The Illinois Council on Developmental Disabilities
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The Illinois Council on Developmental Disabilities
@icdd2025.bsky.social
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We help lead change in Illinois so all people with developmental disabilities exercise their right to equal opportunity and freedom.
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Lunchtime Webinar from The Arc of Illinois: Legislative Advocacy 101

Feb 10, 2026 12 PM

The second session on the 2026 election year will focus on how to "Speak Up and Speak Out" by submitting witness slips and communicating with legislators.

Register: us02web.zoom.us/webinar/regi...
a flyer promoting a virtual webinar. The flyer includes images of three people. Two of the people with images are people who will lead the webinar. The flyer includes the title of the webinar, a decription of the webinar, the date and time of the webinar, and a registration link. The image also includes logos of the sponsoring organizations. The Webinar is February 10, 2026 at 12 p.m. Here is the registration link: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_9hPIQzJCRF2_k_k2z5J2rw#/registration
February 6, 2026 at 3:49 PM
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Thriving in Families of People with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities

Part of the TAP/IDHD/LEND Webinar Series. Strive to Thrive is a project about what helps people with IDD and their families do well.

When: 2/24/26 from 12pm to 1pm
Register: uic.zoom.us/webinar/regi...
This image is a logo for the project. The project logo includes a text description of the webinar title and it includes four individual organization and project logos.
February 3, 2026 at 9:12 PM
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Happy Year New from the Illinois Council on Developmental Disabilities. We wish everyone a safe and prosperous New Year and we look forward to working with the community in 2026!
A silver and blue hued image that says Happy New Year 2026 with streamers, hats, and disco globes in the background.
December 31, 2025 at 4:32 PM
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Happy Holidays from the Illinois Council on Developmental Disabilities. We wish you a joyous and safe holiday season and New Year.
Black-and-white winter scene showing a snowy village, evergreen trees, a stone bridge, and a lantern under a full moon
December 24, 2025 at 6:26 PM
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Through a Supportive Housing Project, Housing Navigators at Independent Service Coordination Agencies help people w/ DD find homes. This photo includes ICDD Director Kim Mercer-Schleider and former ICDD staffer Dennis Deany with Housing Navigators Janelle Napalit and Karen Edgar of Service Inc IL
four people, arm in arm, smiling and posing for a picture in an empty apartment room.
December 17, 2025 at 8:18 PM
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Congratulations to ICDD Council Member Curtis Harris (pictured in this image holding the award). On Saturday, December 6, Curtis was presented with the Self-Advocate of the Year Award at the Autism Allies Association Christmas Gala Fundraiser.
Image of a person holding a plaque up to be seen. The plaque was presented as an award. In the background is empty stage with chairs.
December 9, 2025 at 10:38 PM
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Here is a photo taken of many people at a recent Protect Our Care Retreat. "Protect Our Care – Illinois is a statewide coalition of health care advocates, providers, and consumers joining together to protect and defend Medicaid and the Affordable Care Act." www.protectourcareil.org #Medicaid #ACA
A group photo of a large group of people in an office building hallway. The photo is taken from the vantage point a few feet above the tallest person in the photo. Everyone is the photo is looking up at the camera.
November 20, 2025 at 8:59 PM
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It's 10/1! Welcome to Disability Employment Awareness Month. Here is a message from the Illinois Division of Developmental Disabilities: dhs.state.il.us/page.aspx?it...

