Independent Living Transition for Illinois High School Students! Please support SB 1550 NOW

Senate Bill 1550 amends the Children with Disabilities Article of the School Code
by changing a section concerning IEP transition plans and services developed for students with disabilities starting when they reach age 14 ½.
 
Currently, school districts' IEP teams are required to develop IEP transition plans with measurable individualized post-secondary goals related to training, education and employment, but are only required to include independent living skills goals “where appropriate”.
 
SB 1550 would remove the words “where appropriate” so that independent living skills goals would be a required component of every IEP transition plan.
 
Why is this change critically important for students with disabilities?  

·All students with disabilities need to develop independent living skills regardless of the nature or severity of their disabilities.

·Independent living goals are at least as important as education, training and employment goals, which are mandated by law.

· Students, parents, communities and the State all benefit when a student is better prepared to live as independently as possible because after high school the student's need to rely on support from family, community and the State, while perhaps not totally eliminated, is likely to be reduced.

· The State of Illinois, with a current PUNS waiting list of over 20,000 individuals and no long or short term plan to eliminate that waiting list, needs to rely more on the educational system to assist students with independent living skills development before they exit high school.

· Independent Living Skills goals can include feeding, toileting, homemaking skills, personal financial skills, community living, leisure skills, social emotional learning and other areas of need.

Independent Living Skills as part of Transition Plans for Students with Disabilities Should NOT be left to the discretion of the IEP team. They should be required for all students.

Please support SB 1550.

For further information, please contact Tony Paulauski at 708-828-0188, Phil Milsk at 217-899-1566 or Susy Woods at 217-638-8411.

For The Arc of Illinois: http://www.thearcofil.org/

TSA Improving Security Checks to Help the Disabled | March 2013

THERE is clearly no good security purpose served in traumatizing a 3-year-old girl in a wheelchair and upsetting her parents at an airport security checkpoint. Having a security agent take away the crying child’s beloved stuffed doll while the mother records it all on her smartphone can lead to what the Transportation Security Administration, in an apology to the family, gingerly referred to as an unfortunate “incident.”

The encounter at the St. Louis airport on Feb. 9 — propelled into wide media coverage by the five-and-a-half-minute video taken by the girl’s mother — is exactly the sort of public embarrassment that the security agency says it hopes to avoid in the future. As such, the agency says it will begin aggressively promoting a new program of using specially trained officers to head off unnecessary difficulties involving security screening of travelers with disabilities.

The program has 3,000 so-called passenger support specialists who volunteer from among the agency’s work force of about 45,000 screeners. Their job is to help ensure that disabled passengers receive “the level of screening needed to make us comfortable that there is no threat or risk to aviation, but allows us to do it in a way where we can explain our processes to customers and use whatever discretions that are in our authority to make the screening experience as easy as possible for them,” said Chris McLaughlin, the agency’s assistant administrator for security operations.

The specialists receive three hours of training based on the need to step in when appropriate to “communicate effectively and respectfully with passengers with disabilities,” said Kimberly Walton, the agency’s assistant administrator for civil rights, liberties and travel engagement. Specialists at checkpoints “identify potential difficulties that passengers with disabilities and medical conditions may experience throughout screening” and “either proactively help, or resolve concerns,” she added.

The agency has been developing the program for more than a year. It was introduced quietly this year and, after the initial evaluation process, was successful. The agency says it now wants more travelers to know that it is in place. Among passengers with disabilities, “the groups that tend to get us the most mention,” Mr. McLaughlin said, are children and the aged.

“We recognize that there is a group of passengers that represents lower risk, and at the same time tends to have greater needs of us,” he added.

Under the program, specialists are called on to assist in resolving problems encountered at security checkpoints by passengers in wheelchairs, by those using medical devices like insulin pumps, and those who otherwise present physical or mental challenges. Specialists are trained to “know when the need arises” and identify passengers with special needs, or respond to calls for assistance from regular screeners, Mr. McLaughlin said.

The new initiative is tied to an existing program called TSA Cares. That is a toll-free help-line — 855-787-2227 — where assistants will provide information about security issues for those with disabilities, or will, when requested, “notify an airport in advance, so our work force is prepared when they arrive,” Ms. Walton said.

She gave an example of parents who called the help line before traveling with an autistic child who “can’t wait in a line, can’t be touched, is not good at following instructions and gets upset if there are too many lights or many sounds — all of which could trigger a really bad experience,” she said. With notice, the agency’s staff was able to anticipate that child’s needs and provide “a good experience” at security, she said.

