PACE PARATRANSIT CUSTOMERS CALL CENTER HOURS TO CHANGE IN CHICAGO, AND FOR SOME COUNTIES ON JAN 01, 2012

Press Releases

CALL CENTER HOURS FOR SOME PACE PARATRANSIT CUSTOMERS TO CHANGE

December 20, 20114:00:00 PM
Media Release Office: (847) 228-4295
Contact: Patrick Wilmot (847) 228-4295

New hours for trip reservations effective January 1, 2012

ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, IL Pace Suburban Bus reminds customers that the hours in which to place trip reservations for ADA Paratransit service for registered people with disabilities will change for most customers beginning January 1, 2012. The new hours for service within Chicago will be 6 am 6 pm every day of the week. Suburban riders can book trips between 6 am and 6 pm Monday-Friday, and between 8 am and 5 pm on Saturday and Sunday. The change means that Chicago call centers will close one hour earlier in the evening, and standardizes the hours for suburban call centers, which currently vary somewhat by region.

Seeking to reduce costs and improve manual oversight of trip dispatching, the RTA required that Pace reduce telephone reservation hours to regular business hours. During public hearings in October, many paratransit customers commented that the change would be burdensome, especially for those that work or attend school during business hours. Pace relayed the feedback to RTA, and the compromise was made to reduce call center hours by only one in the evening to mitigate the impact on customers, yet allow additional time to review the next days travel manifests to ensure peak routing efficiency.

"We're pleased that a solution was reached that works for our customers, but also achieves the goal of increasing travel planning oversight, which will improve efficiency and customer satisfaction," said Richard Kwasneski, Chairman of the Pace Board of Directors.

There are no changes to fares or the phone numbers that passengers call to reserve trips. Reservation hours will not change for suburban non-ADA Dial-a-Ride service, nor the Ride DuPage and Ride in Kane programs.

# http://www.pacebus.com/sub/news_events/press_release_detail.asp?ReleaseID=591

# For Pace Suburban Bus Services (and paratransit), visit: http://www.pacebus.com/default.asp
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To clarify the reservation hours, from the Pace website:

ADA Paratransit Reservation Hours Changing January 1, 2011

Effective January 1, 2012, reservation (call-in) hours for Chicago and Suburban ADA Paratransit service will change. Beginning on that date, the new hours will be:

In Chicago:
6:00am to 6:00pm, every day

In the suburbs:
6:00am to 6:00pm, Monday-Friday
8:00am to 5:00pm, Saturday-Sunday

Please note that phone numbers will not change. There will be no changes to the reservation hours for suburban non-ADA Dial-a-Ride programs, Ride DuPage or Ride in Kane. If you have any questions, please contact Pace Customer :
http://www.pacebus.com/default.asp

President of the Russian Federation Dmitry Medvedev responds to questions posed by children with disabilities | Dec 19, 2011

As Shared by UBICEF :

President of the Russian Federation Dmitry Medvedev responds to questions posed by children with disabilities – participants of the International Conference on Inclusive Education

MOSCOW, Russian Federation, 19 December 2011
Russian disabled kids got a long-awaited message from Dmitry Medvedev, President of the Russian Federation. A group of children with disabilities from different regions of Russia participated in the Children’s Forum, which was a part of UNICEF supported International Conference of Inclusive Education in Moscow in September 2011.

Children produced a short video message with their questions to the President. "The streets and play grounds of my town are not accessible for people with disabilities. When the situation will be changed? When will Russia ratify the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities? Why is there a stigma toward people with disabilities?


YouTube

President of the Russian Federation Dmitry Medvedev responds to questions posed by children with disabilities – participants of the International Conference on Inclusive Education

My dear young friends,

First of all, I would like to thank you for taking your time to approach me with your concerns. I’m glad that you are advanced Internet users and the questions that you pose are quite serious.

I support your view that people with disabilities are far from being comfortable in their lives in this country. To address this situation, we have adopted a special state program entitled “Barrier-Free Environment” and assigned a sizable amount of money – about 47 billion rubles - for its implementation. This five-year program has been launched this year.

In 2011-2012, the methodology of building a barrier-free environment will be developed and tested in Russia’s three pilot regions – the Republic of Tatarstan, the Tver and Saratov regions – where public transportation vehicles and various facilities are to be fitted with ramps, specially designed lifts and other equipment and appliances for disabled people. Whereas in the Republic of Khakassia, the Republic of Udmurtia, and the Tyumen region, international methods of disability certification are to be introduced for the first time ever in Russia. The best practices generated as a result of the project implementation would allow us to speed up the creation of an efficient barrier free environment throughout the whole country.

What do we expect to achieve? First, appropriate conditions are to be created in all Russian regions which would enable you to gain unimpeded access to museums, theaters and cinemas and would allow you to play in children’s playgrounds or train in fitness centers. E.g., by 2015, about 1,500 (1,411) specialists will have been trained to assist people with disabilities in developing badly needed skills.

