VOR’s mission is to advocate for high quality care and human rights for all people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD).
Testimony from one of our members: As a personal member of VOR, I receive national weekly news and views through an email newsletter. State-by-state articles are presented which highlight such issues as the opposition to sheltered workshops and the closure of state institutions, such as the Ann Kiley Center, etc. The information contained in these newsletters is eye-opening and serves as an educational and advocacy tool for parents and guardians. VOR lobbies nationally on behalf of individuals with significant developmental disabilities and keeps you abreast of the latest legislation. They are probably the only voice we have to fight for the right of our family members to choose to live in facilities, such as the Ann Kiley Center. I strongly encourage you to check out this organization and to consider joining it. Individuals investing in VOR through membership dues and donations will receive the Weekly E-Mail News Update, a print newsletter (The Voice) three times a year, an invitation to an Annual Conference and Initiative in Washington, D.C., Action Alerts, individual advocacy, and legislative and legal advocacy. Membership is $45.00 annually. For more information, you can contact the local office through [email protected], or by calling the toll free number (877) 399-4867. The local office’s address is: VOR, 836 S. Arlington Heights Road #351, Elk Grove Village, Illinois 60007. You can also donate or join via their web site, which is www.vor.net. ---Henrietta Reder, Friends of Ann Kiley Center, Board Member
ILADD: Illinois League of Advocates for the Developmentally Disabled The Illinois League of Advocates for the Developmentally Disabled (IL-ADD) was founded to unite the efforts of separate parents groups from State Operated Developmental Centers (SODCs) and private facilities for the care of the developmentally disabled in Illinois. As an “umbrella group” IL-ADD’s Board of Directors was composed of the presidents of the parents groups and other interested individuals. In the belief that an organization of all the people in the state of Illinois with an interest in protecting the developmentally disabled would have a stronger, more effective voice than each separate group the founding members met in Matteson, Illinois in 1993 to create the organization based on the following guiding purposes: To protect and advance the interest of the developmentally disabled in Illinois; To support new and existing legislation in aiding and benefitting the developmentally disabled; To foster the development of programs in their behalf; To encourage research on related issues; To provide a forum for discussion of problems; To develop a better understanding by the public of the developmentally disabled; To cooperate with all public, private and religious groups in the furtherance of these ends; To accept and receive funds for the accomplishment of the above purposes.
PUBLIC ACT 101-0229
Public Act 101-0229 was passed last summer and is now law. This allows cameras in the bedrooms of those individuals living in CILAs, ICFs, and SODCs in Illinois. There are several stipulations regarding this bill.
1.The video monitoring inside the bedrooms will ONLY happen with the consent from every individual residing in that bedroom. The bedrooms that are electronically monitored will be labeled as electronically monitored so those who do not reside in that room know if they enter it they are being recorded. Guardians must consent for electronic monitoring. 2. Financial aspect - The bill explicitly says the resident (guardian) wishing to electronically monitor his/her room is responsible for the cost of the equipment, installation, and monthly charges. 3. The IT person at your facility should be contacted regarding installing the camera after the person (guardian) has decided the type of camera they wish to use. 4. Please contact the facility director if you are wanting to install the equipment in the room.