The crazy Committee Deadline week continues. TODAY – Please support the following bills by submitting witness slips. For those family members, individuals and advocates not affiliated with an organization, you can either describe yourself (self-advocate, concerned parent, advocate etc). HB5163 – Community Care for Persons with Disabilities Act – CLICK HERE to submit a witness slip in support... Read more »
Happy Monday! This is the start of committee deadline week in Springfield. For those who are not familiar, especially this year, committee deadline week involves many crammed in hearings occurring with short notice. Legislators will be running around and bills will be flying by. In order for a bill to stay alive to be voted... Read more »
Thanks to all those who joined last week’s Executive Forum! Sorry about the late issues with the phone line. SAVE THE DATE – June 6 Executive Forum (Medicaid Managed Care) Following up from the Executive Forum: 1) Please send me a contact who might want to participate in a short term employment/subminimum wage discussion. We... Read more »
Disability Activist Alert Tell the USDA: Don’t Cut Off Our Food Assistance! Action needed by Monday, April 9, 2018 The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is collecting comments on whether it should make changes to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) that will lead to people losing food and nutrition assistance. Roughly 1 in 4... Read more »
Action Alert Money Follows the Person Days of Actions Planned this Week Call Congress now to continue the Money Follows the Person Program The Arc and other disability organizations are hosting a national call-in day and social media day this week to push for passage of the EMPOWER Care Act (S. 2227). This legislation reauthorizes... Read more »
Up first: Michael Berens released another article today in the Chicago Tribune “Reforms Promised but group homes still suffering from problems“. The Arc of Illinois plans to respond with a letter to the editor about this article as we see it as incredibly bias and advocating for a return to state institutions. It also completely... Read more »
Call Today! A vote in the House of Representatives on HR 620, the ADA Education and Reform Act, is expected this week. Call your legislator to vote NO on HR 620. Why does this matter to people with disabilities? This bill would remove any consequence for businesses with architectural barriers that violate the ADA, a... Read more »
We have enough updates this week that I have split things into at least two weeks. First the federal level updates: Trump Signs Family Caregivers Act A new law will require the federal government to develop a national strategy to address the needs of family caregivers, including those supporting people with developmental disabilities. Read More > TRUMP’S... Read more »
FOLLOW UP FROM EXEC FORUM Thanks to those who joined the Jan 3 Executive Forum webinar. Here is the link to the recording if you would like to listen. Here is the power point as well. The next in-person Executive Forum meeting will be March 3 (location tba). LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE Don’t forget to register for... Read more »
Below we have a federal and state update and save the dates! FEDERAL UPDATE Tax Bill Update The Conference committee is working on merging the House and Senate tax cut bills. Although negotiations could wrap up at any time and a vote taken, we are hearing that we might have a week to advocate and... Read more »