Second, the number of schools with a versatile, barrier-free environment is expected to increase tenfold, from about 2% to over 20% (up to 3,600 schools). Children with disabilities will be able to attend such schools and study side by side with their peers who have no health restrictions. 10,800 professionals – members of psychological, medical and pedagogical commissions - will be providing the required assistance to disabled schoolchildren.

Third, by 2015, about half of all TV programs broadcast on federal TV channels will have been subtitled.

In response to Iliya’s question concerning the situation in Arkhangelsk I would say the following: In your region, the “Barrier-Free Environment” program has also been implemented since 2011. In particular, the program envisages installing ramps at medical and all other facilities offering a range of social and rehabilitation services to children with disabilities (there are nine such facilities in total operating in the region). 8 buses fitted with low-level steps offering comfortable boarding are operating on cross-town lines in the city of Arkhangelsk. In 2012, a training ground for visually impaired children is to be put into operation in Arkhangelsk school No.5. The Arkhangelsk City Administration has devised a specific plan to implement the “Barrier-Free Environment” program, and I hope the program goals will be fulfilled. However, your question, Iliya, does not only concern the interests of visually impaired people and people with other disabilities. Actually, your question is about the quality of urban infrastructure and environment as a whole; the quality of roads, pavements, territories adjacent to apartment buildings, courtyards, etc. In fact, it is not only visually impaired people who feel uncomfortable walking along makeshift wooden planks instead of a pavement. Though, for them, such a situation presents particular challenges. Similar problems exist in many Russian regions. This is not to say that regional and municipal authorities are not trying to address these problems. But they have been progressing slower than expected.

Municipalities should have more powers, including financial, to enable them to make life in their cities and towns more comfortable for their residents. We are currently dealing with this problem, trying to improve inter-budget relations. The outcome of these activities will impact the daily life of every Russian resident.

And last but not least, today, when designing new premises to accommodate social, transportation, engineering and other infrastructure facilities and reconstructing old ones, the requirements concerning their accessibility for people with disabilities are to be taken into account. This is the current practice in the most advanced countries in the world.

All these issues are an important part of daily activities carried out by governors and heads of municipalities. The efficiency of their work should be judged by their ability to cope with these challenges. Moreover, the interests of people with disabilities should be legally protected. That is why we are currently focusing on improving considerably the Russian legislation and are getting ready to ratify the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. We intend to finish this work next year.

One of the most important goals to be achieved is to change the attitude of our society towards these issues. I can see, increasingly more often, when Russian citizens become more caring and responsive to the needs of those people who, due to some unfortunate circumstances, are unable to cope some difficulties on their own. Any person may find himself or herself in a difficult situation and in need of assistance. Everyone should be aware of this.

I wish you, my dear young friends, success and realization of all your dreams and plans. And all the best to your relatives and close ones!

http://www.unicef.org/ceecis/media_18799.html

Tracking Santa with NORAD | Countdown To Santa 2011 | Great website to follow

Just Thought to Share... Countdown to Santa in 2011


YouTube

All the preparations for this year are in place! Come back each day to discover new surprises in the Kids' Countdown Village, where we'll offer a new holiday game every day until December 24th.
Visit: http://www.noradsanta.org/en/countdown.html

Is Santa Real?

Based on historical data and more than 50 years of NORAD tracking information, we believe that Santa Claus is alive and well in the hearts of children throughout the world.

Santa Claus is known by many names, including Saint Nick. Historians claim that the history of Santa starts with the tradition of Saint Nicholas, a 4th century Christian priest who lived in the Middle East in an area of present-day Turkey who became famous for his kindness. He was known for giving gifts to the less fortunate, sprinkling gifts of gold down people's chimneys and hiding surprises in their stockings.

It may be that the Santa we know today emerged from the legacy of Saint Nicholas. Clearly, Santa's basic approach to gift giving is strikingly similar. Could they be the same person? Only Santa Claus knows for sure.

Long before the Wright brothers flew the first airplane or the Montgolfier brothers launched the first hot air balloon, Santa had to find a way to travel from house to house at great speed. We know from our Santa cam images that Santa’s choice for quick transportation was a herd of flying reindeer. Detailed information on these reindeer remains elusive; however, we do know, that Santa enlisted the reindeer to help him with his worldwide mission of gift-giving. A veil of sweet mystery hides the rest.

Virginia’s letter, written in December 1897, is the most famous example of a child wanting to know about Santa.

Source Norad -
Please Visit 'NORAD Tracks Santa' at: http://www.noradsanta.org/en/index.html

Disabled Chicago cop denied pit bull service dog launches landmark ADA lawsuit : Dec 21, 2011

UPDATED BELOW

As Reported by BY FRAN SPIELMAN | Chicago Sun Times

For 32 years, nearly half as a tactical officer, Jim Sak was a cop chasing down bad guys on the streets of Chicago.

Now that he’s retired and living in tiny Aurelia, Ia., the townsfolk are chasing him — to get rid of “Snickers,” a five-year-old Pit bull-mix service dog he needs after suffering a debilitating stroke that left him with no feeling on the right side of his body.

