The Arc of Illinois Weekly Update

Registration is still open for The Arc of Illinois Convention next week!  Learn, connect, advocate!
The Going Home Coalition’s May 24 press conference and rally registration is available.  Check it out and join us in Springfield on May 24!
Highlights in this update include:

  • PUNS Waiting List – 900 members moving off!
  • Ligas Plaintiffs Seeks Judicial Intervention for State Lack of Compliance
  • Action Alert: SB955 DSP Wage Bill
  • FY18 Budget Hearing – Thursday
  • DHS Submits Adult Waiver to CMS
  • Resources – FINDS Survey & Job Posting
  • Upcoming Events

 

 

PUNS Pull

The Division on Developmental Disabilities last week reported that they pulled approximately 900 individuals off the PUNS waiting list and will be sending notification letters by the end of April.  There was a different approach used with the selection criteria, using the length of time waiting under their current category of need (emergency, crisis etc).  It is DDD’s intent to select Ligas Class Members who have been waiting in the Emergency category for more than one year and as many Class Members as possible from the Critical category based on their length of time in that category. See here for more.

 

 

Ligas Plaintiffs Judicial Intervention Sought to Force Illinois to Provide Critical Resources for People with IDD

Equip for Equality and the ACLU of Illinois represent thousands of people with intellectual and  developmental disabilities in Ligas v. Norwood, a class action providing community living opportunities to people living in institutions.  On behalf of those individuals, the Ligas plaintiffs file a motion enforce the consent degree.  The state has until May 8 to respond to the motion.

Ronnie Cohn, the Independent Monitor has found the State out of compliance with the Consent Decree for failing to provide sufficient resources.  Accordingly, the Ligas attorneys have filed a Motion to Enforce the Consent Decree to have the Judge rule on whether the State is out of compliance.  Much of the dispute focuses on the rates the State pays to community providers.

Plaintiff Press Release
Motion to Enforce Consent Decree
Court Monitor’s latest report.

 

 

We Need Your Help Because “They Deserve More”!

1) Send this postcard to Governor Rauner (feel free to print it out on paper and put it in an envelop).  There is also a blank post card if you want to add a personal story. Please share this post card with others and ask them to send it as well.
2) Call your legislators to support SB955.  See here who in the Senate is a co-sponsor.  If your legislator is not on this list, please ask them to co-sponsor the legislation.
3) Write a letter to the editor about how They Deserve More – DSPs, individuals receiving services and families.
4) Share this great document, Value the Work, Value Their lives that outlines the crisis in staffing for services for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities through Facebook, Twitter, and there social media.

 

 

Testify, Submit Testimony, Slip Thursday!

House Appropriations – Human Services Committee Hearing on FY18 Budget will be April 20 at 1:30 pm at C-600, 6th Floor Michael A. Bilandic Building in Chicago.  There will be an opportunity for advocates to speak.  If you are interested in testifying to the impact of the lack of the budget on critical services, access to community living, DSP wages or family support, please call Meg at 815-464-1832..

 

 

DHS Submits Adult Services Waiver to CMS

DDD received 126 comments from stakeholders regarding the Adult Services Waiver draft.  After updating the draft, the Division provided the Medicaid agency, Illinois Healthcare and Family Services (HFS), with the revised application on March 31, 2017.  The application was formally submitted by HFS to the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) on April 7, 2017.  Illinois is notw waiting for review and feedback from CMS.   The document will be available at http://www.dhs.state.il.us/page.aspx?item=45915.

 

 

Have You Taken the FINDS Survey Yet?

Now more than ever, we need to capture the experiences of individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities and their families.  Please fill out this survey TODAY to help us get a picture of the struggles and opportunities facing Illinoisans with IDD and their families.

To take the survey, visit thearc.org/FINDS.

The Arc of the United States is gathering this data in collaboration with the Research and Training Center on Community Living at the University of Minnesota.

 

 

 

 

LARC CEO Job Posting

Congratulations to Lora Hurling on her retirement in May.  Here is the job posting for the LARC CEO job.  They are looking to start interviews soon, so do not delay!

 

 

Important Dates!

  • April 26-27 – Arc Convention, Lisle
  • May 22, 6:30 pm Ligas Update Presentation, Forest Park
  • May 24 – Going Home Rally, Springfield
  • June 5 – Board of Directors’ Visioning Session
  • June 7 – Executive Forum, In-Person Meeting
  • June 22, 10:30 am, Ligas Update, Chicago