IL Council on Developmental Disabilities

09/04/2026

Here is another post about the 2026 Speak Up and Speak Out! Summit. Congratulations to The Arc of Illinois for hosting a smashing success. Thank you to everyone who helped organize and who supported the event. All the best to all those who attended in person and on-line. Wherever you go, whatever you do, we hope you continue to Speak Up and Speak Out! Here are a few more photos from the event.

1. TJ Gordon discussing Civic Engagement with a packed room.
2. Keynote speaker Michael Wayne O'Neill speaking and presenting flowers to The Arc of Illinois Executive Director Samantha Alloway
3. A panel talking about disaster preparedness

09/02/2026

The Speak Up and Speak Out Legislative Panel has grown quickly in popularity, participation, and engagement. The 2026 Legislative Panel included eight Illinois State Legislators and three State Agency Representatives. State Agency participation included Mariel Hamer-Sinclair, Associate Director of Program & Policy for the Illinois Council on Developmental Disabilities. These photos include Hamer-Sinclair engaging with the audience during the panel, and Bridget Brown and Tavarus Wesley introducing the panel.

09/01/2026

The 2026 Speak Up and Speak Out! Summit is now in full swing. With more than 300 people in person and hundreds more attending online, self-advocates, family members, peers, allies, support workers and more are engaging in three days of leadership and self-advocacy development. This morning, the Illinois Council on Developmental Disabilities helped kick off the day. Director Kim Mercer-Schleider and four Council members took the stage to welcome the crowd and share a little bit about the Council.

08/29/2026

Today is the 1-Year Anniversary of Diana Braun Day in Illinois. It was one year ago that Governor Pritzker issued an official proclamation in honor of Diana, declaring August 28, 2025 as Diana Braun Day in Illinois.

A part of the proclamation read, “Diana Braun has dedicated her life to advocacy, equity, and justice for people with disabilities, using her voice and lived experience to dismantle barriers and promote full inclusion.”

The Illinois Council on Developmental Disabilities is proud of Diana for this accomplishment and were thrilled when Governor Pritzker issued the proclamation as Diana transitioned off of the Council in 2025.

ICDD Director Kimberly Mercer-Schleider celebrated the anniversary today with Diana today in Springfield over ham and cheese sandwiches and a visit to Scheels.

Photo 1: Ryan Croke, First Assistant Deputy Governor for Health & Human Services at the Office of Illinois Governor JB Pritzker, delivering the Diana Braun Day Proclamation on August 28, 2025.

Photo 2: Diana Braun with ICDD Director Kimberly Mercer-Schleider.

Photo 3: Diana Braun on the big red chair at Scheels.

08/27/2026

The Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services recently published Phase 2 of its HR 1 Tool Kit.

The tool kit is designed to help people prepare for changes to Medicaid that are coming as a result of HR 1, the Federal Reconciliation Bill that was passed in 2025. Below is a link to to a flyer from the tool kit.

At this point, key takeaways from the Department of Healthcare and Family Services are:

1. Make Sure Your Medicaid Information is Up to Date (Visit Abe.Illinois.gov)

2. Pay close attention to your mail. HFS will send you a notice if you are affected by HR 1 changes to Medicaid.

Link to HR 1 Tool Kit Phase 2 Flyer:https://hfs.illinois.gov/content/dam/soi/en/web/hfs/info/fedresctr/englishhr1phase2tkflyer.pdf

08/26/2026

The Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services (HFS) is in the middle of a webinar series that covers recent and upcoming changes to Medicaid.

HFS writes that they are hosting the webinars to “help stakeholders understand upcoming federal changes to Medicaid under HR 1. These changes will begin affecting some Medicaid customers on October 1, 2026 and January 1, 2027.”

The next webinar is scheduled for Tuesday, September 15.

Below is information about the webinar:

HR1 Module 6: Common Questions and Answers Regarding Medicaid Changes
Tuesday, September 15, 2026
1:00 PM - 2:00 PM (Central Time)

Here is a registration link for the webinar:

08/24/2026

The Protect Our Care Coalition is hosting a free virtual conversation on September 16, 2026.

What:

Community Conversation, HR1 and Illinois Medicaid: Navigating the Changes Ahead

When:

📅 Tuesday, September 16, 2026
🕐 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM CST

Where:

💻 Virtual (Zoom Webinar)

This conversation will cover:

• What's changing with Illinois Medicaid because of HR1

• How these changes could impact Illinoisans who rely on Medicaid

• Practical steps you can take to help reduce harm to your clients, patients, and community members

Please Register at this Link: https://aidschicago-org.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_m15AsXVVSfW16BwtsJJDNQ #/registration

08/23/2026

The Human Services Research Institute and the Grassroots Project are inviting people involved in grassroots advocacy to complete a survey called “Views on Organizing, Influence, and Coalition Engagement (VOICE).”

The survey is designed to will help the project “understand the impact of grassroots advocacy and learn from the experiences of people working to make change in their communities.” This survey will be open through August 24. Here is a link to the survey: https://qualtricsxm6vjvbs97z.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_1XqoNJOvqmoGcJg

08/17/2026

ICDD Funding Announcement: The Illinois Council on Developmental Disabilitiesis proud to announce three new investments designed to strengthen self-advocacy, increase access to participation, and expand community-based housing opportunities for people with developmental disabilities and their families.

The investments include the following:

2027 Speak Up and Speak Out Summit
Consumer Stipend Project
Supportive Housing Pipeline Project

Please Follow the Link and Learn More:

The Illinois Council on Developmental Disabilities is proud to announce three new investments designed to strengthen self-advocacy, increase access to participation, and expand community-based housing opportunities for people with developmental disabilities and their families.

08/14/2026

This information below is from from an email communication shared by The Arc of Illinois

Social Security: With You Through Life’s Journey

An event presented by Illinois Life Span and the Family-to-Family Health Information Center
August 18, 2026
12:00 - 1:00 PM
Virtual: Zoom

Have questions about Social Security? Learn how to apply for disability benefits, understand Supplemental Security Income (SSI) eligibility and reporting requirements, use online services, and discover other programs that may support you or your family.

Register at this Link:

Speakers: Josephine Mueller and Megan Forristall, Public Affairs Specialists, Social Security Administration. Social Security Disability Benefits Everything you need to know. A FREE workshop from Social Security. • Information about disability benefits and the disability application process. • H...