On orders from the Aurelia City Council, a heartbroken Sak has shipped his beloved protector off to a kennel just outside of the Iowa town where he moved last month to be closer to his ailing, 87-year-old mother-in-law. If he hadn’t gotten rid of Snickers, city fathers had threatened to seize and destroy the dog.

The mandate sets the stage for a landmark lawsuit on grounds that the federal Americans for Disabilities Act (ADA) guarantees people with disabilities the right to have service dogs, regardless of their breed.

“I can’t believe they didn’t even try to talk to us. They just said, ‘No. You’re not having him. He’s outlawed in this town,’ “ Sak said Tuesday.

“I have spasms on my right side where the leg gives out whenever I get upset or try to do too much. When Snickers sees that my hand is moving, he sits down by me right away and waits for me to tell him what to do. Usually, he goes to get my wife so she can help me get back in the chair. Without him, I feel lost.”

He added, “I was a policeman for 32 years. I understand there’s black and white, but there’s also a grey area where you have to use your head. They’re not using their heads.”

Peggy Sak, Jim’s wife, said she’s “appalled and embarrassed by the town I grew up in…They have made our lives a living hell since we got here.”

She said she had no idea when she moved to Aurelia that the town had an ordinance banning pit bulls. That’s a crackdown that’s been talked about in Chicago, but never implemented.

“They called us to a city council meeting Dec. 14 and voted 3 to 2 to make no exceptions. I had to get him out of the house by the next day. That dog has never been away from us a night in his life. He’s the sweetest, most good-natured dog you’d ever want to meet,” Peggy Sak said.

“I left the meeting and threw up on the street outside the place. I can’t stop crying. Jim, being the Chicago cop, is stoic, but very depressed. It’s terrible. I’m afraid to leave him. My mother is now helping take care of Jim because the dog isn’t here to help him.”

George Wittgraf, an attorney representing the Iowa town, said Aurelia is “simply exercising its authority to protect and preserve the rights and property of its residents — whether or not that’s trumped by” federal law.

City Clerk Barb Messerole said the ordinance was approved in March, 2008 after a meter reader was bitten by a pit bull.

“They had several people come forward saying they were concerned about the pit bull because of the nature of the breed. They just feel it’s unsafe. They’re aggressive and could hurt somebody. If the service animal was anything but a pit bull, it would have been fine,” she said.

The Animal Farm Foundation said the group has hired an attorney to represent the Sak family and is paying to board the dog at the out-of-town kennel, pending the legal challenge.

“It’s about the injustice of this man having his service dog taken away — this man who is a Viet Nam War veteran and a retired Chicago Police officer who has always given back to the community,” said executive director Stacy Coleman.

“This town has taken away this man’s independence, his peace of mind, and his freedom to move about his house, go out in public and keep from having to go to a nursing home with 24-hour care. He’s physically in danger without his dog.”

http://www.suntimes.com/news/metro/9566024-418/disabled-chicago-cop-denied-pit-bull-service-dog-launches-landmark-ada-lawsuit.html
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Dec 28, 2011
as reported by Naomi Seldin Ramirez | NorthJersy.com

James Sak and Snickers were reunited by an Iowa court today.

The pair received widespread attention after the city of Aurelia, Iowa, told Sak, a retired Chicago police officer and disabled Vietnam War veteran, to get rid of Snickers. Why? Because despite being a certified therapy dog, Snickers is also part pit bull, and like a growing number of municipalities, Aurelia has a breed ban.

Regardless of how you feel about pit bulls, the city’s response appears to violate the ADA. Sak had a stroke in 2008, and the University of Illinois Medical Center in Chicago trained Snickers to help him walk, keep his balance and get help in emergencies. The Americans for Disabilities Act guarantees people with disabilities the right to have service dogs regardless of breed.

Labrador retrievers are probably the most commonly recognized service dogs, thanks to the wonderful work of nonprofits like Guiding Eyes for the Blind. But German Shepherds and other “aggressive breeds” are, too, and undergo the same intensive training and temperament testing. The dispute over Snickers could set an important legal precedent for similar cases and help protect the rights of the disabled.

According to the Sioux City Journal, the judge who issued the preliminary injunction regarding Snickers has “no desire to overturn any city’s ban on pit bulls.” It’s about allowing “one service dog the chance to do his job,” he says. The city can still appeal the decision. But for now, Snickers is coming home — and his supporters have something to cheer.

{photo: James Sak leaves federal court in Sioux City, Iowa, on Wednesday. "Today I got my peace of mind back," he said. "I hope that nobody else has to go through what we went through." (Photo by Kim Wolf, Animal Farm Foundation)}

# http://blog.northjersey.com/jerseydog/2891/pit-bull-and-disabled-veteran-reunited-during-landmark-case/

Streamwood, IL. : Streamwood mental health center charged with sexual abusing disabled boy : Dec 20, 2011

An employee at a Streamwood mental health center was charged with criminal sexual abuse after police said he was caught on camera inappropriately touching a mentally disabled patient.

