The Dan Van Hecke Award

07/30/2025

We have an awesome disability Pride Parade this past weekend more updates to come soon.

07/03/2024

July 19th mark your calendar. Disability Pride open mic night

Where? 77 West Washington. At Chicago Temple.

Time. Doors open at 5:00 pm or 6:00 p.m. performance starts at 7:00pm and ends at
9:00 p.m..

We got lot Headliners who want to perform this year for the disability Pride open mic night. Hope to see you there it should be awesome.

July 20th disability Pride Parade the theme for this year's disability Pride parade is disability Pride won't be denied.

For years and years our community has been denied for several different activities events and so forth this year we're putting a stop to that by saying disability Pride won't be denied. I hope that you would come join us for the 21st anniversary of this parade which take place July 20th as always the parade kicks off at 10:00 a.m. but if you are going to be in the parade show up early and line up with your group because you don't want to show up late.

19 de julio marca tu calendario. Noche de micrófono abierto del Orgullo de la Discapacidad

¿Dónde? 77 Oeste de Washington. En el Templo de Chicago.

Tiempo. Las puertas abren a las 5:00 p.m. o 6:00 p.m. La actuación comienza a las 7:00 p.m. y finaliza a las
21:00..

Tenemos muchos artistas principales que quieren actuar este año en la noche de micrófono abierto del Orgullo para personas con discapacidad. Espero verte allí, debería ser increíble.

20 de julio Desfile del Orgullo por discapacidad el tema del desfile del Orgullo por discapacidad de este año es el Orgullo por discapacidad no se puede negar.

Durante años y años a nuestra comunidad se le han negado varios eventos de actividades diferentes y así sucesivamente, este año vamos a poner fin a eso diciendo que no se le negará el Orgullo por discapacidad. Espero que te unas a nosotros para el 21º aniversario de este desfile que tendrá lugar el 20 de julio, como siempre, el desfile comienza a las 10:00 a. m., pero si vas a estar en el desfile, llega temprano y forma fila con tu grupo. porque no quieres llegar tarde.

07/30/2018

Happy birthday Medicaid and Medicare!

On July 30, 1965, President Lyndon Johnson signed Medicare and Medicaid into law. Fifty-two years later, both programs stand as shining examples of gover...

04/18/2018

Disability advocacy and service organization breaking down barriers and serving Chicago

03/07/2018

If we want more people to attend the Disability Pride Parade, then we NEED to advocate TODAY!!!

Action Alert! Ask Congress to Pass the EMPOWER Care Act S.2227/H.R.4275 Would Help People Go Back to the Community Money Follows the Person (MFP) is a Medicaid program that has helped over 75,000 people with disabilities and seniors move out of nursing homes or institutions and back into their commu...

11/15/2017

Fight Against Attacks on People with Disabilities in Tax Reform Tax Cuts Could Mean Disability Cuts Right now, Congress is discussing an effort to lower taxes. While paying less taxes is attractive to many, the current proposal also contains a lot of things that would hurt people with disabilities a...

07/23/2017

Congratulations to Nancy Litke. She is the 2017 recipient of the Dan Van Hecke award. Stay tuned and stay aware of other potential recipients for this award in 2018.

07/17/2017

Less than a week away from the Disability Pride Parade and our Dan Van Hecke Award Recipient has been selected, notified and is ready to be amplified when they are announced. Come to the Disability Pride Parade event at Daley Plaza to find out who this year's recipient is. Program starts at noon after the Parade arrives at Daley Plaza.

06/12/2017

Hey everyone, it's that time again. Please consider your nominations of people in the Chicagoland area who excel in the following areas:
• Disability – Must be a person with a disability, a family member, friend or ally to the disability community.
• Leadership – Displays the ability to motivate and inspire others.
• Initiative – Demonstrates ability to take charge by creating or developing a local program, project, or activity that impacts the disability community.
• Creativity – Develops/proposes creative ways to accomplish goals and objectives.
• Integrity - Deals ethically in relationships. Maintains a fair, honorable and open environment.
• Empowerment - Empowers other by sharing responsibility, authority, effort, enthusiasm, information, vision, talent, and credit

Private message Scott Nance or this page for an electronic nomination form.

07/26/2016

Congratulations to Linda Hall and Barbara Tobias on receiving the 2016 Dan Van Hecke Award. Well earned. Learn more about their organization at the link listed below.

Connect to Community is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to finding and facilitating purposeful employment and enjoyment for adults with developmental disabilities. Further, in an effort to help these adults live the lives they desire and deserve within the community, we will provide person-c...