Key Legislative Victories
- Equip for Equality secured the introduction and passage of laws restricting the use of restraint and seclusion in state-run institutions
- Legislation supported by Equip for Equality provided greater protections against abuse and neglect for people with disabilities living in state-run institutions, nursing homes, and community-based facilities.
- Equip for Equality secured passage of legislation that improved the access of adults with disabilities to the protections of the Illinois Domestic Violence Act.
- Equip for Equality led the advocacy effort for the creation of a state system to provide intervention services for adults with disabilities who are victims of domestic abuse and neglect.
- State legislation to protect students with disabilities against the abusive use of seclusion and restraints was passed as a result of Equip for Equality's advocacy efforts.
- Nursing homes are required to provide mental health services to residents with mental illness as a result of legislation that Equip for Equality supported.
- Equip with Equality worked with family groups to secure a change in the law to ensure that service recipients whose communication rights are restricted by a facility have the right to have the affected parties notified.
- Legislation was secured through Equip for Equality efforts to require facilities to notify a designated person, the Guardianship and Advocacy Commission or Equip for Equality of any rights restriction, or the use of restraint if the recipient of services so chooses.
- Equip for Equality successfully secured passage of legislation that increased the due process protections for individuals taken into custody by law enforcement officers to transport them to a mental health facility for an involuntary mental health examination.