The victim told a staff member at Streamwood Behavioral Healthcare System that “Jonathan,” later determined to be 38-year-old Jonathan C. Collantes, asked if he had ever had sex and offered him money to have sex with him, according to a Streamwood police report.

Department of Children and Family Services investigator informed Streamwood police of the matter. A subsequent investigation of surveillance tapes showed Collantes touching the boy on the morning of Dec. 8 in a recreational room with other children present, according to police.

The surveillance video shows Collantes, who lives in Elgin, tell the other children in the room to watch TV before he sits down at a table with the victim, according to police. He then appears to be touching himself before he is “clearly captured” touching the boy, according to the police report.

The Streamwood officer met with the victim, who confirmed that he was touched by “Jonathan,” according to police.

According to the victim, the suspect then told the boy he would give him peanut better and jelly sandwiches if he did not tell anyone.

The boy identified Jonathan Collantes in a photo lineup on Dec. 8. Collantes was arrested at his apartment on the 200 block of DuPage Street in Elgin shortly after.

Collantes was charged with aggravated criminal sexual abuse, a which is punishable by three to seven years in prison after a conviction.

Police said surveillance tapes show Collantes leave the room before the crime took place to look around the corner to see who was in the area.

Collantes was fired from the mental health center, according to police.

# As reported By Paul Biasco ..The Daily Herald Dec 20, 2011
http://dailyherald.com/article/20111220/news/712209625/

ILLINOIS LANDMARK CONSENT DECREE EXPANDS OPPORTUNITIES FOR NURSING HOME RESIDENTS WITH DISABILITIES : Dec 20, 2011

# As posted at Access Living website;

Today (December 20), in Federal Court, the Court a landmark agreement that will offer thousands of people with disabilities in nursing homes the opportunity to choose to live in their own apartments instead of in institutions. The agreement is the latest step in Colbert v. Quinn, a class action case originally filed in 2007 on behalf of people with disabilities living in Cook County nursing homes. Lenil Corbert, an original plaintiff in the case, after learning of the Court’s approval, said, “It feels great. Now I know there are other options for people.”

{photo: Lenil Colbert speaking in August about the importance of indepence and choice for people with disabilities}

Below is a news release issued by the parties in the case that represent the Class.

LANDMARK CONSENT DECREE EXPANDS OPPORTUNITIES FOR NURSING HOME RESIDENTS WITH DISABILITIES

(CHICAGO, December 20, 2011 – A groundbreaking Consent Decree approved today in Federal Court will end the forced, long-standing and unnecessary segregation of people with physical disabilities and mental illness living in nursing homes. The agreement in Colbert v. Quinn, signed today by Judge Lefkow, for the first time will give Medicaid-eligible nursing home residents in Cook County a meaningful choice about where they wish to live, affording them the opportunity to live in their own homes and participate in the community.

In Cook County, thousands of people with physical disabilities and mental illness are warehoused in nursing homes because, due to the state’s payment structure, they cannot get the services they need in the community. When the consent decree in Colbert v. Quinn is implemented, the State will provide housing assistance to nursing home residents who wish to transition into the community. “In the nursing home, I lost the freedom to make basic decisions about my own life, like when to get up, what to eat, and who to room with,” said Lenil Colbert, a named plaintiff who lived in a nursing home at the time the original complaint was filed. “I think that everyone in a nursing home should have the option to move out.”

Historically, the biggest obstacle to Medicaid-eligible people with disabilities living in the community has been affordable housing. “Final approval of the Colbert v. Quinn agreement signals a momentous day for nursing home residents with disabilities,” said Steve Libowsky of SNR Denton, the lead attorney for the class. “Because of the way services in Illinois are funded, thousands of people with disabilities are forced to live in nursing homes rather than houses or apartments of their choosing. As a result of this Decree, Illinois will afford people with disabilities a real opportunity to live and participate in their communities and will no longer make a nursing home the only housing option.”

Today’s approval by the Court is the latest development in the case Colbert v. Quinn, originally filed in August 2007 on behalf of a class of nursing home residents with disabilities in Cook County. According to the Americans with Disabilities Act and the 1999 U.S. Supreme Court Olmstead decision, people with disabilities have the right to receive long-term care services in the most integrated setting appropriate to their needs. The vast majority of people with disabilities who are receiving Medicaid have no meaningful alternative to living in a nursing home. “By providing housing assistance, Illinois is addressing the single greatest obstacle to Medicaid-eligible nursing home residents being able to return to the community,” said Steve Gold of the Law Offices of Stephen F. Gold, co-counsel for the class.

“Most of us prefer the comforts of our own homes or apartments, with all the headaches and happiness that can bring. People with disabilities are no different,” said Patti Werner, from Access Living, co-counsel for the class.

Under the Decree, the State will provide housing and related assistance, including personal assistants, to at least 1,100 Cook County nursing home residents with disabilities during the first two and a half year period of the agreement – the first phase. “This Decree is a huge step forward for thousands of people who want to live and participate in communities of their choice,” said Marca Bristo, President & CEO of Access Living. “We commend the Court for approving the decree because it recognizes the right of people with disabilities to choose where to live. We look forward to partnering with the State to implement the agreement.”

