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Advocacy

Much of the work done at LCCIL promotes change in the lives of our consumers and community.  We inform persons with disabilities of their rights, effective methods of addressing discrimination, and the importance and ease of becoming actively involved in the legislative process.  We also encourage self-advocacy.  Your best advocate is yourself.  We can teach you strategies to be more effective advocates.

Therefore, we advocate for the following:

  • Housing and services that are community-based and that do not segregate people with disabilities.
  • Public Education through workshops and seminars.
  • Passage of Medicaid Community Attendant Services and Support Act (MICASSA) (or equivalent bill) which embraces the principles of choice and community-based options.
  • Wages and benefits for personal assistants commensurate to wages paid to others providing the same services, and inclusion of PA's in any COLA given to community providers.
  • Healthcare that is available, affordable and provides appropriate quality of life options.
  • LCCIL will work for equal access to mental health and healthcare for people with developmental disabilities and those labeled with psychiatric disabilities through passage of a mental health insurance parity bill or similar legislation.
  • LCCIL endorses the ten core recommendations made by the National Council on Disability in their report ”From Privileges To Rights”.
  • Quality education for students with disabilities.
  • Implementation by the Illinois State Board of Education of the reauthorized Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA).
  • Provision of supports for students with disabilities based on their individual need, consistent with the IEP, in the regular classroom unless other settings are chosen by the student and family.
  • Accessible local, regional and national transportation.
  • Expansion of accessible mass transportation within Lake County to ensure compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act.
  • Regulations for over-the-road buses and Amtrak which ensure full and equal access, without any additional restriction or requirements, for persons with disabilities.
  • Increased funding for community-based services that promote integration and provide choice and control for people with disabilities.
  • Collaborate with the Illinois Network of Centers for Independent Living (INCIL) and Statewide Independent Living Council (SILC) and Coalition of Citizens with Disabilities in Illinois (CCDI), in advocating for Formula Funding for Centers for Independent Living.
  • Implementation and enforcement of existing rights and accessibility laws, requiring that all businesses, regardless of ownership, comply with basic accessibility requirements of parking, entry and use for all patrons.
  • LCCIL will participate in the State process of developing a plan to implement the 1999 Supreme Court decision in Olmstead v. L.C. LCCIL will continue to promote and support activities to prevent unnecessary institutionalization.
  • LCCIL opposes attacks on the Americans with Disabilities Act. We'll participate in activities to denounce such attacks like the most recent Garrett v. University of Alabama.
  • The importance of safety to pedestrians. LCCIL staff will advocate for accessible traffic signals and awareness to ensure pedestrian safety and access to society.
  • LCCIL is committed to access and will continue to act as a consultant as well as survey new construction and home modifications.
  • To create local volunteer parking programs. We'll also keep informed of developments from the Secretary of State's office concerning improvements to the accessible parking program.
  • LCCIL will monitor and actively participate in national and statewide activities regarding a voting system that is fully accessible to citizens with disabilities