Fw: Life - Living with Independence, Fairness, & Equality! Fund Critical Services for People with Disabi

[Guest guest]

FYI

Ellen

Ellen Garber Bronfeld

egskb@...

Life - Living with Independence, Fairness, & Equality! Fund Critical

Services for People with Disabi

Family Support Network Members and Friends. . ..

These are extraordinarily difficult times. What an understatement.

The State of Illinois is in the process of imploding essential services for our

most vulnerable citizens, adults and children with significant disabilities.

· Whole programs are being wiped out with the stroke of a budget pen.

· Almost twenty one thousand adults and children with developmental

disabilities wait for essential services on the PUNS database.

· Adults and children with disabilities are forced to live far from

family and friends, in unnecessarily expensive settings that segregate them from

their communities.

· Rates for remaining services that were abysmal in the 1980’s, have

not even begun to keep up with inflation, now face a 6% decrease.

· Our providers of service, who often wait months to be paid in the

best of times, are now being told that they will be forced to wait six months

for payment! Many will simply be forced out of business.

As I travel around the state, advocates struggle to figure out how to respond

… again.

Fighting for services is something we do only because it has to be done; not

because we want to, not because we are called to do it. Our skill and experience

levels are all over the map. We’re scattered from each other. We find it

difficult to catch a rhythm, act in concert, or sustain our momentum.

We need to take our efforts to another level. The Arc of Illinois and the Family

Support Network are excited to announce the…

“LIFE! Living with Independence Fairness and Equality Campaignâ€

The Arc of Illinois Board of Directors, made of up self-advocates and family

members, is investing in the professional services of Morreale Public Affairs

Group. The advantages are huge. Professional help will help us design a strong

core message, powerful materials, and a meaningful plan that will strategically

use our time, our energies, the press, and social media to educate Illinoisans

as we fight to preserve and enhance critical services for people with

disabilities in Illinois . With the help of this campaign, local advocates will

have the materials and resources to take their advocacy to the next level,

knowing that their efforts are being supported and replicated all around the

state.

Work is already underway….

We are at a pivotal point in the lives of people with disabilities in Illinois.

Much work is left to be done. Not all will be easily visible. Below is a

beginning framework. Please join us.

Our tentative timelines. Remember we must be flexible!

Week of April 4th

Create the “LIFE-Fund-Critical-Services-for-People-with-Disabilitiesâ€

Facebook page - Don’t forget to “like usâ€!

Introduce our “Record A Day in My Life’ video strategy

Introduce the electronic petition drive

Introduce “LIFE!†community signs effort

Week of April 11th

Hold an introductory press conference in Springfield

Provide “Letter to the Editor†templates

Advocates make appointments with their legislators for District Lobby Week.

Materials will be provided!

“How to Hold a Successful Meeting with Your Legislator†Webinar – Hosted

by Charlotte Cronin

Week of April 18th

District Lobby Week! Visits with our legislators in their home districts.

Legislative Visit “Thank You Notes†– what did our mothers teach us?

Local editorial board meetings happening throughout the state

Weeks of April 25th – May 30th

Proposed Subject Matter Hearing in House and/or Senate

Hold a legislative breakfast in Springfield

Possible Lobby Day in Springfield – to be announced

Morning TV Shows

Take part in various calls to action and follow-up outreach to legislators

Deliver Petitions to Governor Quinn

How can YOU help?

Please look for volunteer opportunities and campaign updates in the coming

weeks. A comprehensive campaign kit will be available to enable you to easily

volunteer and be a key part of the campaign. The kit will include talking

points, fact sheets, sample letters to the editor, “Living with Independence

Fairness and Equality†press releases and scripted messaging for when you meet

with legislators and reporters.

Our true strength will be our constant outreach so we become easily recognized

by the media, legislators and advocates. Thank you in advance for your

continued support and participation!

DONATE!!

Two weeks ago I set my husband down and told him there may never be a more

critical or strategic donation we can make in support of ’s life than to

this campaign. I truly believe that our services could be de-constructed over

the next two months. We made a donation that stretched our budget.

Other families have made the same commitment. I challenge you to do the same.

All of us have different resources. Give what you can. Give til it hurts just a

little. For PETE’S sake make a donation in support of this campaign. You can

do it using your credit card at this button.

Thank you, thank you, thank you…. Charlotte

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As always, let us know if you don’t want to be included in future

informational Family Support Network e-mails. We’ll be glad to take you off

our lists. Just reply to this e-mail with REMOVE in the subject line.

On the other hand, if you appreciate the work of the Family Support Network and

The Arc of Illinois in these difficult times, please become a member! Here’s a

link to our membership brochure. We NEED you!

http://www.familysupportnetwork.org/miscellaneous%20pdfs/2009%20Membership%20Bro\

chure.pdf