After the first phase, the State will continue to provide housing and related assistance to other Cook County nursing home residents with disabilities so they can move into the community. During the second phase, the state will implement a comprehensive plan to move Medicaid-recipients living in nursing homes who desire to move into the community in accordance with a plan based on data collected during the first phase. The State will spend no more, in the aggregate, than what it is now paying to serve people with disabilities living in nursing homes. “Historically, nursing home costs have far exceeded the costs of community-based services,” said Karen Ward of Equip for Equality, co-counsel for the class. “This Decree not only offers people with disabilities the choice to live independently, we believe it will also provide a significant cost savings to the State.”

Colbert v. Quinn is the third in a trio of class actions brought against the State on behalf of people with all types of disabilities living in institutions to assure them the choice to live in the community. The other two cases, Ligas v. Hamos and Williams v. Quinn, reached similar settlement agreements and have also been approved by the Court. “Court approval of the Colbert agreement brings us closer to our goal of ending the involuntary segregation and isolation of people with all types of disabilities in nursing homes and institutions across Cook County and Illinois,” said Benjamin Wolf of the ACLU of Illinois, co-counsel for the class.

Access Living and SNR Denton, which is providing representation on a pro bono basis, are serving as lead counsel on the case. The plaintiffs are also being represented by attorneys from the American Civil Liberties Union of Illinois and Equip for Equality, and by the Law Offices of Stephen F. Gold. Colbert v. Quinn is case number 07 C 4737. For documents related to the settlement, visit www.accessliving.org. For more information, contact Gary Arnold at 312-640-2199 (voice), 773-425-2536 (cell), garnold@accessliving.org .

About Access Living
Established in 1980, Access Living is a non-profit, Chicago-based disability rights and service organization that provides individualized, peer-based services for people with disabilities. With a strong influence in public policy and social reform, Access Living is a leading force in the community. Committed to challenging stereotypes, protecting civil rights and breaking institutional and community barriers, Access Living is a nationally recognized change agent at the forefront of the disability rights movement. For more information, www.accessliving.org

About SNR Denton
SNR Denton is a client-focused international legal practice delivering quality and value. SNR Denton serves clients in key business and financial centers from more than 60 locations in 43 countries, through offices, associate firms and special alliances across the US, the UK, Europe, the Middle East, Russia and the CIS, Asia Pacific and Africa, making it a top 25 legal services provider by lawyers and professionals worldwide. Joining the complementary top tier practices of its founding firms -- Sonnenschein Nath & Rosenthal LLP and Denton Wilde Sapte LLP -- SNR Denton offers business, government and institutional clients premier service and a disciplined focus to meet evolving needs in eight key industry sectors: Energy, Transport and Infrastructure; Financial Institutions and Funds; Government; Health and Life Sciences; Insurance; Manufacturing; Real Estate, Retail and Hotels; and Technology, Media and Telecommunications. For more information and legal notices, www.snrdenton.com.

About Equip for Equality
Designated in 1985 as the federally funded Protection and Advocacy System for people with disabilities in Illinois, Equip for Equality’s mission is to advance the human and civil rights of people with all types of disabilities in Illinois. Equip for Equality provides self-advocacy assistance, legal services, and disability rights education while also engaging in public policy and legislative advocacy and conducting abuse investigations and other oversight activities. For more information, www.equipforequality.org.

About the ACLU of Illinois
The American Civil Liberties Union is a non-partisan, non-profit membership organization dedicated to protecting and extending freedom, liberty and equality to all in the United States. The work of the ACLU is based upon, but not limited to, protecting the liberties and freedoms guaranteed by the U.S. Constitution, especially the Bill of Rights. With a membership of more than 500,000 nationwide - more than 23,000 in Illinois - the ACLU accomplishes its goals through litigating, lobbying and educating the public on a broad array of issues affecting our liberties. For more information, www.aclu-il.org.

http://accessliving.org/index.php?tray=content&tid=top683&cid=118ga58
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As posted - State of Illinois Press Release;

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 20, 2011

Statement From Governor Quinn on Settlement to Benefit Elders and Illinoisans With Disabilities

CHICAGO – December 20, 2011. Governor Pat Quinn today released the following statement regarding the settlement of the last of the Olmstead class action lawsuits.

“I have made community care a priority of my administration, and our long-term goal is to rebalance Illinois’ approach towards older adults and persons with disabilities by expanding choices for those who want to live in the community.

“An important step in this process was settling the three Olmstead class action lawsuits, which had been pending for many years. I committed to resolving these lawsuits when I took office, and today’s decree allows Illinois to move forward and increase opportunities and independence for our state’s elders and residents with disabilities.

