IL Council on Developmental Disabilities

September 14 through September 18 is Disability Voter Rights Week.

Know Your Rights
Know Your Power

Vote Privately and Independently

Vote in a way that is accessible to you.

Tip: If you vote in person, ask to use the accessible voting machine or ballot marking device!

Get help with any part of the voting process from a person of your choice.

Note: States may have rules about who can or can not help you vote.

Check your state laws when you make your plan.
Disability Voting Rights Week

Aapd.com/disability-voting-rights-week/

This photo is shared from the page of The Arc of Illinois. The poster is connected with the American Association of People with Disabilities and the RevUp Program.

Here is a message from Engage Illinois about a presentation on September 22:

Across Illinois, parents and organizations are working to build progressive support for our young adults so they can build a life in their chosen community.

Most of us are using Home-Based funding to pay for programs and support, and we know first-hand that this stipend is not enough to support a person-centered life.

ENGAGE IL PRESENTATION ON HOUSING AND ADVOCACY

TUESDAY, SEPT 22
6:30 – 8:00 PM
VIRTUAL ZOOM MEETING

Register at this link: https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/sl/j8oH5rR/VirtParED41426?source_id=90b75ec4-ed53-49bf-b736-b95c7d6b6439&source_type=em&c=6zrOR4l8Iro-Tbc2vLkDRSNig2XohuzWPWdZH08CR4G0rgb0h57YMw==

Come to learn about:

Advocacy work by Engage IL (www.engageil.org) to help families create person-centered lives for their loved ones in their community of choice.

Our Deep Dive work with the Division of Developmental Disabilities to provide feedback based on real lived experience using CILA funding.

A better understanding of how housing solutions and support services need to work together for a person-centered life in the community.

Register for the September 22 Session at this Link: https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/sl/j8oH5rR/VirtParED41426?source_id=90b75ec4-ed53-49bf-b736-b95c7d6b6439&source_type=em&c=6zrOR4l8Iro-Tbc2vLkDRSNig2XohuzWPWdZH08CR4G0rgb0h57YMw==

Engage IL SIBS Presentation Engage IL Presentation on Housing and Advocacy.

𝗗𝗶𝘀𝗮𝗯𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗩𝗼𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗥𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁𝘀 𝗪𝗲𝗲𝗸

September 14 through September 18 is Disability Voter Rights Week.

Here is a piece about the significance of Disability Voter Rights Week written by Alexia Kemerling and published on the American Association of People with Disabilities Blog.

𝗦𝗺𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝗔𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀, 𝗖𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗣𝗼𝘄𝗲𝗿: Join Disability Voting Rights Week 2026

Small Actions, Collective Power: Join Disability Voting Rights Week 2026 - AAPD Each year, the American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD) celebrates Disability Voting Rights Week (DVRW). This year, DVRW takes place September 14–18, 2026. Started by grassroots activists in Texas 10 years ago, DVRW celebrates community and builds the power of the disability vote th...

Here is information from the Federal Resource page on the Illinois Healthcare and Family Services Website.

This page is intended to “help stakeholders understand how federal funding cuts contained in HR 1 will impact Medicaid, which covers roughly 1 in 4 Illinoisans.”

The page includes resources in the HR 1 Phase 2 Tool Kit, which was posted recently and information about periodic webinars. The next webinar is scheduled for this Tuesday, September 15.

Here is the September 15 webinar information:

HR1 Module 6:

Common Questions and Answers Regarding Medicaid Changes
Tuesday, September 15, 2026
1:00 PM - 2:00 PM (Central Time)

For more information, including webinar registration information, visit the Federal Resource page: https://hfs.illinois.gov/info/fedresctr.html

The Protect Our Care Coalition is hosting a free virtual conversation on September 16, 2026.

What:

Community Conversation, HR1 and Illinois Medicaid: Navigating the Changes Ahead

When:

📅 Tuesday, September 16, 2026
🕐 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM CST

Where:

💻 Virtual (Zoom Webinar)

This conversation will cover:

• What's changing with Illinois Medicaid because of HR1
• How these changes could impact Illinoisans who rely on Medicaid
• Practical steps you can take to help reduce harm to your clients, patients, and community members

Please Register at this Link: https://aidschicago-org.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_m15AsXVVSfW16BwtsJJDNQ #/registration

The Illinois Council on Developmental Disabilities (ICDD) was delighted to welcome a group of visitors from Japan today to the ICDD Chicago Office. The University of Illinois Chicago facilitated the visit. The group from Japan included Direct Support Professionals and staff from Developmental Disability (DD) Provider Agencies in Japan. The group will be in the region into next week, visiting other groups and agencies for discussions about the DD community.

State Operated Developmental Centers Transition Fairs are scheduled for this fall. The Transition Fairs are intended for residents, family members and guardians. The Transition Fairs provide information and education about options for where individuals may want to receive services.

Below is a list of the next three Transition Fairs. Please send an email to [email protected] if you would like to sign up as a vendor at a Transition Fair. All Transition Fairs are from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.

• Shapiro Developmental Center
o 09/11/2026
o Back-up date 09/18/2026
• Murray Developmental Center
o 10/02/2026
o Back-up date 10/09/2026
• Ludeman Developmental Center
o 10/09/2026
o Back-up date 10/16/2026

This information is shared from DDD Communications:

IDHS: DDD Communication | August 26, 2026 The Division of Developmental Disabilities (DDD) is pleased to announce that we are moving towards a new flexibility for individuals in AHBS participating in Community Day Services (CDS), allowing individuals to participate in up to 8 hours of CDS in a single day. The total amount of hours per year,...

Here is another post about the 2026 Speak Up and Speak Out! Summit. Congratulations to The Arc of Illinois for hosting a smashing success. Thank you to everyone who helped organize and who supported the event. All the best to all those who attended in person and on-line. Wherever you go, whatever you do, we hope you continue to Speak Up and Speak Out! Here are a few more photos from the event.

1. TJ Gordon discussing Civic Engagement with a packed room.
2. Keynote speaker Michael Wayne O'Neill speaking and presenting flowers to The Arc of Illinois Executive Director Samantha Alloway
3. A panel talking about disaster preparedness

The Speak Up and Speak Out Legislative Panel has grown quickly in popularity, participation, and engagement. The 2026 Legislative Panel included eight Illinois State Legislators and three State Agency Representatives. State Agency participation included Mariel Hamer-Sinclair, Associate Director of Program & Policy for the Illinois Council on Developmental Disabilities. These photos include Hamer-Sinclair engaging with the audience during the panel, and Bridget Brown and Tavarus Wesley introducing the panel.

The 2026 Speak Up and Speak Out! Summit is now in full swing. With more than 300 people in person and hundreds more attending online, self-advocates, family members, peers, allies, support workers and more are engaging in three days of leadership and self-advocacy development. This morning, the Illinois Council on Developmental Disabilities helped kick off the day. Director Kim Mercer-Schleider and four Council members took the stage to welcome the crowd and share a little bit about the Council.