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Celebrating 75 Years of Advocacy at The Arc of Illinois
Dear Fellow Advocates,
This month, we proudly celebrate 75 years of The Arc of Illinois! Founded in 1950 by a strong group of parents, with Adele Karlson as our first executive director, our organization emerged from the belief that individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities should never be left behind. This vision continues to guide us today, reflecting our enduring commitment to advocacy.
Over the past 75 years, we have made significant strides in promoting inclusion, providing support, and advocating for the rights of individuals with disabilities. Our progress is thanks to the tireless efforts of our members, allies, and supporters.
Next week, we are excited to gather in Bloomington-Normal for our annual convention! This event will be an excellent opportunity for learning and connection. Dr. Alonzo Kelly will inspire us to reconnect with our mission, while Katy Neas, CEO of The Arc of the U.S., will share vital updates on advocacy efforts in Washington, D.C.
I will also share my personal journey and highlight the incredible work we do at The Arc of Illinois. Emily Holl, Director of The Sibling Support Project, will provide insights into the family perspective and the importance of accessibility.
This year, we are proud to offer breakout sessions in Spanish, ensuring everyone can participate. We also recognize the importance of respite care and are committed to providing meaningful resources for families.
We hope you will join us in celebrating our past, present, and future at the convention. Together, we will continue to advocate for individuals with disabilities and their families.
Thank you for being an integral part of The Arc of Illinois community. We look forward to seeing you next week!
Truly, Samantha Alloway Executive Director, The Arc of Illinois
Hurry! There's Still Time to Register!
The 75th Annual Convention will take place on April 22-23, 2025 at the Marriott in Bloomington-Normal, with both in-person and remote options available. View the Program Book!
For all the details on the convention, click here.
To view the full brochure and register by mail, clickhere.
We’re also offering a track of breakout sessions in Spanish.
Earn 12 Continuing Education Credits - whether you're joining the 75th Annual Convention in person or virtually!
If you're a:
Nursing Home Administrator
Social Worker or QIDP
Professional or Clinical Counselor
Occupational or Physical Therapist (or Assistant)
Licensed Professional Counselor
In-Person? Grab your form at the Registration Desk. Moderators will sign off after each session.
Virtual? Download the form from the Convention website.
Share Your Ideas for DDD's Five Year Strategic Plan
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 your 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. We want to hear as many voices as possible through the survey below, 3 townhall meetings, individual and small group feedback sessions, focus groups and a review of data and previous published reports.
To help with this effort, we ask you to:
Complete the Strategic Planning Survey
We are asking ALL individuals receiving services, families, service providers and their front-line staff, Independent Service Coordinators (ISC) and their staff, advocates, state staff, and other stakeholders to complete the below survey. We want to hear from everyone about your top five priorities for the new FY26-30 Division of Developmental Disabilities Five Year Strategic Plan. These priorities should reflect the services and supports you want to see expanded, new initiatives you would like to see developed and areas where you would like to see greater investment as well as where you would like to see DDD prioritize its efforts. Below is the survey in English and Spanish.
In addition to the survey above, DDD is holding three townhall meetings to hear from individuals, families, providers, and other stakeholders directly. Please join us for one of the following by registering through the below links.
Session 1 - April 28, 11 am - 12 pm; Register here: April 28 WebEx
Session 2 - April 29, 2-3 pm; Register here: April 29 WebEx
You can contact DHS.DDDComments@illinois.gov if you need help completing this survey or have any additional questions.
Your Advocacy Matters!
The Illinois delegates attending the Disability Policy Seminar had an amazing time.
The conference engaged attendees on the first two days on a host of topics of critical importance facing the disability community and the implications of the issues facing us during this administration.