Groups advocating for the disabled are working with the agency on the new initiative, including the Open Doors Organization and the National Disability Rights Network and organizations for the blind and those who require service animals for travel, Ms. Walton said.

The video of the child, Lucy Forck, crying in her wheelchair at a security checkpoint while her parents tried to reason with security officers demonstrated how delicate such situations can be and how quickly they can go wrong.

The incident in St. Louis involved “a relatively new officer being faced for the first time in her career with a situation of a child in a wheelchair,” Mr. McLaughlin said. The agency acknowledged that the screener had incorrectly told the parents that the child needed to be patted down and incorrectly told the mother that it was illegal for her to record the encounter.

“While she did make some advisements to the customer that were incorrect, before she actually physically did any screening she had the presence of mind to request assistance from her supervisor, and that supervisor in turn got a passenger support specialist involved, and as a result of that this child was not screened inappropriately, and the situation was explained to the parents,” Mr. McLaughlin said.

After about 20 minutes, the girl, who has spina bifida, was comforted and carried through security by her mother, while the wheelchair was routinely swabbed for explosives. The parents, Nathan Forck and Annie Schulte, later said they accepted the agency’s apology but hoped that the agency would provide better training in dealing more appropriately and respectfully with disabled passengers.

That is the goal of the passenger support program, and a reason that the agency is now promoting its availability, Mr. McLaughlin said. “Our knowing when the need arises is somewhat dependent on customers knowing that the program exists,” he said.

Article By JOE SHARKEY ; New York Times ; Published: March 4, 2013
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/03/05/business/improving-security-checks-to-help-the-disabled-on-the-road.html?_r=2&
E-mail: jsharkey@nytimes.com
A version of this article appeared in print on March 5, 2013, on page B6 of the New York edition with the headline: Improving Security Checks To Help the Disabled.

For Related Blog Posts: In the 'Search' box on the upper right, enter 'TSA'

People with Disabilities Homeowner Exemption "Cook County" Workshop, March 11, 2013

Staff from Cook County are scheduled to visit Access Living on Monday, March 11 to assist people with disabilities who are homeowners with property tax exemptions.

People with Disabilities Homeowners
Exemption Workshop

If you are a homeowner with a disability and you live in Cook County, you may be eligible for a property tax deduction. The Disability Homeowners Exemption Workshop is an opportunity to learn about the exemption and work with Cook County to fill out the necessary paperwork.

What:
Staff from the Cook County will visit Access Living on Monday, March 11. They will share information about, and assist people who would like to apply for, a Disabled Homeowners Exemption. The Disabled Persons' Homeowner Exemption provides an annual $2,000 reduction in the equalized assessed value of the property. The property must have been owned and occupied on January 1 of the assessment year by a disabled person who is liable for the payment of property taxes. The deadline to apply for the exemption is March 20, 2013. The exemption applies to homeowners with disabilities who live in Cook County.

When:
Monday, March 11, from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m.
Where:
Access Living, 115 West Chicago Avenue, Chicago, Illinois 60654

RSVP:
To participate in the event, please make a reservation.
To RSVP, and for more information, please contact Gary Arnold at 312-640-2199 voice, garnold@accessliving.org email, 312-640-2102 TTY.

To make an accommodation request, please contact Gary Arnold by Thursday, March 7.

Valor Games Success leads to additional 2013 competitions for Veterans and service members with a physical disability

In January, U.S. Paralympics, a division of the United States Olympic Committee, and the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, announced that due to the success of the 2011 and 2012 Valor Games Midwest, the competition for Veterans and service members with a physical disability has been expanded to three additional regions across the country.


Video report by Karen Meyer, Disability Issues ABC7 Chicago from August 09, 2012

Mark your calendars for these events:
Valor Games Southeast, May 21-23, in Durham, N.C.;
Valor Games Far West, June 11-13, in San Jose;
Valor Games Midwest, Aug. 12-14, in Chicago;
Valor Games Southwest in San Antonio.

"We're proud to expand this great event for veterans that World Sport Chicago has made so popular," said Chris Nowak, director, VA Office of National Veterans Sports Programs and Special Events. "By offering the competition at targeted regions across the country, we're not only making it easier for veterans to participate but also more cost-effective."

