The Arc of Illinois

𝗛𝘂𝗿𝗿𝘆! 𝗥𝗲𝗴𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟰 𝗛𝗲𝗮𝗹𝘁𝗵𝗰𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗦𝘆𝗺𝗽𝗼𝘀𝗶𝘂𝗺 𝗧𝗼𝗱𝗮𝘆! 🏃 ⏰September 17, 2024 at 9:30am - 4pm Register👉 https://bit.ly/3X4n4kQ Join in on the breakout session conversation: "𝗔𝗱𝘃𝗼𝗰𝗮𝗰𝘆 𝗶𝗻 𝗔𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻" with Parent Advocates, Stephanie Salinas and Mary Otts-Rubenstein * #TheArcofIllinois #2024HealthcareSymposium #Advocacy #AdvocacyInAction #DisabilityInclusion #disabilityawareness #CaregiversSupport

Meet our Team: Spotlight is on Ruth Aguilar The Arc’s Senior Family Advocate🌟 Fun Fact about Ruth: Ruth’s family has dedicated their lives to making a profound different in the lives of children with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Ruth co-founded a non-profit organization that harnesses the power of sensory play to enrich the lives of children with disabilities. Ruth is also a part of the prestigious Caring Across Generations Fellowship! 🧡 What Advocacy Means to Ruth: For Ruth advocacy is providing quality of life for her daughter, Valeri! Providing the access to health care, services, education, and recreation! 🌟 To learn more about this Program ➡️ https://lnkd.in/gBz7pqjj * #TheArcofIllinois #MeetTheTeam #StaffSpotlight #Advocacy #Advocate #Inclusion #AdvocacyinAction #DisabilityAdvocacy #AdvocatesUnite #DisabilityInclusion #DisabilityAwareness #DisabilityPride

𝗜𝗺𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗮𝗻𝘁 𝗨𝗽𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗼𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗟𝗶𝗴𝗮𝘀 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝘀𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗗𝗲𝗰𝗿𝗲𝗲 On August 30th, the Court recognized the significant progress Illinois has made since the 2011 Ligas consent decree. However, the request to end court oversight of its disability services was denied. The Court highlighted that while strides have been made, there are still areas that need attention before oversight can be fully lifted. Samantha Alloway, our Executive Director and mother of a 9-year-old on the autism spectrum, expressed her thoughts on the ruling: “I’m relieved that the Court will maintain its oversight, ensuring IDHS remains accountable,” Alloway said. “We give credit to Governor Pritzker for the historic investments in people with developmental disabilities, but the work is far from over.” Alloway emphasized the need for further planning, stating that she hopes IDHS will use this time to “aim higher” and grow community services to allow continuity of services for people with developmental disabilities as they and their caregivers age. Let’s continue to push for a brighter, more stable future for our community! Read Full Article➡ https://lnkd.in/eYbvuVZd

𝗝𝗼𝗶𝗻 𝗞𝗶𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿𝗹𝘆 𝗝𝗼𝗵𝗻𝘀𝗼𝗻, 𝗕𝗼𝗮𝗿𝗱 𝗣𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗔𝗿𝗰 𝗼𝗳 𝗜𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗼𝗶𝘀, 𝗮𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗗𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗹𝗼𝗽𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗹 𝗗𝗶𝗳𝗳𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲𝘀 𝗥𝗲𝘀𝗼𝘂𝗿𝗰𝗲 𝗙𝗮𝗶𝗿! ⏰Saturday, September 7, 2024 | 2:00 - 4:00 pm 📍Wolcott College Prep Arts & Athletic Center 𝘛𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘬 𝘺𝘰𝘶, 𝘒𝘪𝘮𝘣𝘦𝘳𝘭𝘺 𝘑𝘰𝘩𝘯𝘴𝘰𝘯, 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘪𝘯𝘤𝘳𝘦𝘥𝘪𝘣𝘭𝘦 𝘢𝘥𝘷𝘰𝘤𝘢𝘤𝘺 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘨𝘦𝘵𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘥 𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘢𝘣𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘪𝘮𝘱𝘰𝘳𝘵𝘢𝘯𝘵 𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘰𝘶𝘳𝘤𝘦𝘴 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘮𝘶𝘯𝘪𝘵𝘺!💪🌟 https://lnkd.in/gh5xfdAF

