Illinois Voices is a state-wide self-advocacy intiative,started in January 2005 and funded by the Illinois Department of Human Services. Illinois Voices is designed to empower people with developmental and other disabilities to make their own decisions, stand up for their rights and speak for themselves based on their strengths and desires.
Illinois Voices, self-advoactes and family members are talking about legislation that could positively change the lives of people with disabilities in Illinois for years to come. DISABILITY HISTORY AND AWARENESS LEGISLATION is an approach to inclusion, freedom and equality which would require schools to teach about disability history and the disability rights movement. So far, everyone agrees that this is a great idea! Share your thoughts and let us know what you think. Self-advocates will come up with the key parts and Illinois Voices will then look for politicians to sponsor the bill. Stay tuned for more information on this exciting "Advocacy in Action" movement.
Update ~ December 2007
Disability History Legislation is moving along! The language has been drafted and petitions have been signed and received. Illinois Voices has been meeting with educational associations in Illinois to share information and gather support. In January 2008, Illinois Voices will seek Illinois legislators to sponsor Disability History Legislation; agencies, organizations, and associations will also be contacted for support.
BREAKING NEWS – THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 2008
DISABILITY HISTORY AND AWARENESS BILL MOVES TO THE ILLINOIS HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
At the request of Illinois Voices and self-advocates in Illinois, Representative Robert “Bob” Flider introduced the Disability History and Awareness legislation in the Illinois House of Representatives. The bill now has an official number: HB 4537.
To see the bill, go to:
http://www.ilga.gov/legislation/95/HB/PDF/09500HB4537lv.pdf
Please call, write or meet with your legislators and ask them to support House Bill 4537. Let them know that this bill promotes respect, awareness, dignity, and inclusion of all people in Illinois!
For more information, contact Amy Walker at 217-875-8886 or awalker@maconresources.org
A NEW LAW WOULD BE GREAT IN 2008!
UPDATE ON HB 4537 ~ APRIL 2, 2008!
DISABILITY HISTORY AND AWARENESS BILL PASSES HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 109—1
Rarely have legislative bills in Illinois been on such a “fast track” to becoming State law as House Bill 4537—Disability History and Awareness! In a stunning move at the Capitol, the Illinois House of Representatives overwhelmingly passed HB 4537, with 109 voting “Yes” and only one voting “No”. Self-advocates and their allies across the State have worked extremely hard to turn their dream of a disability awareness campaign in Illinois public schools into reality. “Round One” is now finished when it comes to making this bill a law. For “Round Two”, here is a slogan about what all of us would like all of YOU to do to “keep the ball rolling” and keep HB 4537 in the public eye! (Hint: What do the first letters of all the words in this slogan spell out? That’s whom we would like you to contact—members of a certain part of the Illinois legislature…)
Start
Educating
Newcomers
About
This
Empowering (Legislation)!
HOUSE BILL 4537 SCOREBOARD: CIVIL RIGHTS—1, STATUS QUO—ZIP!!!
HB4537 Update ~ June 1, 2008!
HOUSE BILL 4537 STILL BEING HELD IN SENATE EDUCATION COMMITTEE
As “June is busting out all over”, we on the Illinois Voices Project Team have some good news and some bad news about HB 4537—Disability History and Awareness.
The good news? It finally moved out of the Rules Committee in the Senate and is now being held in the Education Committee.
The bad news? It’s still there, and since the deadline has already passed for the bill to move forward in the Senate, it can be considered “dead” at this point.
Have no fear! We can all campaign for the bill next year! Disability History and Awareness legislation isn’t really dead—it’s only “sleeping”. We’re going to get a second chance in ’09, and perhaps in ’10 and ’11 if we need it. We have to make sure that we work hard at every opportunity we get to raise our voices in support of this bill. One of the lessons that the summer season teaches us is that seeds which are planted, and new living creatures which are born, need plenty of time to grow. Perhaps this is a “growing time” for the “seeds” that we planted in Illinois legislators’ minds—those of justice, civil rights, and equal opportunity and consideration for all. Hopefully, in the near future, these “seeds” shall “blossom” into renewed support for Disability History and Awareness—renewed commitment to having it become a law.
Please don’t send us any flowery greeting cards saying, “With Deepest Sympathy on the Loss of your Bill”! Instead, get yourself ready for next year and the good work we’ll do in our continued fight to have all students included in classrooms, respected, and treated as equals. Long live this uncommon revolution—and uncommon bill!
THANK YOU FOR ALL OF YOUR PHENOMENAL EFFORTS ON BEHALF OF HB 4537 IN 2008
LET’S “GIT ‘ER DONE” IN ‘09!
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