The Valor Games were established in 2011 by World Sport Chicago in partnership with U.S. Paralympics and Veterans Affairs to provide an introductory sports competition for Veterans and service members with a physical disability and to promote sports at the community level. Funding for all four of the competitions is being provided by Veterans Affairs.

For more information, including competition registration and volunteer opportunities, please visit the regional websites: www.valorgamessoutheast.com; www.valorgamesfarwest.com; www.valorgamesmidwest.com; and www.valorgamessouthwest.com. Follow the competitions through USParalympics.org.

The DeafNation World Expo 2013 - 12 Cities -March to Nov.

FOR 2014 DEAFNATION EXPO: CLICK HERE

FREE ADMISSION: EXPO – ENTERTAINMENT – WORKSHOPS

DeafNation Expo is the foremost touring trade show for, by, and about deaf people. DeafNation provides exhibitions and entertainment around the United States at no charge to the public. Our philosophy is that free admission brings a diversity of attendees who can share our culture, needs, language, and information.

The DeafNation Expo began in 2003, starting with 6 Expos. Today, DeafNation hosts 10-15 Expos annually, having attracted in excess of 800,000 attendees since.

2013 SCHEDULE
March 2: Tampa, FL
March 16: Austin, TX
March 23: Phoenix, AZ
April 6: Detroit, MI
April 20: Washington, D.C.
April 27: St. Paul, MN
May 4: Pomona, CA
May 18: San Juan, PR
Sept. 21: Rochester, NY
Oct. 12: Pleasanton, CA
Oct. 19: Portland, OR
Nov. 2: Chicago, IL

For detailed information visit: http://deafnation.com/dnexpo/

Dialysis patient on way for treatment was target of apparent robbery, 72-year-old man fatally shot on Chicago Southeast Side

William Strickland's Saturday was supposed to start like it normally did: with an early-morning trip out of his Roseland neighborhood for kidney dialysis.

But before he could reach the Pace paratransit service van waiting to take him to his 3:30 a.m. appointment, Strickland, 72, was shot and killed in an apparent robbery just outside his home on Chicago's South Side, officials said.

Two males approached Strickland in a gangway near his home in the 400 block of East 95th Street as the retired steelworker made his way to the idling van, Chicago police said.

The shots woke up some of the residents of a neighborhood that is usually quiet, they say.

"All I heard was three shots" said Theolene Shears, 84, who lives next door to Strickland.

Strickland was pronounced dead at the scene at about 4 a.m., according to the Cook County medical examiner's office. His family wouldn't comment.

Chicago police said robbery appeared to be the motive. As of Saturday evening, no suspects were in custody and the investigation continued, police said.
Neighbors said they haven't had many problems with violence or crime on the block.

"It's very quiet," Shears said. "That's what me and my husband were saying, that it is so shocking that he is gone."

Strickland had lived in the neighborhood for more than 30 years, according to neighbors. They described him as friendly and welcoming, adding that he left behind his wife, daughter and three grandchildren. The family had recently acquired a "peanut-sized" pet Chihuahua, Shears said.

"He was a good man," said Joshua Miles, 14, a friend of the family. "He always kept you laughing."

Strickland had been undergoing treatment for his kidneys for about five years and went to dialysis three times a week, Shears said. He preferred to go in the early mornings to get it out of the way, she added.

"He seemed to be very happy about it. The way he talked, it was like a little social club," said Shears, adding that he eased her own concerns about potentially having to receive the treatment.

"He was just there for us," said Shears, who has lived in the area since about 1965. "He was a very nice neighbor. We couldn't ask for a better neighbor."

Article By Naomi Nix and Peter Nickeas, Chicago Tribune reporters, March 3, 2013

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/ct-met-dialysis-patient-killed-20130303,0,6890594.story
Copyright © 2013 Chicago Tribune Company, LL

Ivy Tech Student In Wheelchair Claims College Campus Is Breaking Promise Of Accessibility

GARY, Ind. (CBS Chicago) March 1, 2013 — For Danielle Gandy-Dunn, a simple trip to class can prove almost impossible.

She says lupus and a muscle disorder have weakened her legs so much she needs a wheelchair to get around campus.

She enrolled at Ivy Tech Community College in Gary because its disability support services office promised her access, despite her physical challenges.

But that didn’t happen, she says.



“I can’t believe that something so simple as getting into a building is stopping me from being educated,” she says.

Gandy-Dunn says she told the school some of the ramps are too steep for her.

