Press Releases
2011
December 20, 2011--Landmark Consent Decree Expands Opportunities for Nursing Home Residents with Disabilities
October 11, 2011--National Report Reveals Lethal Consequences of Restraint Used on People with Disabilities
August 30, 2011--Nursing Home Residents with Disabilities Celebrate Proposed Agreeement with State in Landmark Lawsuit
June 15, 2011--Court Approves Landmark Agreement Expanding Community Living Opportunities for People with Developmental Disabilities in Illinois
May 4, 2011--Class Action Fights for Critical Accommodations for Deaf and Hard of Hearing Prisoners in Illinois
January 11, 2011--Landmark Agreement Will Expand Community Living Opportunities for People with Developmental Disabilities in Illinois
2010
August 24, 2010--Illinois Appellate Court issues a precedent setting decision regarding the rights of students with disabilities who use service animals in their schools.
August 17, 2010--Special Olympics Illinois and Community High School District 94 unlawfully exclude student with disabilities
July 23, 2010--Governor Quinn signs Brian's law establishing a mortality review process to prevent injuries and deaths of people with disabilities.
2009
November 18, 2009--Scathing Report by U. S. Department of Justice: Howe Center Guilty of Broad Constitutional Rights Violations. Report Confirms Equip for Equality Findings--Howe Must Close
August 12, 2009--Equality for Kids Campaign
Succeeds Despite Economic Crunch
April 16, 2009--Illinois School District Invests Millions to Remedy Longstanding ADA Violations That Prevented Access for Disabled Dad. District 211 Implements Systemic Accessibility Changes After Equip for Equality Files Complaint with U.S. Department of Education.
March 2, 2009--Death of Howe Resident, previously investigated by Equip for Equality, leads to wrongful death lawsuit against the State. Family of Kenneth Kasprak files suit decrying his easily preventable death, as Equip for Equality renews call for closure o f Howe.
February 10, 2009--Investigators report five additional deaths, continued negligence at Howe, but Illinois' politics stalls institutions closure
2008
December 3, 2008--TCF Bank to Install Talking ATMs and Enhance Other Services for Customers with Visual Impairments
November 13, 2008--People with Developmental Disabilities Celebrate Agreement with State of Illinois in Landmark Suit
September 5th, 2008--Equip for Equality Calls on Governor to Pledge Full Funding To Ensure Quality Services for People with Disabilities Following Closure of the Howe Developmental Center and the Tinley Park Mental Health Hospital
September 5th, 2008--Disability Group Applauds State for Decision to Close Howe Developmental Center
June 30th, 2008--Young Man with Severe Disabilities Wins Right to Services from State Enabling Him to Live at Home (Word document)
2007
August 22, 2007--Illinois Residents Sue State Officials for Violating Americans with Disabilities Act, Failing to Provide Community Services
May 31, 2007--Public Invited to Voice Opinions on Disability Rights Issues
March 8, 2007--Equip for Equality Urgently Calls for Closure of Dangerous State-Run Institution for People with Disabilities Following Additional
Deaths
February 15, 2007--Statewide Disability Organizations Call for Closure of Substandard Facility for People with Disabilities
February 8, 2007--Disability Rights Organization Opens Office in Carbondale
2006
November 20, 2006--Federal Court Advances Challenge to
Illinois Policy Warehousing Residents with Mental Illnesses
November 3, 2006--Veteran of Gulf War Sues Commonwealth Edison for Discriminatory Discharge
June 22, 2006--Education Advocates Demand That Chicago Stop
Special Education Budget Cuts
May 8, 2006--State Withholds Funding for Lincoln Developmental Center
April 26, 2006--Federal Court Asked to End Isolation of Illinois Residents with Mental Illnesses
March 27, 2006--Equip for Equality Calls on Federal Government to Withhold Medicaid Funding for Lincoln Developmental Center
March 13, 2006--Federal Judge Gives Green Light to Class Action Seeking Community Services for People with Developmental Disabilities in Illinois
March 2, 2006--Federal Discrimination Lawsuit Ends with Acceptance of Man with HIV Into Lambs Farm Program
2005
December 15, 2005--Equip for Equality Applauds CTA Decision to Reverse Proposed Paratransit Fare Hike