“With these settlements and our other rebalancing initiatives underway, Illinois is well on its way to assuring older adults and people with disabilities care and treatment in the most community-integrated settings appropriate for their conditions. We are moving in the right direction on community and home-based care, and I look forward to continuing this effort.”

http://www.illinois.gov/PressReleases/PressReleasesListShow.cfm?RecNum=9936

State of Illinois Selects Five Supportive Living Facilities To Serve Adults with Physical Disabilities : Dec 19, 2011

Press Release Dec 19, 2011

SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services (HFS) today announced the approval of five Supportive Living Facilities (SLFs) across the state to serve persons aged 22-64 with physical disabilities. These five SLFs will add nearly 450 additional apartments to serve this population.

“We are proud to announce the expansion of the SLF program to serve persons aged 22-64 with physical disabilities,” said HFS Director Julie Hamos. “The Supportive Living Program gives seniors and persons with a disability more lifestyle options, more independence and more control over their own lives. We look forward to the development of this needed housing with services.”

The state’s Medicaid program pays for a portion or all of the medical care and services for eligible SLF residents. Residents are responsible for paying for their housing with Social Security or other personal income.

SLFs give seniors and persons with disabilities a more independent lifestyle option by providing apartment-style living, medication supervision and ongoing health monitoring, personal care, exercise and wellness programs, meals and other services. Residents live in private apartments with a bath and kitchenette. The SLF program puts an emphasis on personal choice and dignity.

An important benefit of SLFs is that they make a critical range of services available at a significantly lower cost than in a nursing home and can successfully prevent or postpone the need for nursing home care.

Since Governor Quinn took office in January 2009, 27 new SLFs have opened. There are currently 133 operational SLFs containing nearly 10,400 apartments located throughout the state.

The following applications have been selected for participation:

• Hawthorn Woods
Route 176 & Thorngate Drive
Hawthorn Woods

• Liberty Oaks
US Route 45 & Mohawk Drive
Bourbonnais

• Liberty Oaks
Oakland Avenue & Linden Street
Carbondale

• Vermillion Development
Cornerstone Commerce Park
Peoria

• Warriors Gateway
254 Elm Street
Rockford

The next step for the five facilities will be to meet the Department’s requirements to become certified to participate in the SLF program. A facility must be certified before it can start accepting residents.

For more information about the Department’s SLF program, go to: http://www.slfillinois.com.

http://www.illinois.gov/PressReleases/ShowPressRelease.cfm?SubjectID=1&RecNum=9933

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CFD EXPANDS SMOKE DETECTOR INSTALLATION, TARGETS RESIDENTS WHO ARE DEAF, HARD OF HEARING : Dec 19, 2011

200 specialty detectors designed to be felt, not heard

The Chicago Fire Department (CFD) received an increase to a Fire Prevention and Safety Grant from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) that will allow the purchase of an additional 4,200 smoke detectors with installation supplies, 200 of the detectors were designed for use by residents who are deaf and hard of hearing. The FEMA award of $124,228 was received from the Assistance to Firefighters Grant.

“We thank FEMA for increasing the grant and recognizing the need for additional smoke detectors including those specifically designed to allow residents to feel the alarm if it cannot be heard,” said Chicago Fire Commissioner Robert Hoff. “About half of the fire deaths that occurred in Chicago over the past several years have been in homes without working smoke detectors.”

The CFD has partnered with the Mayor’s Office for People with Disabilities (MOPD) to determine proper distribution of these accessible units.

“This pilot program to provide accessible smoke alarms to people who are deaf or hard of hearing is an important step towards our goal of ensuring that the City's life safety programs are inclusive of people with disabilities,” said MOPD Commissioner Karen Tamely. The 2010 Fire Prevention and Safety Grant from the Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program will allow the CFD to:

· Install 4,000 smoke detectors in the homes of seniors and people who reside in neighborhoods with an elevated rate of fire deaths;

· Install 200 specialized smoke detectors in the homes of people who are deaf or hard of hearing; and

· Conduct four fire safety education sessions that target the deaf and hard of hearing community, of which at least one of the sessions will be for children.

This project builds on a previous Fire Prevention and Safety Grant project that provided funds to the CFD to install 16,000 smoke detectors in the homes of senior citizens and people who reside in neighborhoods with an elevated rate of fire deaths. The installation was completed in March of 2011.

The Assistance to Firefighters Grant will cover the cost of purchasing 4,200 additional smoke detectors and installation supplies, sign-language interpreters and real-time captioning service for the education sessions and educational materials. The Chicago Fire Department Public Education Unit provides the personnel to conduct the education sessions and install the smoke detectors. The federal government will provide 80% of the funds for this project and the City will provide the balance of the funding.

All smoke detectors installed as part of this program contain a 10-year tamper resistant lithium battery.

The Fire Prevention and Safety Grants (FP&S) are part of the Assistance to Firefighters Grants ( AFG ), and are under the purview of the Grant Programs Directorate in the Federal Emergency Management Agency. FP&S Grants support projects that enhance the safety of the public and firefighters from fire and related hazards. The primary goal is to target high-risk populations and reduce injury and prevent death. In 2005, Congress reauthorized funding for FP&S grants and expanded the eligible uses of funds to include Firefighter Safety Research and Development.

