about candidates running for office, how to request and fill out a mail-in ballot, and more. Come in person to one of our offices in Forest Park or Blue Island, or on Zoom.

For more information and to sign up and schedule your workshop, call Progress Center at 708-209-1500 ext. 118 or email dkaras@progresscil.org.

This week the City of Blue Island proclaimed October National Disability Employment Awareness Month.

Pictured here are the Blue Island Mayor, City Council members and other City officials, and members of the Blue Island Disability Committee, made up of civic officials and community partners including Progress Center and individuals who live or work in Blue Island to expand awareness and work together on the common goal of increasing accessibility for all.

Let’s walk the walk!

Let’s work to get more citizens voting and involved in civics, thereby making our democracy healthy and strong.

As disability rights advocates, we support people with all types of disabilities, including people who are residents in nursing homes, often against their desire.

Many residents can vote by mail much more easily.

Now that the Supreme Court declared that mail-in voting will not be hindered 2026 (Supreme Court Ruling 26A305 on Mail-In voting: September 14, 2026), Progress Center invites you to join us in learning about the process of mail-in voting, so that we can become better teachers to residents AND to interested people with disabilities in the community!

Voter Education

It’s midterm election year. Join a one-hour voter education workshop to lean about the voting process – how to register to vote, where to vote, how to find out what’s on your ballot, how to learn about candidates running for office, accommodations, and more.

* Also, gather to go through the process of requesting a mail-in ballot and filling out your mail-in ballot. *

Tuesday, October 6, 11am-12 noon

Progress Center Blue Island and Zoom (hybrid)

Wednesday, October 7, 1pm-2pm

Progress Center Forest Park and Zoom (hybrid)

* Ballot Request Gathering 2:30 – 3:30 *

Saturday, October 17, 2pm-3pm

* Ballot Completion Gathering 12 – 1:30pm *

Progress Center Forest Park and Zoom (hybrid)

For more information, directions to our offices or the Zoom links, call 708-209-1500 ext. 118 or email dkaras@progresscil.org.

Progress Center invites you …

It’s midterm election year. Join a one-hour voter education workshop to lean about the voting process – how to register to vote, where to vote, how to find out what’s on your ballot, how to learn about candidates running for office, accommodations, and more.

Tuesday, October 6, 11am-12 noon

Progress Center Blue Island and Zoom (hybrid)

Wednesday, October 7, 1pm-2pm

Progress Center Forest Park and Zoom (hybrid)

Saturday, October 17, 2pm-3pm

Progress Center Forest Park and Zoom (hybrid)

For more information, directions to our offices or the Zoom links, call 708-209-1500 ext. 118 or email dkaras@progresscil.org.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Illinois Must Choose Life, Dignity, and Support — Not Assisted Suicide

September 3, 2026 — Illinois — On September 12, Illinois’ assisted suicide law is scheduled to take effect. The timing is deeply troubling: September is recognized as Suicide Prevention Month, a time dedicated to raising awareness, preventing suicide, and reminding people that every life has value.

Yet, paradoxically, as communities across the country call for suicide prevention, Illinois is preparing to implement a law that provides a legal pathway for some people with terminal illnesses to end their lives.

At a time when we should be sending a message that life is worth living and that people deserve support, we are sending a very different message. Instead of asking how we can help people live the time they have left with dignity, we are making it easier to offer death as an option.

The Hippocratic tradition of medicine has long been rooted in the principle of healing, caring for patients, and protecting human life. PCIL believes that the medical community and policymakers should focus on providing people with the support, treatment, services, and resources necessary to live with dignity — not creating systems that facilitate death.

The desire to die can sometimes emerge from a lack of meaningful opportunities, adequate support, independence, or the ability to live with dignity. It is easier for politicians to create a pathway to death than to confront the difficult responsibility of ensuring that people have the resources they need to live.

For people living with disabilities, serious illnesses, or terminal conditions, dignity should not be defined by how quickly life can be ended. Dignity should mean having access to quality healthcare, personal assistance, accessible housing, pain management, mental health services, family support, community resources, and the freedom to make meaningful choices about how to live.

As September begins, PCIL urges Illinois policymakers, healthcare providers, disability advocates, and communities to reconsider what it truly means to promote and support healthcare, independence, economic security, and community inclusion.

This September, let us tell people: You are not a burden. Your life has value. You deserve support. You deserve choices. And if you have six months, six weeks, six days, or six hours left, you deserve the opportunity to live that time with dignity.