“The plan was for me to be able to come onto campus, dial the security desk and for security to come out and assist me up the ramp,” she says.

But when she arrived the first day of school, she says she sat in the parking lot begging for passersby to push her because security would not.

She complained to the school and showed CBS an emailed response from the vice chancellor stating that the issue of her getting to class from her car was never addressed.

Gandy-Dunn says that response won’t stop her from fighting for her education.

“This was supposed to be the bright and shining star moment, you know? And it turned out to be a disaster,” she says.

Ivy Tech sent CBS 2 a statement saying the college ensures the building is accessible for learning.

Gandy-Dunn says she was told having security help her is a liability issue, but she doesn’t understand why steep ramps don’t have handrails.

The U.S. Department of Education’s civil rights office is now looking into the case.

http://chicago.cbslocal.com/2013/03/01/student-in-wheelchair-claims-college-campus-is-breaking-promise-of-accessibility/

Handheld Talking Graphing Calculator for Visually Impaired

Orbit Research and APH Introduce the World's First Handheld Talking Graphing Calculator - Coming for the fall 2013 school year: A specially adapted version of the Texas Instruments TI-84 Plus calculator will transform STEM education for students who are blind and visually impaired.

Orbit Research and the American Printing House for the Blind (APH) today announced the introduction of the Orion TI-84 Plus, the world's first fully accessible handheld graphing calculator. Based on the popular TI-84 Plus model from Texas Instruments, the market-leader in calculators and educational technology, the Orion TI-84 Plus represents a breakthrough in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) education for students who are blind and visually impaired.

With the advent of the graphing calculator, mathematics educators immediately recognized its potential for improving both the efficiency and the effectiveness of mathematics instruction by using it to promote exploration, conceptual understanding, modeling and complex problem solving. Today, literally millions of graphing calculators are used in math and science classes, and are an integral part of the high-school math curriculum. The most widely adopted graphing calculators are from the TI-8x family.

However, the popularity and usefulness of graphing calculators also poses a challenge for students who are blind and visually impaired, since none of the models used in classrooms have been accessible thus far. While some specialized computer software programs for graphing exist for students who are visually impaired, it has been difficult for them to participate fully in classroom activities with other students who are using calculators such as the TI-84 Plus.

Building upon APH's vast experience in the development of educational products and Orbit Research's expertise in adapting mainstream calculators for accessibility, and its long-term partnership with Texas Instruments, the companies collaborated to develop this unique product.

"Texas Instruments is passionate about helping teachers bring math and science to life for all students and Orbit Research has helped to develop an accessible version of the TI-84 Plus for students who are blind and visually impaired," said Scott Sedberry , Strategic Business Manager for Texas Instruments Education Technology. "The identical functionality of the accessible and traditional versions of the TI-84 Plus enables students who are blind and visually impaired to use the same device as their classmates, participate in the same curriculum and take advantage of the vast knowledge-base and instructional materials that are already available for this handheld. We are very excited about the opportunities this creates in STEM education and are committed to continued efforts to level the playing field for this population of students through our partnership with Orbit Research."

The Orion TI-84 Plus consists of a compact accessory that is attached to the top of the TI-84 Plus and enables a user who is visually impaired to interact with the TI-84 Plus using speech, audio, and haptic (vibration) feedback. All textual and symbolic information on the screen, as well as each key-press is spoken using high-quality synthesized speech. Most importantly, graphs can be explored using either spoken announcements or the SonoGraph™ audio and haptic feedback. The user can also review the contents of the screen at any time, including all text and graphical information, without affecting the calculation.

The unit is fully expandable with hardware accessories through a USB port and can also print or emboss graphs when connected to a printer or braille embosser.

The Orion TI-84 Plus will be available through APH's Federal Quota Program and units will ship in time for the 2013-2014 school year.

About Orbit Research: Orbit Research develops and manufactures innovative and affordable products that enable an independent lifestyle for people who are blind or visually impaired. Founded with the mission to fulfill the urgent need for affordable assistive technology products, the company has introduced breakthrough products like the Orion Talking Scientific Calculators and the iBill Talking Banknote Identifier that define the state-of-the-art in features, functionality, convenience and cost. For more information, visit www.orbitresearch.com.

About the American Printing House for the Blind: APH, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, is the world's largest company devoted solely to researching, developing, and manufacturing products for people who are blind or visually impaired. Founded in 1858, it is the oldest organization of its kind in the United States. Under the 1879 federal Act to Promote the Education of the Blind, APH is the official supplier of educational materials for students who are visually impaired in the U.S. and outlying areas who are working at less than college level.

