NAPERVILLE, Ill. – A new law sponsored by state Rep. Janet Yang Rohr, D-Naperville, will better connect parents and guardians of students with developmental disabilities with state resources.

“It is crucial that students with developmental disabilities and their families are aware of the resources and state services available to them,” said Yang Rohr. “The state’s Prioritization of Urgency of Need for Services database, or PUNS list, is a critical tool that parents of children with developmental disabilities can enroll in to be alerted when there is state funding, services or support that is available to them. While some schools may already be informing parents of the PUNS list, a new law we passed will ensure that all eligible families are made aware.”  

Yang Rohr sponsored House Bill 290, which requires school districts to provide parents and guardians of a student with developmental disabilities with the Department of Human Services (DHS) guide on services in the PUNS database, including eligibility and enrollment and other frequently asked questions. The DHS guide is also available for download at https://www.dhs.state.il.us/OneNetLibrary/27897/documents/Brochures/4313.pdf. Yang Rohr’s bill passed both the Illinois House or Representatives and the Senate with overwhelming bipartisan support and was recently signed into law by the governor.

“Trying to get services for children with developmental disabilities can be daunting and onerous, but Illinois’ PUNS list is a tool that can help streamline the process,” said Yang Rohr. “I am proud to have sponsored this measure that will ensure that every school district in the state is connecting students and parents with helpful resources, removing a burden for many families with developmentally impaired children.”

CRYSTAL LAKE, Ill. – State Rep. Suzanne Ness, D-Crystal Lake, recently helped pass two bills that work to remove certain barriers that students with developmental disabilities and their families face.

“Illinois has a multitude of resources available to children with developmental disabilities and their families, but some parents may not be aware of the resources that are available to them,” said Ness. “The PUNS database registers individuals who want or need developmental disability waiver services, and while many schools already provide families with information on how to register with PUNS, legislation we passed will ensure that this is occurring across the board, so that all eligible children can receive necessary services.”

Ness co-sponsored House Bill 290, which requires school districts to provide notification to the parent of a student with an individualized education program (IEP) that the student may be eligible to receive additional specified services, benefits or resources through PUNS. Ness’ bill was recently signed into law by the governor.

Since coming in to office, Ness has been a strong advocate for students with developmental disabilities and their families. This session, she introduced House Bill 2748, which would allow students with disabilities who aged out of their transition programs during the pandemic and missed crucial in-person activity, to extend their IEP into the next school year. The bill passed both the Illinois Houses of Representatives and Senate with overwhelming bipartisan support and was recently signed into law by the governor.

“COVID-19 has been tough on all students, however for students with disabilities and their families, it has been especially devastating,” said Ness. “As we slowly emerge from the pandemic, we must take a look at where children and adults with disabilities may have been especially affected by the pandemic and work diligently to connect them with resources that they need.”

SCHAUMBURG, Ill. – Continuing her advocacy for those with developmental disabilities, state Rep. Michelle Mussman, D-Schaumburg, recently supported a bill that would increase cost-of-living allowances at the same rate of their social security income.

“Right now, the amount of money people are given to spend for a month is incredibly limiting,” Mussman said. “Because some individuals with developmental disabilities are unable to work, the only money they have coming in is from social security and their personal needs allowance.  By placing financial restraints on these individuals, we are restricting their freedom. This legislation would help ease those restraints and have a better quality of life.”.”

The Mussman-backed House Bill 2815 would increase the personal needs allowance provided to those living in a Community-Integrated Living Arrangement or an Integrated Care Facility for the Developmentally Disabled at the same rate as their social security income.

“By giving more of an allowance to the people living in community-integrated living facilities, we are encouraging them to be more active participants in the local economies and allowing them to live more freely and independently,” Mussman said. “This bill will have a positive effect on the individuals living in these arrangements and the communities that they are a part of.”

AURORA, Ill. – To help local families access critical services, state Rep. Stephanie Kifowit, D-Oswego, will host a Developmental Disabilities Resource Forum next Thursday, August 15 at 6 p.m. at the Aurora Library – Eola Branch, located at 555 South Eola Road. 

“Throughout my tenure as a state representative, I have heard from many individuals who have loved ones with special needs, and time and again they are struggling with the system that is in place” said Kifowit. “Next Thursday, we will be hosting a resource forum to highlight some of the services available to residents with developmental disabilities and their families; but also to try and provide guidance for those needing help.”

The Developmental Disabilities Resource Forum is a a featured event of Kifowit’s Third Thursday series, when she hosts an event free and open to everyone every third Thursday of the month. This August event, Kifowit will welcome Mariel Hamer from the Illinois Council on Developmental Disabilities, Kathy Ward from the Illinois Department of Human Services and Patti Boheme from Little Friends to discuss state and local resources available for people with developmental disabilities. This event is free and open to the public.

“I encourage anyone who has questions about providing for their disabled loved ones to come by our event next Thursday.,” said Kifowit. “Unfortunately the system is not user friendly, but my hope is that attendees can connect with resources or information that can help them.”

For more information about the event, or to RSVP, please contact Kifowit’s full-time constituent office at 630-585-1308 or email RSVP@ILDistrict84.com.

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – To address locally disadvantaged persons struggling with developmental disabilities, State Reps. Jay Hoffman, D-Swansea, and LaToya Greenwood, D-East St. Louis, are advancing legislation to reform the grant process for the Developmental Disabilities Services of the Metro East (DDSME).

“It is clear that we need to overhaul the grant awarding process to ensure that those with developmental disabilities have a seat at the table, particularly in our area which has fallen on the list of priorities,” Hoffman said. “This bill is an attempt to guarantee that the appropriate institutional resources are in place to elevate the representation of our community’s most vulnerable residents.

In the summer of 2018, the Division of Developmental Disabilities (DDD) announced its plan to award grants on a competitive basis and subsequently reduced the number of service agencies under its discretion. The Developmental Disabilities Services of the Metro East (DDSME) lost its standing as a result of its inability to meet new requirements set forth by the Division of Developmental Disabilities (DDD).

House Bill 844 is intended to correct this inadequacy by allowing the Development Disabilities Service of the Metro East (DDSME) to be legally exempt from these newly established standards to ensure it can operate effectively on behalf of locally disabled and disadvantaged individuals.

“We cannot sit on the sidelines and allow the most vulnerable among us to lose access to a system that is designed to support their best interests,” Greenwood said. “Being a strong advocate for those who do not have a voice is one of my highest priorities.” 

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – State Rep. Fran Hurley, D-Chicago, is sponsoring legislation that would help law enforcement quickly locate missing persons living with developmental or intellectual disabilities who are believed to be at risk.

“Adults who are mentally impaired are particularly vulnerable because they can easily lose track of where they are,” said Hurley. “This legislation ensures that sufficient procedures are in place to immediately notify police when a disabled individual goes missing so that he or she can be quickly reunited with family members.”

Hurley is the chief House sponsor of Senate Bill 2265, which establishes certain protections for lost individuals with developmental or intellectual disabilities so that they can be specially recognized on the Illinois State Police’s Endangered Missing Persons Advisory (EMPA). Similar to the Amber Alert program for abducted children, the EMPA exists to provide a regional system for the rapid dissemination of information regarding a high-risk missing person.

“Not knowing the whereabouts of a loved one can be a very scary situation, and the potential dangers are amplified when that person is living with a developmental disability,” said Hurley. “To protect the safety of our most vulnerable residents, it’s critical that law enforcement is equipped to respond immediately to these missing person cases.”

For more information, please contact Hurley’s constituent service office at 773-445-8128.