This photo was shared with ICDD by the Happy Apple, a bakery in Oak Park, IL. #TheHappyApple
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Image of two people, standing side by side in the kitchen of a bakery, smiling for camera.
October 1, 2025 at 3:42 PM
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September 5 and 6, 2025 was the weekend of the first Illinois Partners in Policymaking Alumni Event. Graduates from classes 1-6 gathered in Bloomington, Normal, IL to bond, share updates, and collaborate. This is a group photo with all attendees.
Group photo with about 40 sitting and standing against the wall in a large meeting room.
September 15, 2025 at 9:26 PM
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September 5 and 6, 2025 was the weekend of the first Illinois Partners in Policymaking Alumni Weekend. Graduates from classes one through six gathered to touch base, bond, share updates, and prepare for the future. This photo includes some of attendees from Class One of Partners in Policymaking.
Several people gathered around a large round table. The table is inside a large meeting room. Other people, not at the table, can be seen in the background.
September 8, 2025 at 9:09 PM
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National Association of Councils on Developmental Disabilities: US Dept. of Labor is considering a rule change that would take away federal minimum wage and overtime protections from millions of home care workers. Learn more and to take action here:
nacdd.quorum.us/campaign/137...
Alt Text: image of someone who may be a direct support professional or a care giver of some type. This person is providing support to someone who may be a person with a disability. There is text on the image that reads: We Deserve Fair Wages. Act Now – protect home care workers.
August 29, 2025 at 5:15 PM
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A photo of the 2025 Chicago Disability Pride Parade Planning Committee. Photo was taken on the stage at Daley Plaza on the day of the parade, July 26, 2025. Thank you to everyone who volunteered their time to help organize and plan the event. #ChicagoDisabilityPrideParade #DisabilityPrideParade
a group of about 20 people on a stage at an outdoor plaza. The group is posing for a photograph. The members of the group are smiling.
August 4, 2025 at 3:59 PM
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Thank you to participants and supporters of the 60-Hour Medicaid Vigil last week. From Protect Medicaid Vigil Website: “We shared our stories and took action to hold our elected leaders accountable for their decision to cut our care.” Photo: Caring Across Generations Facebook Page #ProtectMedicaid
Night time on a plaza in Washington DC. In the background is the Federal Capitol Building. In the middle ground is a stage with a group of people before it. In the foreground ground are hundreds of brown paper bags illuminated by an internal light.
July 31, 2025 at 6:15 PM
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Registration NOW OPEN for 2025 Speak Up and Speak Out! Summit. Sept. 1-3, 2025. In-Person and Virtual Options. Join self-advocates, families, and supporters from across Illinois for an event where voices are heard and change begins. More Information here: www.thearcofil.org/wp-content/u...
Graphic with two people, one speaking into microphone. The other person holding the microphone and supporting the speaker. There is also information about an event in text and two logos.
July 30, 2025 at 2:36 PM
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20 Years of Speaking Up and Speaking Out. Registration open for the 2025 Speak and Speak Out Summit, September 1-3 in Bloomington, IL. Sessions cover history and the future. Check out Registration Pages for more info. thearcofil.org/wp-content/u... #SpeakUpAndSpeakOut #TheArcOfIL
row of people in folding chairs in a capitol rotunda. A few people are smiling and clapping.
July 22, 2025 at 2:52 PM
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Happy Disability Pride Month. This image is shared from the page of the National Association of Councils on Developmental Disabilities. NACDD shared this message with the image: It’s Disability Pride Month, and while we celebrate all through July, we also know that disabilities are 24/7, 365.
Alt Text:Three people, smiling and leaning in close to each other. A graphic with the colors of the Disability Pride Flag and the words "We're Here All Year."
July 10, 2025 at 7:47 PM
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For the first year ever, Crystal Lake will be hosting a Disability Pride Event. The idea behind the event came from a Class Five Illinois Partners in Policymaking Graduate. The event is on July 26, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. in downtown Crystal Lake, Illinois.
Alt text: Blue Background with the design of the Disability Pride Flag and text that reads: Disability Pride Event. Celebrating the beauty, diversity, and lived experiences of people with disabilities.” Downtown Crystal Lake July 26, 2025 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Organized by the Disability Pride Committee at HLC Therapy Group in partnership with downtown Crystal Lake.
July 9, 2025 at 8:22 PM
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Congratulations to Class 6 of IL Partners in Policymaking. They celebrated the completion of their class with a graduation ceremony on June 21. Thank you Allan and Jan Bergman of High Impact Consulting! for all your work w/ the Class. Photo from Facebook Page of Kimberly Johnson
group photo of about 20 people taken in hotel meeting room. Two people seated in front. others are standing behind the two who are seated.
June 23, 2025 at 6:14 PM
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(1 of 2) Access Living presents "Lead On" Award to Dignity in Pay Advocacy Coalition, which helped lead efforts to pass Illinois law to phase out sub-minimum wage for the disabled. In this photo, Tyson Bedford of the IL Council on Developmental Disabilities accepts the award.
Image Description: three people on a stage inside a large room at an event. Two of the people are presenting an award to the third person. The third person is holding the award and smiling.
June 13, 2025 at 3:15 PM
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Take the ICDD 5–Year State Plan Survey. The Illinois Council on Developmental Disabilities is creating a new 5-Year State Plan. We need your help to make sure the plan meets the needs of the community. The survey closes on June 13, 2025. forms.office.com/Pages/Respon...
graphic for survey and text that reads Engage Plan Transform Systems
June 2, 2025 at 8:48 PM
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Thank you to Access Living and to all the groups and individuals who turned out on May 29 for the Disability DEMO Rally to fight back against the attacks on supports, on services, and on the community. #ProtectMedicaid #FightBack #AccessLiving
A crowd of people filling a downtown Chicago plaza at a rally to support healthcare, housing, and education, and other issues for the disability community.
May 30, 2025 at 2:51 PM
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DISABILITY DEMO RALLY
It’s Time to Roll Our and Fight Back
1 pm to 3 pm, Thursday May 29
Federal Plaza, 50 West Adams, Chicago
A flyer with six images of people and groups of people with disabilities. An Access Living Logo and text that reads: Disability Demo Rally. It’s Time to Roll Out and Fight Back. Thursday, May 29, 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. Federal Plaza – 50 West Adams, Chicago
May 28, 2025 at 8:21 PM
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Disability Demo Rally -- Thursday, May 29, 1 p.m. to 3 p.m., 50 West Adams, Chicago. For information, contact ASmock@accessliving.org
Rally flyer with six images of people with disabilities, an access living logo, and text with information about rally. Here is the information: SAVE THE DATE! 1 pm to 3 pm, Thursday May 29 Federal Plaza, 50 West Adams, Chicago It’s time to BUST federal attacks on Medicaid, Social Security, housing vouchers, veteran’s services and more! Join Access Living and our partners to roll out and fight back! We’ll have a program plus open mic time. ASL Interpreters and Spanish translators provided. The rally will be on, rain or shine. Questions may be directed to Amber Smock at asmock@accessliving.org
May 27, 2025 at 7:42 PM
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Thank you all for writing notes, making calls, and attending events to protect Medicaid. Every contact and conversation mattered. At the Illinois Council and across Illinois, we will all continue to do all we can to protect Medicaid in the weeks and months ahead. #ProtectMedicaid
the backs of a group of people gathered outside the national capitol building late at late. One sign that reads "If you were doing the right thing you'd do it during the day."
May 23, 2025 at 8:04 PM
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Thanks everyone for the hard work to protect and preserve Medicaid supports for all. This includes Curtis, a Illinois Council on Developmental Disabilities Council Member. Curtis was in Washington, DC last week to bring his Medicaid Message to the US House Energy and Commerce Comm. #ProtectMedicaid
person wearing sunglasses and a shirt that says Free Our People and has a logo of a wheelchair user breaking chains above their head. Wearing a hat that says "Not Nursing Homes." Wearing a sticker that says ADAPT
May 20, 2025 at 4:36 PM