APH produces textbooks and magazines in braille, large print, recorded, and digital formats. APH also designs and manufactures hundreds of educational, recreational, and daily living products. For more information, visit www.aph.org.

Information by Orbit Research - Published: 2013-03-01
TI-84 Plus is a trademark of Texas Instruments, Inc. SonoGraph™ is a trademark of Orbit Research.

CTA Riders: Safety Alert (flash mobs) especially 'disabled and seniors' | 2013

Beware the Harlem Shake; all passengers should be cautious of 'flash mobs'. While we are not the only City, or this only happens on Public Transit. We that use the Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) as our transportation should be concerned of "The Harlem Shake" on our buses and trains.
-----

ABC7 Chicago report by Chuck Goudie on Feb 28, 2013 on:

February 28, 2013 (CHICAGO) (WLS) -- The latest flash-mob craze is shaking up public transportation safety concerns- on the ground and in the skies.

The Harlem Shake, the latest incarnation of the 10-year-old flash mob craze, spawned on the internet through viral videos of masked people crazy-dancing in public places. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is investigating a mid-air Harlem Shake on a Frontier Airlines jet.

The I-Team has discovered another breakout onboard a Southwest plane, during which gyrating passengers were actually led by a dancing flight attendant.

The first incident, being examined by federal authorities, occurred on Frontier Flight 157 when it was nearly-midair between Colorado and San Diego. A helmeted passenger in chartreuse shorts began dancing in the aisle. When others onboard this jetliner joined him, there was the Harlem Shake at 30,000 feet. In this case, the gyrating passengers were with a college frisbee team.

After it was posted on youtube.com, the FAA began investigating whether such conduct is unsafe for the plane and for passengers.

This wasn't the only incident of an airborne Harlem Shake. The I-Team also found another incident, dated last week, in which a flight attendant apparently started the Harlem Shake during the safety demonstration on Southwest Flight 380 out of St. Louis. Many passengers were bucking through the aisles.

During a recent investigation of violence on the Chicago transit system, the I-Team also discovered that passengers doing the Harlem Shake have taken over CTA trains and buses. Many participants, wearing odd masks or carrying unusual props, hurdled seats and passengers who chose not to join in.

Even though the CTA videos are readily available on youtube, a transit authority official says the CTA has not had any reports of the Harlem Shake. The CTA prohibits loud music and disruptive behavior, and if incidents of the Harlem Shake were reported, law enforcement would be called in.

(Copyright ©2013 WLS-TV/DT. All Rights Reserved.)
- See more at: http://abclocal.go.com/wls/story?section=news/iteam&id=9011493#sthash.Qo6Uwhg9.dpuf
-----

Below are just a few recent videos Posted on YouTube of "The Harlem Shake" on CTA trains and buses.


Published on Feb 10, 2013 by Todd Reynolds



Published on Feb 15, 2013 by Ryan Galowich
All copyrights go to Baauer for the song Harlem Shake


Published on Feb 16, 2013 by LimitsPastLithium


Published on Feb 18, 2013 by Krissy Z
Harlem Shake on Chicago CTA Bus. Public transit, People of the CTA. Life at 30. Professionals.
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There are more such video's posted on YouTube.

Whether you want to call the cops or not, this is the kind of "risk" CTA passengers face during a Harlem Shake encounter

BUT IF ANY OF THE PARTICIPANTS SHOULD FALL, PASSENGERS COULD BE INJURED.

If you are a 'Person with a Disability', or a 'Senior Citizen' and some one falls or bumps into you, there could be some serious injuries.

If you have concerns, or witness such behavior contact:
The Chicago Police : Dial 911

Chicago Transit Authority : PH 1-888-YOUR-CTA / TTY 1-888-CTA-TTY1
http://www.transitchicago.com/

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Illinois Disabled Parking Program - Important Change Update for 2013

The Illinois Secretary of State's Office is collaborating with organizations representing people in the disabled community, including the Illinois Department on Aging and the local Area Agencies on Aging advocates to assist with questions and concerns about the new program.

* Changes regarding parking at meters
* A new Unit is being established
* And Secretary of State letters to be mailed in April.

Here are the changes:

1. New Unit - Secretary of State Disabilities License Plate/Placard Unit - Formation of a new Disabilities License Plate/Placard Unit, which will handle and process all permanent placard and plate requests. The unit will be in Springfield and will be up and running by April 1, 2001.

