image of passengers on a bus. Passengers in foreground seats appear to be disabled and are smiling for the camera.

WHAT NOW? A TRANSPORTATION WORKSHOP

WHAT NOW?

A Transportation Workshop

Transportation is key to the independence of people with disabilities.  When there are problems with your ride, the transit agency needs to learn what happened.  This workshop is designed to equip participants with the resources and motivation to follow up with Paratransit Agencies and other transportation agencies when something about your ride goes wrong.

When:  Thursday, August 29, 1 p.m. to 2:30 p.m.

Where:  Progress Center, 7521 Madison Street, Forest Park, Illinois

 

Presenters:

Larry Biondi, Advocacy Coordinator, Progress Center for Independent Living

Sarah Blair, Regional Transportation Authority

 

To RSVP and to request accommodations, contact garnold@progresscil.org or 708-209-1500 ext 14

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image of group of people standing and in chairs on steps of capitol in Springfield with fists raisedNews

Progress Center for Independent Living Statement in response to February 20 Budget Address

Progress Center for Independent Living Statement in response to Governor Pritzker’s first Budget Address

(Forest Park, Illinois)– In his first budget address as Governor of Illinois, Governor Pritzker said, “….I would not balance a budget on the backs of the starving, the sick and the suffering, and I keep that promise today by beginning to rebuild health and human services.”  Progress Center applauds Governor Pritzker’s intention to rebuild human services.  For too long, while Illinois has been led by republicans and by democrats, the disability community has been forced to fight to maintain adequate funding and supports for community-based services.  For too long, services that support the independence of people with disabilities have been subject to cuts and to misguided policy decisions. Progress Center is ready to move forward and work with an administration intent on strengthening programs that give people with disabilities the resources to pursue social, academic, and financial opportunities from their own home rather than nursing homes or other institutions.

In terms of community supports, the Home Services Program is vital. Through it, thousands of people with disabilities receive personal assistant services, who help out with day-to-day tasks that are key to independence.  Under Governor Pritzker’s Department of Human Services Budget, the Home Services line is increased by $103 million, addressing “caseload growth,” and “underfunding” in fiscal year 2019.

Governor Pritzker spoke also of implementing a Fair Tax System in Illinois. Progress Center supports a Fair Tax.  When implemented in Illinois, a Fair Tax could generate sustainable revenue for social services, allowing Illinois to sustain and build services, rather than putting valuable services under threat of cuts and elimination each year when the state is faced with budget deficits and gaps.

As the State of Illinois increases minimum wage, Progress Center urges Governor Pritzker, the administration, and all Illinois legislators to ensure that all workers with disabilities are included in the wage increase.  Historically, under a section of the Fair Labor Standards Act, businesses have been able to pay some disabled workers sub minimum wage.  This unfair practice segregates people with disabilities and prevents full inclusion and participation in their communities. Illinois needs to eliminate any opportunity for Illinois businesses to pay people with disabilities, and people from other communities, less than minimum wage.

In the context of Governor’s Pritzker’s budget, The Department of Human Services “provides a $31.3 million increase to support nearly 700 new placements for developmentally disabled individuals transitioning to less restrictive or community home settings under the Ligas consent decree.”  Supporting the transition of people with disabilities from institutional settings to community-based settings is a principle core service of all Independent Living Centers, such as Progress Center, across Illinois.  Progress Center hopes that Governor Pritzker, in addition to supporting the transition of people, take immediate steps to close the remaining State Operated Developmental Centers in Illinois, and maintain vigorous oversight and enforcement of what “community” means in Illinois. Without closing institutions, Illinois will continue to spend a disproportionate amount of funding on the segregated, warehousing of people with disabilities.  Without vigorous oversight of groups that claim to provide “community” supports, people with disabilities are at risk of moving out of one segregated facility and into another, instead of moving into a genuine integrated, inclusive community.

Finally, the Fiscal Year 2020 Budget of Governor Pritzker also includes an increase in funding for Independent Living Centers.  Progress Center is one of 22 centers in Illinois.  As a network, Centers for Independent Living provide people with disabilities the opportunity learn from the experience of other disabled people, share their own experiences as disabled people, and pursue options that will equip them with the tools to be independent.  As Progress Center, we are committed to our role in the effort to strengthen the disability community, strengthen the independent living network, and strengthen Illinois.

Progress Center provides services and conducts advocacy that supports the independence of people with disabilities.  Progress Center serves Suburban Cook County. Progress Center is one of 22 Centers for Independent Living in Illinois.  For more information, contact 708-209-1500.

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On the Anniversary of the Olmstead Decision, take action to support options in the community

Image of group of people, all holding signs that read "I am Olmstead."
Image of group of people, all holding signs that read “I am Olmstead.” — Image taken from internet search

On June 22, 1999, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that the unnecessary institutionalization of people with disabilities is discrimination against people with disabilities. The decision was a victory for the independence and integration of people with disabilities, giving the community a tool to fight for programs and policies that give people with disabilities quality supports and quality, affordable, housing in the community.

Though the Olmstead Ruling was a victory, not all states complied with the decision. In Illinois, three lawsuits were filed against the State of Illinois for its failure to implement Olmstead and give people with disabilities options in the community.  Illinois, and states around the country, has made progress, but legislation is still needed in order to support the implementation and enforcement of the legal decision and the Americans with Disabilities Act integration mandate, which says that services need to be provided in the least restrictive setting.

Today, June 22, on the 19th Anniversary of the Olmstead Decision, the disability community around the country is calling on Congress to support the “Empower Care Act.”  The Empower Care Act would reauthorize a program called “Money Follows the Person,” which between 2007 and 2016, “supported over 75,000 people with disabilities and seniors to move out of nursing homes and into the community nationwide, (from Access Living Action Alert on June 22, 2018).”

Below please find information from the National Council on Independent Living about action you can take to support the Empower Care Act.

Take Action for MFP on the Olmstead Anniversary!

This Thursday, June 22, 2018, is the 19th Anniversary of the Supreme Court’s Olmstead decision cementing the ADA’s integration mandate. To commemorate the day, NCIL is joining other national disability organizations in hosting a National Call-In Day for the EMPOWER Care Act (S. 2227 and H.R. 5306).

Since Money Follows the Person (MFP) began in 2005, over 75,000 disabled people have been liberated from institutions, and CILs have played a critical role in that. But MFP expired on September 30, 2016, and states are starting to scale back and end their programs. In fact, last year was the first time the number of people transitioned into the community declined. We need your advocacy to get the House and Senate to pass the EMPOWER Care Act to reauthorize and fund MFP!

From NCIL Action Alert:

Take Action!

Congress must save and fund MFP, and they need to hear from us! Please urge your Senators and Representative to continue the Money Follows the Person program by co-sponsoring the EMPOWER Care Act!

  • Participate in Thursday’s National Call-In Day! Call your Senators and Representative and urge them to co-sponsor the EMPOWER Care Act! All members of Congress can be reached by calling the Capitol Switchboard at (202) 224-3121 or (202) 224-3091 (TTY). Find more information, including talking points, at the Facebook event. RSVP and share widely!
  • Use Social Media! Post on Facebook and Tweet at your members of Congress. Find your Members’ Twitter handles and other contact information on Contacting Congress. Make sure to use the hashtag #FundMFP in your posts. You can find more information, including sample Tweets, at the Facebook event.
  • Email your members of Congress! Customize a message to your Members of Congress online.

Continue sharing your stories with us! See our previous alert for more details about the stories we’re looking for. Our original deadline passed, but we’re still looking for your stories about the importance of community living!

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