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 »
March is Developmental Disabilities Month! How are you celebrating? Please share with the Arc how you are spreading the word. Check out Trinity’s efforts to raise awareness and build connections through their open house March 12. Here are some ideas: 1) Share your stories on social media about IDD! #DDawareness18, Check out the NACDD Guide... Read more »
Today the Division on Developmental Disabilities Director, Greg Fenton, announced that he will be retiring May 31, 2018. Director Fenton has been a great friend to the Arc and people with disabilities and families across Illinois. He has been incredibly accessible to families throughout the years especially at Arc Conventions and Speak Up Speak Out... Read more »
Medicaid Issues Continued: As previously shared, when HFS rolled over to new software a few months ago, individual and families have faced significant Medicaid issues. We want to share with you a new Medicaid Q&A that tries to answer some of the main questions people are facing related to barriers in accessing Medicaid. We know... Read more »
The Human Services Committee will hear House Committee Amendment #1 to HB 4383 (Feigenholtz) tomorrow, Wednesday, February 28 at 8 a.m. This bill gives Medicaid managed care patients the option to remain with their primary care provider (PCP) if their care is disrupted due to a contract termination between their PCP and a health plan. Currently, if... 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 »
Below is the summary of the FY19 Budget Proposal. We will update, correct and clarify this list after the Governor’s speech at noon and the Departmental briefings following the speech. Below are some of the topline issues impacting people with disabilities that were outlined in the summary. Here is the FY19 summary of the Governor’s... Read more »
As usual the FY19 Proposed Budget Summary leaked this morning. I outlined some of the topline issues. I am headed down to listen to the budget address and the department’s detailed presentations. If you have any specific line items not listened below, let me know and I can ask about them. More to follow later... Read more »
The Arc is in Springfield today to listen to the Governor’s Budget Address – More on that soon! Stop HR 620 It looks like the House might call HR 620 tomorrow, Thursday so we need to keep up the calls, email and social media. Remember HR 620 would water down the ADA and set up... 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 »