𝗝𝗼𝗶𝗻 𝗢𝘂𝗿 𝗧𝗲𝗮𝗺! 💪 𝗪𝗲 𝗔𝗿𝗲 𝗛𝗶𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗟𝗲𝗴𝗶𝘀𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗔𝘀𝘀𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗻𝘁 𝗣𝗼𝘀𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗮𝘁 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗔𝗿𝗰 𝗼𝗳 𝗜𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗼𝗶𝘀! ✨ Please send your resume ➡ samantha@thearcofil.org. Find out more ➡ https://lnkd.in/gxWJ5tzi * #JoinOurTeam #DisabilityAdvocacy #LegislativeAdvocacy #Advocacy #WeAreHiring #AchieveWithUs #TheArcofIllinois

Happy Labor Day! 💪

Meet our Team: Spotlight is on Susan Agrawal the Director of Family to Family Health Information Center !🌟 Fun Fact about Susan: Susan loves classical music and is a music theory nerd! She has played many instruments including the viola, violin, piano, trumpet, french horn, and even some trombone! 🎻🎶 What Advocacy Means to Susan: For Susan advocacy is working to make the world a kinder, more inclusive, and supportive place for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities! 🧡 Favorite Quote: “Tomorrow is always fresh, with no mistakes in it yet.” -Anne of Green Gables🌟 To learn more about this Program ➡️ https://lnkd.in/gegrCCNt * #TheArcofIllinois #MeetTheTeam #StaffSpotlight #Advocacy #Advocate #Inclusion #AdvocacyinAction #DisabilityAdvocacy #AdvocatesUnite #DisabilityInclusion #DisabilityAwareness #DisabilityPride

Join our team! The Arc of Illinois is currently seeking a Legislative Assistant. #AchieveWithUs #Hiring

𝘙𝘦𝘤𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘭𝘺 𝘙𝘦𝘤𝘦𝘪𝘷𝘦𝘥 𝘢𝘯 𝘌𝘢𝘳𝘭𝘺 𝘕𝘰𝘵𝘪𝘧𝘪𝘤𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘓𝘦𝘵𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘰𝘳 𝘢 𝘗𝘜𝘕𝘚 𝘚𝘦𝘭𝘦𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘓𝘦𝘵𝘵𝘦𝘳? 𝗞𝗻𝗼𝘄 𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗢𝗽𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀! 🌟 Medicaid Home and Community Based Waiver for Adults with Developmental Disabilities in Illinois Join us for any of our monthly Ligas Family Advocate Program webinars! Register here ➡️https://bit.ly/46laLUe ✅September 5, 2024 ✅October 3, 2024 ✅November 7, 2024 ✅December 5, 2024 ⏰12:00-1:00 pm

Samantha Alloway, The Arc of Illinois Executive Director, shares her reaction to recent bullying. "I feel compelled to speak out on an issue that resonates deeply with many of us. As a mother of a special needs child, I was especially moved by a powerful moment at the Democratic National Convention when 17-year-old Gus Walz, son of Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, proudly reacted about his father’s vice-presidential candidacy. Gus, who lives with ADHD and a nonverbal learning disorder, showed raw emotion—an act that deserves our deepest respect." She continues with "We must challenge the narrative that equates disability with weakness. Our loved ones shouldn’t have to conform to be accepted; their unique strengths enrich our communities, and it’s time we celebrate that diversity!" Read the full update in our newsletter>>> https://lnkd.in/gqt9JGix