2. Changes to Disabled Parking Program and the Need for the Aging Network to help clarify changes to our [this was blank in the original email.]

HB 5624 creates a new two-tiered parking program for persons with disabilities allowing for only persons with certain types of disabilities to qualify for meter-exempt parking in cities and municipalities.

* In addition to the current blue (permanent) and red (temporary) disabled parking placards currently used in Illinois, a third placard, distinctive from the blue and red placards, will be introduced for those persons qualifying for meter-exempt parking.

* Beginning in April 2013, the Secretary of State will start the recertification process for all current applicants by mailing information to them along with a new certification form.

* The recertification form will have a new section for the physician to execute indicating whether the applicant has a disability that would qualify them for meter exempt parking.

* Applicants will need to visit their family physician and have the recertification form executed.

* Upon receipt of the executed form, the Secretary of State's Office will issue a new disabled parking placard to the applicant. If the person has a permanent disability that qualifies for meter-exempt parking, they will be issued the new color placard. If the person has a permanent disability that does not qualify for meter-exempt parking, they will be issued a new blue disabled parking placard.

* The placards will be valid through 2018, and expire on the applicant's birthday.

* Qualification for the red (temporary disability) placard and the green (organizational) placards will remain the same; however, they will not qualify for "meter-exempt parking.

* Persons with any type of disabled parking placard will still be allowed to park in designated disabled parking spaces at malls as well as grocery and retail stores were no parking meters are present.

* The Secretary of State's Office want to work with the organizations representing people in the disabled community, including the Illinois Department on Aging and the local Area Agencies on Aging to assist with questions and concerns about the new program so they can better answer inquiries from their clients.

* For questions or more information, please contact Mary Riseling 217-524-1166 or Cynthia Grant at 217-785-3094.

* Disabled applicants may contact the Secretary of State's Disabled Placard/Plate Division at 217-782-2434, 217-782-2887, 217-782-2709 .

Types of Disabilities That Will Qualify an Applicant For Meter Exempt Parking

* Patient cannot manage, manipulate or insert coins, or obtain tickets or tokens in parking meters or ticket machines in parking lots due to the lack of fine motor control of BOTH hands.

* Patient cannot reach above his/her head to a height of 42 inches from the ground due to a lack of finger, hand or upper-extremity strength or mobility.

* Patient cannot approach a parking meter due to his/her use of a wheelchair or other device for mobility.

* Patient cannot walk more than 20 feet due to an orthopedic, neurological, cardiovascular or lung condition in which the degree of debilitation is so severe that is almost completely impedes the ability to walk.

*** Economic need will not be a consideration to qualify for meter-exempt parking
________________________________

Other updates: Jesse White Announces New Plan To Reduce The Fraudulent Use Of Disability Placards And Plates


A law proposed by White to crack down on fraud and abuse of the state's disability parking program took effect January 1st. The new law includes toughening the penalties for those who abuse a deceased person's placard or disability license plate. House Bill 5624 creates a new two-tiered parking program. Public Act 97-844 strengthens the penalty for using a placard and/or disability license plates in which the person is now deceased, which under the previous law fell under the category of general misuse of a placard or plate. The law creates a new offense for this egregious act, making it a Class A Misdemeanor, which carries a minimum one-year driver's license revocation and a $2,500 fine.


In addition, the license suspension periods for general misuse of a disability license plate or placard increases from 30 days to a six-month suspension for a first offense; from six months to a one-year suspension for a second offense as well as increasing the fine from $750 to $1,000, and from a one-year suspension to a minimum one-year revocation for a third offense. A license revocation requires the offender to meet with a Secretary of State Administrative Hearing officer at the end of their revocation period before driving privileges may be restored.


The fine for illegally using a placard or disability license plates without the authorized holder of the placard or disability license plates present is a maximum of $500. The fine for parking in an accessible parking space without a parking placard or disability license plates can be s minimum of $250 and a maximum of $350.


Secretary White urged people to report abuse of accessible parking spaces via the Secretary of State's website at www.cyberdriveillinois.com and complete the Parking Program for Persons with Disabilities Abuse Complaint Form. People can also report abuse by calling 217-785-0309.

http://www.cyberdriveillinois.com/services/persons_with_disabilities/disabilities.html

http://www.cyberdriveillinois.com/publications/disabilitypub.html