Ray Graham Association

05/21/2026

💙 We're so grateful to the LaGrange Highlands Woman's Club for choosing RGA as their Charity of the Year! Thanks to the leadership and the creativity of club members, they've invested $10,000 in our mission.

From garage sales to Super Bowl soup fundraisers to craft fairs, this dedicated group found so many ways to support their neighbors with disabilities. Their partnership means more opportunities for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities to reach, grow, and achieve.

Thank you, LGHWC, for believing in our mission and working so hard to make a difference!

05/19/2026

GOOD NEWS: The 2026 Robert F. Spahn Memorial Golf Classic raised $133,965 (and counting...) for people with disabilities across the Chicago suburbs, exceeding our goal by 20%!

When the state covers the basics, that means 20% more:
🏠 Community-based homes where people make their own choices;
🔑 Skills and behavioral health support that change the trajectory of a life;
🪪 Careers that give people dignity, purpose, and financial independence; and
⛳ Recreation and horsemanship that build strength, confidence, and belonging.

To our sponsors and investment-minded partners, thank you for making a real difference.

05/18/2026

The course is ready and the sun is coming up. Let’s go, RGA Golf Classic!

05/13/2026

This year's RGA Golf Classic raffle prize is something special.

One winner takes home the Tiffany T True crystal decanter and two double old-fashioned glasses, paired with a handpicked spirits collection including Hayman's Old Tom Gin, Weller Special Reserve Bourbon, Wheatley Vodka, Worthy Park Single Estate Reserve Jamaican Rum, and Siete Leguas Reposado Tequila.

Donated by Tiffany & Co. at Oakbrook Center and Colin Diamond of Mathys & Schneid Personal Injury Lawyers.

🎟️ Get your tickets: 1 for $30, 2 for $50, or 5 for $100. Even if you can't golf this year, you can still buy tickets and win! https://one.bidpal.net/gc26/browse/featured(details:item/3)

05/11/2026

⚠️ A new study from the University of East Anglia found that 41% of autism videos and 52% of ADHD videos on TikTok share information not backed by clinical evidence.

Why does this matter? Many young people and families turn to social media to understand their experiences and find support. Unfortunately, when misinformation spreads, it can delay care and reinforce stigma.

If you or someone you love is navigating a neurodevelopmental condition, your healthcare professionals and organizations that specialize in I/DD work are the best source of reliable information. 💙

New research finds that a significant number of videos about ADHD, autism, and various mental health conditions on social media platforms like TikTok are misleading or inaccurate.

05/05/2026

📞CALL TODAY: Our self-advocates are attending the They Deserve More Action Day in Springfield, and you can join the effort from home.

Direct Support Professionals deserve fair wages, and people with disabilities deserve a stable . The Governor's proposed 60¢/hr increase is a start, but we're urging legislators to get as close as possible to the $1.20/hr goal set by the state in 2020.

Make your voice heard in just a few minutes using the click-to-call tool to reach 6 key legislators: www.theydeservemore.com/take-action/

Make the call!

Advocate for people with disabilities and Direct Support Professionals by contacting state legislators. Our goal is to increase DSP wages in the upcoming state budget.

Tell legislators:
📈 The proposed 60¢/hr DSP wage increase is a good start
➡️ Urge them to go further and get as close as possible to a $1.20/hr increase
💰 Support fair pay for DSPs and better staffing for people with disabilities

Every call makes a difference!

Make your calls in just a few minutes using the click-to-call tool to reach 6 key legislators:
🔗 www.theydeservemore.com/take-action/

04/27/2026

Family caregivers are holding up a system millions of Americans depend on every day.

A new report from AARP found that family members and friends provide nearly 50 billion hours of mostly unpaid care annually for people with disabilities and complex medical conditions. That work is valued at more than $1 trillion...more than all Medicaid spending combined.

We see families showing up with love, dedication, and resilience. And they also show up exhausted and stretched thin.

That's why the work of expanding real, community-based support and paid professional care matters so much in 2026 and beyond!

Family and friends provide billions of hours of mostly unpaid care for adults with disabilities and other conditions across the U.S. A new report finds the value of such care tops all Medicaid spending.

04/25/2026

🫶 As we round out , we want you to meet one of the hundreds of volunteers who show up for the RGA community.

🫶 Cathy Lomasney started volunteering with RGA because of her brother Tom, who lives in one of our community-based homes.

🫶 What began as a sister's love has grown into something that touches every corner of our organization: weekly Bingo sessions that fill the room, personal calls to families during critical advocacy moments, and years of steadfast support for our fundraising events.

🫶 Check out Cathy's full story online at

This National Volunteer Week, meet Cathy Lomasney: an 11-year RGA volunteer whose dedication to her brother Tom has grown into a decade of advocacy, community building, and showing up for everyone we serve.

04/14/2026

𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 "✅ 𝗗𝗼𝗻𝗲!" 𝘄𝗵𝗲𝗻 𝘆𝗼𝘂'𝘃𝗲 𝗺𝗮𝗱𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝘃𝗼𝗶𝗰𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘃𝗮𝗹𝘂𝗲𝘀 𝗵𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗱! Illinois legislators are hearing testimony on HB 4969 this Thursday, April 16, and we need your voice. This bill supports the Governor's proposed budget, including a 60-cent/hour DSP wage increase and key I/DD funding priorities. Please submit a witness slip as a proponent before Thursday morning.

Welcome to the Official government website of the Illinois General Assembly

04/13/2026

Early each year, Chicago hosts free museum days, and our CLS teams made the most of every single one! 🦋

From the Field Museum to Shedd Aquarium, the Adler Planetarium, and the Griffin Museum of Science and Industry, the people we support spent the month exploring, discovering, and soaking it all in alongside their neighbors and community.

This is what RGA is here for. Empowering people to get out., try new things, and be a part of the city we call home.

Here's to more adventures ahead as we head into spring!