There was fantastic representation from The Arc of Illinois, The Arc of Winnebago, Boone, and Ogle Counties, UIC LEND program, parents, providers, and additional stakeholders. Day 3 started with a powerful rally at the Capitol and Tia Nelis had the crowd chanting at the top of their voices! Then, delegates headed to legislative visits withstaff from the offices of US Senator Duckworth, US Senator Durbin, US Rep Schneider, Rep. Darin LaHood, Rep. Garcia, Rep. Ramirez, Rep. Quigley, Rep. Krishnamoorthi and others. The Illinois delegates were outstanding in speaking on the importance of protecting Medicaid and how any cuts would negatively impact the developmental disabilities community.Let’s double our delegation and impact next year!!!
Marika Wadell, Samantha Alloway, The Arc of Illinois Executive Director; Shira Wakschlag, Senior Director of Legal Advocacy and The Arc US General Counsel, The Arc US; Katy Neas, The Arc US Chief Executive Officer
Rally at the Capitol and Tia Nelis had the crowd chanting at the top of their voices!
Robert Spivey Senator, Richard Durbin’s Office, with Carole Rosen and Greg Walkington, The Arc of Illinois
US Representative Delia Ramirez with Samantha Alloway, Carole Rosen, and Greg Walkington, The Arc of Illinois
US Representative Brad Schneider with Carole Rosen and Greg Walkington, The Arc of Illinois
Ethan Gunnlaugsson, Rep Schneider’s office, with Carole Rosen and Greg Walkington, The Arc of Illinois
Nicole Jorwic, Caring Across Generations, Claire Manning, The Arc US, Carole Rosen, Advocacy Program Specialist, Greg Walkington, Family Transition Project Director.
REV UP Illinois
Your Vote Matters!
Register. Educate. Vote. Use Your Power!
The Arc of Illinois' Family Transition Project Mentor, James Elliot
The Arc of Illinois' Family Transition Project Mentor, Bob Peterson, and Carole Rosen, Advocacy Program Specialist, The Arc of Illinois
REV UP Illinois and The Arc of Illinois’ Family Transition Project were on hand at recent Community Transition Resource Events at Ludeman on April 4th and April 11th, 2025. Mentors, James Elliot and Bob Peterson spoke with residents and about their past lived experience as residents in a state operated developmental center. They are now both enjoying their lives in the community. They also encouraged people to register to vote if they have not.
On March 31, 2025, a complaint was filed in District Court challenging President Trump’s illegal executive order that unlawfully and unconstitutionally attempts to upend voter registration and mail voting procedures, an exercise of power that the Constitution gives tostates and Congress, not the president. Campaign Legal Center (CLC), along with State Democracy Defenders Fund (SDDF), and on behalf of the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC), Secure Families Initiative (SFI), and Arizona Students’ Association (ASA) is suing to protect Americans’ freedom to vote from this unconstitutional presidential overreach.
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 email carole@thearcofil.org or sebastian@thearcofil.org if you have events planned or would like to present at a REV UP Illinois meeting!
A House vote passed HR 22 on April 10th, 2025 by a vote of 220 yeas to 208 nays and the bill has been received in the Senate!
Advocate and Oppose The SAVE Act (H.R. 22 / S.128)
This Bill is extremely harmful and is a vehicle for widespreadvoter suppression!
Please call your Senators and make your voice heard!
Senator Richard Durbin 202 224-2152
Senator Tammy Duckworth 202 224-2854
The following information comes from 5calls.org.This platform is extremely easy to use, available online, and as an Android or Apple app.
Republicans in Congress have 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. This impacts people with intellectual and developmental disabilities who may not have these documents and are unable to register or vote in person.
Millions of Americans would be impacted by this harmful legislation.
More than 21.3 million Americans lack 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.
5calls.org will help you to easily identify who are your legislators to call on this issue and their phone numbers. It will even give you a script to use when you make your calls.
ILGA.gov’slegislative lookup tool is another resource you may want to explore.
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 email carole@thearcofil.orgor sebastian@thearcofil.org if you have events planned or would like to present at a REV UP Illinois meeting!
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