Equip for Equality

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Equality for Kids Campaign

Equip for Equality is proud to announce the launch of the fourth year of a major new legal support initiative, the Equality for Kids Campaign.

Donations can be made online by clicking here.

The scope of the unmet legal need for low-income people with disabilities in Illinois is profound.  While Equip for Equality currently handles over 50% of education cases for all low-income households statewide, it does not currently have the resources to serve all of the people in Illinois who need legal services for their children with disabilities. 

Equip for Equality launched this initiative to increase the legal services, provide access to education, and address the civil and human rights for children with disabilities.

The Campaign will raise funds to provide:

• Access to Education:
  Access to education is the most common fundamental legal right denied to children with disabilities. Without a proper education, children with disabilities are unlikely to lead independent, productive and successful lives as adults.
• Information. 
  When confronted with any of the multiple barriers that face children with disabilities, most parents of children with disabilities do not know that they have rights.
• Representation. 
  Nine out of every ten parents will lose their special education hearing without an attorney

The Equality for Kids Campaign will:

• Recruit, train and support pro bono attorneys who want to help protect Children with Disabilities.  Legal representation at school meetings, mediation, due process hearings and in court is vital to affect change.

• Staff a telephone helpline to provide legal advice, self-advocacy assistance, information and referrals;

• Provide training seminars for parents and students on issues relating to special education; and

• Develop a comprehensive, accessible website resource with easy to understand rights information for parents, teachers and others. 

Co Chairs of the Equality for Kids Campaign
Duane Quaini, former Chairman of SNR Denton
Robert Wislow, President and CEO of U.S. Equities
Kevin Burke of Burke Wise & Morrissey

Equality for Kids Campaign co-chairs and committee members

The 4th year of the Campaign runs through the end of September of 2012

List of donors from Year 3 of the Campaign

Results from Year 3 of the Campaign

Join us as a pro bono attorney, or donate.  Please contact: Barry Taylor at 312-895-7317 or barryt@equipforequality.org

Donations can be made online by clicking here.

All contributions to the Equality for Kids Campaign qualify under the Illinois Supreme Court’s Pro Bono Reporting Rule and are tax deductible.