Equip for Equality

Advancing the Human & Civil Rights of People with Disabilities in Illinois

Equip for Equality: Advancing the Human & Civil Rights of People with Disabilities in Illinois
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News & Events

Equality for Kids Campaign

Equality for Kids Campaign

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

Also available in PDF format.

Donations on line can be made by clicking here.

Why?
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 of Sonnenschein Nath & Rosenthal LLP
William Von Hoene Jr. of Executive Vice President and General Counsel of Exelon,
Kevin Burke of Burke Mahoney & Wise

Two lead Campaign gifts have already been pledged.  $50,000 has already been committed by the law firm of Kirkland & Ellis.  Additionally, Sonnenschein Nath & Rosenthal has made a pledge of $75,000 ($25,000 for three years) and has also donated approximately $20,000 for the marketing and public relations for the Campaign.

Thanks to additional commitments from:
Aetna, Baker & McKenzie, Bollinger Ruberry & Garvey, Deloitte Financial Advisory Services, Dykema, FTI Consulting, McDermott Will & Emery, Northern Trust, Pugh Jones Johnson & Quandt, Schiff Hardin, Seyfarth Shaw, Sidley & Austin and U.S. Equities Realty.  

Equality for Kids Campaign co-chairs and committee members.

The current campaign runs through February of 2009

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