December 2, 2005--Equip for Equality Salutes Mayor Daley For Supporting People with Disabilities By Opposing CTA Paratransit Fare Hike and Proposing Increase In Wheelchair-Accessible Taxi Requirement
September 27, 2005--Lambs Farm Sued for Excluding Man Because of HIV-Positive Status
July 28, 2005--Illinois Residents Sue State for Violating Americans with Disabilities Act, Failing to Provide Community Services
May 2, 2005--LaSalle Bank Corporation to Offer Improved Services for Persons Who Are Blind or Visually Impaired
February 25, 2005--Equip for Equality Calls for the Closure of the Choate Developmental Center
2004
October 27, '04--Equip for Equality to Provide Election Day Help Line for Voters with Disabilities
September 1, '04--Professor with Disability Reinstated to City Colleges of Chicago
June 22, '04--Leading Disability Organizations Call on Gov. Blagojevich to Stop Segregating People with Disabilities
May 17, '04--U.S. Supreme Court Upholds Right of Court Access under the ADA
March 10, '04--Equip for Equality to Provide Election Day Helpline for Voters with Disabilities
March 8, '04--Appellate Court Overturns the State of Illinois' Denial of Community Disability Services
2003
November 7, '03--Equip for Equality Files Suit Against the City of Aurora for Discriminatory Discharge of Firefighter with Diabetes
August 28, '03--Inhumane and Dangerous Conditions Plagued Social Service Agency for People with Developmental Disabilities
August 12, '03--Lawsuit Alleges Civil Rights Violations in Cook County Jail
July 8, '03--Equip for Equality Achieves Settlement in Wrongful Death Lawsuit Against Developmental Disability Facility
May 22, '03--Attorney Takes Helm of Social Security Employment Project for Disability Rights Organization
May 14, '03--Matson Public Library Moves to Accessibility for Patrons with Disabilities
May 14, '03--New Board Chair Michael Parks Leads Equip for Equality Into Era of Growth and Change
March 11, '03--Equip for Equality Awarded Federal Grant to Support Individuals with Traumatic Brain Injury
March 5, '03--Equip for Equality Opposes Lowering of Involuntary Commitment Standard Under Illinois Mental Health Code as Proposed in General Assembly
March 3, '03--Equip for Equality Wins Important Mental Health Victory in Guardianship Case
February 18, '03--Kennedy-King College Denies Tenure to Teacher with Disability and Terminates Employment
February 17, '03--Free Training Seminars on Disability Rights
January 28, '03--Equip for Equality Files Lawsuit Against National Airport Food Service Provider for Employment Discrimination Under the ADA
2002
April 23, '02--Equip for Equality Obtains Consent Decree in Discrimination Action Against Chicago Police Department
April 3, '02--Equip for Equality Wins Temporary Restraining Order in Third Discrimination Suit Against Chicago Police Department
Feb. 21, '02--Equip for Equality Files Third Lawsuit Against Chicago Police Department for Discrimination
Feb. 8, '02--Equip for Equality is New Resource for Illinois Social Security Beneficiaries
Feb. 4, '02--Equip for Equality Response to Gov. Ryan's Press Release on Lincoln Developmental Center
Jan. 10, '02--Statement of Zena Naiditch Regarding Lincoln
2001
Dec. 4, '01--Equip for Equality Again Presses for Closure of Lincoln Developmental Center
Nov. 6, '01--Equip for Equality Urges Governor to Close State Facility for Ongoing Abuse and Neglect of Residents
Oct. 1, '01--Equip for Equality Goes to Bat For Chicago Police Officer with Cancer Barred From Work
Aug. 8, '01--Adult Guardianship Reform is Topic at Free Symposium
July 17, '01--CTA Riders With Disabilities Gain Equal Access in Settlement of Class Action Lawsuit
June 19, '01--Settlement Reached in Lawsuit Against City of Chicago by Police Officer with Disability
May 21, '01--New Report on Use of Physical Restraints in IL State Hospitals
May 10, '01--ADA Lawsuit Against CTA by People with Disabilities Goes to Trial
April 18, '01--U.S. Department of Justice Files Amicus Brief in ADA Lawsuit
Mar. 23, '01--New Report on Adult Guardianship in Illinois
2000
Oct. 24, '00--Equip for Equality Files Wrongful Death Suit
July 13, '00--Equip for Equality Represents Plaintiff under Rehabilitation Act
Feb. 08, '00--People With Disabilities Sue Chicago Transit Authority
