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Your Rights and Advocacy

Your Rights & Advocacy video Advocate for your rights. There are many agencies in Illinois that assist individuals with disabilites  If you have accessibility issues or have experienced discrimination, locate resources to help you resolve these problems.

Select a title below to learn about:
- Illinois and Federal Agencies That Provide Information
- Learn About the Rights of a Person with Disabilities
- Rights of Individuals with Disabilities Under the ADA


Do you have questions about disability rights and advocacy?
Click on topics below for more information:

Disability Rights and Advocacy Resources

Illinois and Federal Agencies That Provide Information

Contact local, state and federal agencies that provide information and assistance to individuals with disabilities.
  • The Client Assistance Program (CAP) External link opens in a new window helps people with disabilities receive quality services by advocating for their interests and helping them identify resources, understand procedures, resolve problems, and protect their rights in the rehabilitation process, employment, and home services.

Learn About the Rights of a Person with Disabilities

Learn about the rights of a person with disabilities, and make sure they are respected.
  • American Association of People with Disabilities the country's largest cross-disability membership organization, organizes the disability community to be a powerful voice for change – politically, economically, and socially.
  • Illinois Accessibility Code External link opens in a new window - intended to ensure that the buildings and facilities in the State of Illinois, are designed, constructed, and/or altered to assure the safety and welfare of all members of society and to be readily accessible to, and usable by, environmentally limited persons.
  • Illinois Disability Rights Bureau (Attorney Generals Office) External link opens in a new window
  • Illinois Pro Bono: Assisting services and technology resources External link opens in a new window - The Bureau resolves accessibility and discrimination violations impacting the people of the state of Illinois through negotiation and litigation.
  • Legal services for people with disabilities External link opens in a new window are provided by Equip for Equality. They provide resources on a variety of disability related concerns, including information on:
    • how to seek individual assistance with disability-related rights issues,
    • legislation and public policy that impacts the disability community,
    • training to help you advocate for your own disability rights in a variety of circumstances,
    • ensuring that people with disabilities remain safe in the wide variety of settings where they live and work.
    • Provided by Illinois Work Incentives Planning and Assistance (WIPA) Program.
  • The PABSS Program External link opens in a new window can assist you in accessing services, supports, and accommodations you may need to work. As you decide to return to work, you may also need advocacy or legal assistance with return-to-work issues.

Rights of Individuals with Disabilities (ADA)

Learn about the rights of individuals with disabilities under the American with Disabilities Act (ADA).
  • Americans with Disabilities Act External link opens in a new window (ADA) home page provides information about the public accommodation provisions under Title III of the ADA.
  • ADA Design Standards and Technical Assistance Program External link opens in a new window information can be found on the ADA website. The site gives information and links to U.S. Federal Agencies with ADA Responsibilities.
  • Employment discrimination? External link opens in a new window The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) enforces employment cases under Title I of The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and other employment discrimination cases.
  • Guide to Disability Rights Laws External link opens in a new window A 21-page booklet that provides a brief overview of ten Federal laws that protect the rights of people with disabilities and provides information about the federal agencies to contact for more information. (Spanish, Cambodian, Chinese, Hmong, Japanese, Korean, Laotian, Tagalog and Vietnamese editions available from the ADA Information Line. External link opens in a new window
  • How to File Workplace Violation Complaints External link opens in a new window with regards to individuals with disabilities. You may also call theADA Information Line External link opens in a new window to ask about filing a complaint with the Department of Justice, and to order forms that can assist you in providing information about the violation.
  • Illinois ADA Project External link opens in a new window whose goal is to educate, enrich, and enlighten the people, businesses, and organizations of Illinois regarding the ADA.
  • The Great Lakes ADA and IT Center is a great resource for ADA information. The website contains numerous resources and the IT Center offers numerous learning opportunities.
 
 

Local Information

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  • Statewide Interest
    COBRA Premiums Reduced
    RECOVERY.GOV Logo COBRA offers group health coverage to laid off workers. The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act results in a 65% reduction in COBRA premiums for eligible individuals for up to nine months. Learn more about qualifiying for COBRA External link opens in a new window benefits.


  • Health Benefits for Workers with Disabilities
    HBWD logo HBWD is a state medical program to let individuals with disabilities go to work and not have to worry about healthcare. You can have monthly income up to $3,195 per month and still get full healthcare benefits with low co-pays. Visit www.hbwdillinois.com External link opens in a new window

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Illinois workNet Centers are an equal opportunity employer/program. At Illinois workNet Centers, auxiliary aids and services are available upon request to individuals with disabilities. All voice telephone numbers on this website may be reached by persons using TTY/TDD equipment by calling TTY (800) 785-6055 or 711.