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Gov Quinn Signs Laws to Improve Quality of Life for Illinois Veterans - Improve Access to Jobs, Health Insurance : Dec 19, 2011

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 19, 2011

Governor Quinn Signs Laws to Improve Quality of

Life for Illinois Veterans

New Laws Improve Access to Jobs, Health Insurance

CHICAGO – December 19, 2011. Governor Pat Quinn today signed legislation that will improve the quality of life for Illinois’ Veterans. Senate Bill 1587, sponsored by Sen. Antonio Munoz (D-Chicago) and Rep. Edward Acevedo (D-Chicago), and Senate Bill 40, sponsored by Sen. Susan Garrett (D-Highwood) and Rep. Lisa Dugan (D-Kankakee), make it easier for Veterans to gain access to employment and health care.

“The men and women who have courageously defended our democracy overseas should not return home only to fight for necessities like jobs and health insurance,” said Governor Quinn. “We owe it to our Veterans to make their transition to civilian life as seamless as possible.”

Senate Bill 1587 makes it easier for Veterans to become members of the Illinois State Police (ISP). Under the new law, education requirements will be waived for individuals who have been honorably discharged with a campaign medal after serving in Afghanistan or Iraq. On average, a servicemember serves three to four years before being discharged, and that experience makes Veterans particularly valuable assets to the ISP.

"Having been a Veteran who returned home and found limited job opportunities, I applaud the efforts of Governor Quinn and the state legislators to improve the quality of life for soldiers seeking to further their careers to serve and protect,” said Illinois State Police Director Hiram Grau. “This law will give Veterans every opportunity to apply and test within our department, and will significantly increase the pool of qualified, experienced candidates representing the Illinois State Police.”

Governor Quinn also signed Senate Bill 40, which extends the Veterans’ Care program. The program provides Veterans with comprehensive health care coverage for $40 or $70 per month (depending on income). The program had been set to expire on Jan. 1.

“Employment and the availability affordable of healthcare are among the most critical needs of the Illinois veteran community,” said Erica Borggren, Director of the Illinois Department of Veterans’ Affairs. “These measures will have an immediate, direct impact for Illinois’ past and present heroes in uniform.”

The law also helps members of the Illinois National Guard receive compensation more quickly when responding to in-state natural disasters. Under the law, the Illinois National Guard State Active Duty Fund will be created to more efficiently reimburse Guard members called to active duty in the event of state disasters.

“Our Soldiers and Airmen always stand ready for any mission, whether here at home or overseas,” said Maj. Gen. William Enyart, Illinois National Guard Adjutant General. “As responders, this bill will help the Illinois National Guard's immediate response to emergencies. It will allow us to move forward during the mission knowing our soldiers, airmen and suppliers will receive prompt payment during a crisis and won't have to worry about paying their families bills.”

For more information about these and other programs for Veterans, visit www.operationhomefront.org or call the Illinois Department of Veterans’ Affairs at (217) 782-6641 or (312) 814-2460.

http://www.illinois.gov/PressReleases/PressReleasesListShow.cfm?RecNum=9932

A conversation on the state of Autism Research & related article (NIEHS) - Dec 2011

Articles from National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) (http://www.niehs.nih.gov/), By Ernie Hood : December 2011

A conversation on the state of autism research

At the International Neurotoxicology Conference Oct. 30-Nov. 2 (see related story below)the Environmental Factor sat down for an in-depth interview with Health Science Administrator Cindy Lawler, Ph.D., of the NIEHS Division of Extramural Research and Training. Lawler leads a portfolio of autism-related research, and she shared her thoughts about the meeting and the state of the science.

{photo: Lawler, front, second from left, represented NIEHS on the panel discussing endocrine disruption and sex differences in autism at the 27th International Neurotoxicology Conference. (Photo courtesy of Steve McCaw)}


The Factor: The content of this meeting seems to fit in well with the NIEHS mission and current research portfolio.

Lawler: “I think it does. We have had a very healthy investment in neurodevelopmental toxicology for many years, but environmental insults are not often going to lead to a frank disease. Many of the outcomes we’re looking at are more subtle, such as cognitive impairments. We are making inroads into how environmental insults potentially contribute to clinical disorders — autism is one example, but there’s work in the ADHD field as well, and now schizophrenia.”

It seems that the field has moved beyond whether environmental insults have an impact upon those disorders to more focused research on specific interactions and mechanisms. Is that an accurate assessment?

“I think that’s a very insightful comment. When I came to NIEHS ten years ago, people were beginning to be concerned about the big rise in autism. Every paper on autism was about genetics, genetics, genetics. And now, although progress is never fast enough, I’m in a position to see what I consider to be very good scientific progress. Even among the autism genetics investigators, there is acknowledgment that environment is involved, and it’s no longer just that we’ll eventually find genetic causes for every single case. In one sense it’s a small step, but there is this acknowledgment that the real answer is going to have to involve looking at both environmental and genetic risk. That doesn’t mean that it’s easy to do — it’s very, very difficult.”

