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REV UP Illinois
Your Vote Matters!
Register. Educate. Vote. Use Your Power!
There's Still Time to Register for Tonight's Webinar!
Please join REV UP Illinois for a Virtual Presentation with Maria Rodriguez and Sandro Perez
Maria and Sandro’s analysis raises critical questions:
Why do some wards consistently underperform?
What structural barriers keep voter participation low?
And most importantly—how can advocacy create change?
Using data from the Chicago Board of Elections and the Chicago Data Portal, Maria and Sandro propose real, community-based solutions to increase engagement in historically underserved areas.
CART/ASL and Spanish Captioning will be provided.
Need these...
REV UP Illinois and The Arc of Illinois have participated at DDD’s Transition Resource Fairs connecting state operated developmental center residents to service providers and other important community resources to facilitate their transitioning to community settings if they are interested.
The Executive Director of The Arc of Illinois, Samantha Alloway, was at The Murray Transition Resource Event on May 2nd and Carole Rosen represented The Family Transition Program and REV UP Illinois on May 9th at Kiley.
CALL TO ACTION!
Your advocacy is needed!!!
We strongly urge you to use 5calls.org to advocate against the passage of the SAVE Act. This app is available on Apple and Android and on your PC.
On April 10, 2025, the House passed H.R. 22. The bill then moved to the Senate for consideration.
Republicans in Congress introduced the extreme anti-voter Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) Act (H.R. 22/S.128) and declared it among their top priorities. This bill would hinder millions of eligible Americans from registering to vote by requiring citizens to present a birth certificate or passport in person to register.
Millions of Americans don’t have easy access to these documents.
·More than 21.3 million Americanslack immediate access to documentary proof of citizenship.
·Citizens of color are three times more likely than white citizens to lack documents such as birth certificates, passports, naturalization certificates, or certificates of citizenship.
·An in-person registration requirement would prevent military members serving abroad from easily registering to vote.
Despite unfounded claims to the contrary, there is no evidence of widespread voter fraud. The SAVE Act is designed to block eligible people from voting, not to protect elections. Demand your representatives oppose the SAVE Act and protect voting rights for all.
Here are 3 opportunities to make your voice heard.
DDD is working to develop a new five-year Strategic Plan starting in FY26. To develop the Strategic Plan, DDD is asking stakeholders to share their perspectives on where you want DDD services and supports to go in the next five years and how you want DDD to focus policy and funding to get there.
2) The Illinois Council on Developmental Disabilities (ICDD) is creating a new 5-Year State Plan.This plan will guide what we focus and work on from 2027 to 2031. They need your help to make sure the plan is helpful and meets the needs of people with developmental disabilities (DD) and their families. Please take a few minutes to share your thoughts in this public survey.
This survey is open to everyone: people with IDD, families, service providers, state agencies, legislators, and others in the community. Your feedback is very important!
Your voice matters! Together, we can make sure Illinois becomes a better place for people with DD and their families. Thank you for helping us make a difference.
The Survey Deadline is June 13, 2025.
3) National Disabilities Institute Survey on Financial Wellness.
Illinois residents! We want to hear from YOU. Help shape the future of financial inclusion in Illinois by taking NDI’s confidential Financial Wellness Survey. Your voice matters. To complete the survey, clickhere.
Please contact us and share your ideas on how REV UP Illinois will continue its important mission to register, educate, and empower the disability vote! Please emailcarole@thearcofil.org or sebastian@thearcofil.orgif you have events planned or would like to present at a REV UP Illinois meeting!
Going Home Coalition and The Arc of Illinois have developed a story bank. We shared your powerful Medicaid testimonials with Caring Across Generations and Care Can’t Wait Illinois for their 24-hour vigil in Washington DC on May 7th and 8th.
Please continue to share your Medicaid stories with us! Click here to share yours!
Governor Pat Quinn (2009 to 2015)
Governor Pat Quinn (2009 to 2015) met with Going Home Coalition on May 9th. Record registration and attendance marked this important conversation about the 2012 closures of certain State Operated Developmental Centers (SODCs).
Former Governor Quinn discussed the closures of Howe and Jacksonville Developmental Centers, and shared his insights and perspective on ways Going Home Coalition can continue to advocate for systems change and build community capacity. The Olmstead Act mandates that people with disabilities have the right to live and participate in their communities. This means that services must be provided in the most integrated setting, which, for most individuals, is the community rather than an institution.
Former residents of Howe, Jacksonville, and Shapiro Developmental Centers, John Porter, Charles Sarbaugh, and April Mcclees, each of whom has past lived experience living in a state operated developmental center, told their transition stories and were able to ask Governor Quinn questions from Going Home Coalition members.
We will use this information as we look ahead and advocate for a future where Illinois residents no longer have to worry about a lack of supports and services and maintain and exercise their rights to live a full life in the community.
Image L-R: Jill Goldstein and Congresswoman Sarah McBride
Image L-R: Congressman Brad Schneider and Carole Rosen
Image: Senator Mary Edly-Allen and Senator Adriane Johnson and others
Image L-R: Carole Rosen with Senator Laura Fine
On May 4th, Carole Rosen and Going Home Coalition member and amazing advocate, Jill Goldstein attended a Women for Brad Schneider luncheon with keynote speaker Congresswoman Sarah McBride.
Image L-R: Amie Bliefnick, President & CEO of Macon Resources; Lori Opiela, UCP-Seguin; Laura Anderson, They Deserve More; Carole Rosen, The Arc of Illinois
Image L-R: Richard Hollenbeck, Karina Hayes
Collaboration is Key to Success in Advocacy.Thank you, Macon Resources for hosting Going Home Coalition, REV UP Illinois, UCP-Seguin, and They Deserve more for an amazing morning in Decatur, IL on May 2nd.The dream team expanded their presentation, Me? Advocate? Yes, You Can! This presentation focuses on empowering people with intellectual and developmental disabilities through advocacy.