About Progress Center for Independent Living

Progress Center for Independent Living (PCIL) is a Center for Independent Living dedicated to promoting independence, self-determination, accessibility, and equal opportunity for people with disabilities. PCIL advocates for policies and systems that allow people with disabilities to live independently and participate fully in their communities.

Media Contact:
Horacio Esparza
Executive Director
Progress Center for Independent Living (PCIL)
Illinois

Suicide Prevention Training

Progress Center invites you to a QPR Mental Health Training session. QPR stands for “Question, Persuade, Refer” and is an effective method of recognizing suicide warnings and preventing suicide. Anyone can take the training for free. Presented by the Kenneth Young Center at Progress Center’s Forest Park office, QPR training is highly recommended for care providers, case managers, educators, and whoever else would find it helpful. At the end of the hour of training, there will be an optional role-play opportunity, and participants will receive a certificate of completion.

Ques­tion, Per­suade, and Refer (QPR) – these are the three steps any­one can learn to help save a life from sui­cide. This train­ing will help you learn how to rec­og­nize the warn­ing signs of a sui­cide  cri­sis and how to ques­tion, per­suade, and refer some­one to help.

Even if you have had QPR training before, you are welcome to participate as a review.

September 21 at 10:30am to 12:00

Progress Center for Independent Living

7521 Madison Street, Forest Park, IL

Email dkaras@progresscil.org or call 708-209-1500 ext.118 to let us know you’ll be attending and any accommodation requests.

Train to become a Personal Assistant. Choose from several training dates throughout suburban Cook County including at our offices in Forest Park and Blue Island. Trainings are offered in English, Spanish and ASL.

Check our social media pages for new dates every month or call 708-209-1500.

Job Description

Independent Living Advocate

Community Reintegration

The Community Reintegration Advocate works directly with disabled residents of institutions who seek to live in a setting that is more integrated and that is more independent compared to an institution. The Community Reintegration Advocate will work within existing State Consent Decrees, which mandate the transition of people with disabilities out of institutions. In cases in which a consumer is a member of a Class within a Consent Decree, the Advocate will work with a consumer’s designated transition agency. The Advocate will help navigate barriers within the transition process and will serve as an advocate for the consumer when the consumer needs are not met.

In cases in which the consumer is not a member of any Consent Decree Class, the Community Reintegration Advocate will coordinate wrap-around services needed for the successful transition. This includes assistance with scheduling service assessments, securing support services that will be needed after the transition, securing housing for the consumer, securing services and furnishings needed on the day of the transition, and coordinating appropriate independent living skills training.

Essential Functions Include: 

• Providing one-on-one transition assistance to disabled residents of long-term care institutions. This includes: housing assistance, independent living skills assistance, assistance with service assistance, assistance with securing home services, personal assistants and other community care services.
• Helping consumers who are in need of home modifications services that will support their independence in the community.
• Collaborating with long-term care facilities in order to recruit and work with consumers.
• Advocating for residents who are members of a designated Olmstead Consent Decree Class but who are not receiving needed assistance under the Colbert, Williams, and Ligas Consent Decrees.
• Collaborating with agencies that provide transition services under State of Illinois Olmstead Consent Decrees.
• Documenting program activities in Progress Center Consumer and Community Database.
• Monthly and Quarterly Reporting as needed for Progress Center and for funders.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience.
• Problem solving skills.
• Self motivated / Ability to work independently and in a team environment.
• Familiarity with the Illinois system of long-term and community care.
• Personal experience with disability.
• Oral and written communication, and organizational skills.
• Ability to travel independently within suburban Cook County.

 20 hour work week at $ 20 an hour

Email Resumes to: Art Johnson, Team Manager ajohnson@progresscil.org

2026 DISABILITY PRIDE PARADE

Celebrating the ADA’s 36^th Anniversary!

Parade Step-off:

Saturday, July 25, 2026

11:00 a.m.

March, walk or roll …

Come join Progress Center in the parade!

The parade starts at Van Buren Street and Plymouth Court near the Harold Washington Library in downtown Chicago. Progress Center members will gather between 10:00 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. at the Parade step-off area. Join the Progress Center group and help us celebrate our pride. Friends and family are welcome.

Call us or email for more information, or go to our website: info@progresscil.org

708-209-1500

www.progresscil.org

The parade will end at Daley Plaza where we will be available to talk about Progress Center and enjoy the festivities.