“The real continued progress in autism or ADHD or schizophrenia is, for our Institute, going to depend on the types of developmental tools and approaches that we’re hearing about at this meeting. They are not going to come from researchers trying to look for associations between exposures and disease, they’re going to come from, for instance, the exposure science arena, where people are developing better ways to capture exposures in the same way that you can capture the whole genome.”

Do you think any of the ideas we’ve heard about at this meeting approach being ready for translation into prevention, therapy, or even public health policy?

“I think most of what we’ve heard here is meant to be provocative. There’s a solid foundation of proof of principle. For example, there’s every reason to believe that the immune system is dysregulated in autism. And there’s increasing evidence that disrupted thyroid signaling is involved somehow. But thyroid signaling is incredibly complex, and the clinical phenotypes that are present are complex as well.

In the case of how that might apply to something like autism risk, it’s really difficult to see how at this point in time you could apply that knowledge directly. That doesn’t mean that that’s not where we hope to go with it, but I think now it would be a little premature to think about a lot of direct translation to the clinic.

In the case of endocrine disruptors, our Institute has a really strong interest in that, but they are a class of chemicals that has not been a major focus of work in the autism arena. There’s been a little bit of work with compounds that act through the thyroid, affecting hormone signaling, but overall they’ve been a little bit neglected, so this meeting is meant to stimulate interest.”

(Ernie Hood is a contract writer for the NIEHS Office of Communications and Public Liaison.)

http://www.niehs.nih.gov/news/newsletter/2011/december/science-autismresearch/index.cfm

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Neurotox27 focuses on environmentally triggered disorders

The time for characterization of the role of environmental factors in neurodevelopmental disorders has come. This was the take-home message of the 27th International Neurotoxicology Conference Oct.30-Nov. 2 at the Sheraton Imperial Hotel and Convention Center in Research Triangle Park (RTP), N.C. NIEHS and Environmental Health Perspectives were among the sponsors (http://www.neurotoxicology.com/conf2011/sponsors.pdf) (323 KB) of the event, titled “Environmentally Triggered Neurodevelopmental Disorders: Focus on Endocrine Disruption and Sex Differences in Autism, ADHD, and Schizophrenia.”

{photo: Division of Extramural Research and Training Health Scientist Administrator Annette Kirshner, Ph.D., paid close attention to the scientific presentations on neurodevelopmental disorders, which comprise part of the grants portfolio she administers. (Photo courtesy of Steve McCaw)}


The conference was last held in RTP in 2005, and according to NIEHS program administrator Cindy Lawler, Ph.D., (see related story above)holding the conference locally boosted attendance to more than 200. “We were able to draw from the local universities, and a number of our intramural scientists came to hear the talks, as well,” she said. “The program resonates, as these are issues that NIEHS has made significant investments in — especially autism.”

Cross-discipline dialogue proves valuable

Conference co-chair Isaac Pessah, Ph.D., a professor of molecular biosciences and director of the Center for Children’s Environmental Health and Disease Prevention at the University of California, Davis, found the dialogue that took place to be the meeting’s greatest value. “What’s unique about this meeting is that it brought this crosscutting paradigm, and I think a lot of the attendees really got a lot out of it, because you don’t usually present it that way,” he said. “Usually, there’s an autism meeting, there’s a schizophrenia meeting, there’s an ADHD meeting, and they are never brought together with the questions about what are the commonalities and what are the differences.”

Thomas Zoeller, Ph.D., of the University of Massachusetts Amherst, who co-chaired the plenary session on endocrine disruption in autism spectrum disorders, agreed with Pessah, and said that the flow of ideas at the meeting among scientists who don’t normally talk to each other had a profound effect upon his own thinking. “I’ve really changed my perspective about the way that the environment might impact brain function,” he said. Both he and Pessah are NIEHS grantees.

With so many topics of interest to NIEHS on the agenda, the Institute was well-represented at the conference. Serena Dudek, Ph.D., head of the NIEHS Synaptic and Developmental Plasticity Group, provided attendees with a tutorial on synaptic plasticity as a common target in neurodevelopmental disorders.

Jean Harry, Ph.D., group leader of the NTP Neurotoxicology Group, served as one of the meeting’s poster session co-chairs and networking mentors, and also co-chaired a session on developmental neurotoxicology mechanisms. Mamta Behl, Ph.D., and Christopher McPherson, both of whom work with Harry, were recognized at the meeting with a postdoc presenter award and graduate student poster award, respectively.

Also, David Goulding, of the Comparative Medicine Branch, presented a poster on his work with Harry on neurobehavioral phenotyping of mice. Harry’s former student Steven Szabo, M.D., Ph.D., who is now a psychiatry resident at Duke University, also gave a platform presentation and presented a poster based on his work with Harry on the potential therapeutic benefits of lithium for trimethyltin neurotoxicity.

By Ernie Hood - December 2011

(Ernie Hood is a contract writer for the NIEHS Office of Communications and Public Liaison.)

http://www.niehs.nih.gov/news/newsletter/2011/december/science-neurotox27/