Equip For Equality

12/20/2025

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12/10/2025

For our final Disability Rights Consortium session of the year, Equip for Equality is proud to welcome Glenda Love and Tiffany Askew from the Illinois Department on Aging’s Ombudsman Program.

Together, Glenda and Tiffany will provide an overview of the advocacy services offered by both the Home Care Ombudsman and Long-Term Care Ombudsman programs. They will discuss the scope of services, common issues they address, outcomes they have achieved, and guidance on how and when to refer individuals for support.

The session will be held via Zoom Webinar on Wednesday, December 17, from 9:30–11:00 a.m. CT. It is appropriate for both legal and non-legal advocates, and all are welcome to attend.

Reserve your spot:
https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_jflZZlDCT8GoaTBm24_ODQ

Real-time captions (CART) and ASL interpretation will be provided. Illinois attorneys who attend live are eligible to receive 1.5 CLE credits.

We hope you will join us for this important and informative session!

12/09/2025

Some of our most important work cannot be funded through state or federal grants due to rules around how those funds can be used.

That’s why unrestricted gifts from supporters like YOU are so important. They allow us to:
• Advocate for legislative or systemic changes
• Represent people when other funding streams won’t cover it
• Respond quickly to dangerous situations

Your unrestricted gift expands what’s possible.

Help ensure EFE can respond wherever we’re needed — donate today.

✳️ https://efe.app.neoncrm.com/campaigns/40th-anniversary-celebration-launch

Invite two people to give any amount today and help widen our circle of support.

12/08/2025

If you get SSI, you might need a proof of income letter (also called a benefit verification letter) when you apply for things like loans, housing help, or anything else that asks you to show your income.

The Social Security Administration just released a short video that explains how to get this letter. We encourage you to check it out!

You can also 𝗚𝗼 𝗗𝗶𝗴𝗶𝘁𝗮𝗹. If you create a personal 𝗺𝘆 𝗦𝗼𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗦𝗲𝗰𝘂𝗿𝗶𝘁𝘆 account, you can quickly view, print, or download a PDF of your proof of income letter anytime. This works even if you need to show that you do not receive benefits.

Do you know how to get an income verification letter or benefit verification letter from Social Security? Just log in to my Social Security to get instant ac...

12/04/2025

Join Equip for Equality's Peter Eatherton along with our partners at StartEarly and Illinois Families for Early Intervention, Inc. for a virtual session focused on families' rights in Illinois’ Early Intervention (EI) system.

Register at: https://zoom.us/meeting/register/JC5_DfDqQkG2ebqFipabHg #/registration

12/03/2025

Because of you, we met our Giving Tuesday goal — and unlocked a generous match to support Equip for Equality’s work across Illinois.

Thanks to the 40+ supporters who made a gift of $40 or more, and the many others who gave at every level, shared our posts, left comments, and helped amplify our message, we unlocked our match and continued momentum toward our year-end $40,000 fundraising goal.

Your generosity fuels the work that fills the gaps across systems — in schools, nursing homes, psychiatric hospitals, correctional settings, and large institutions. It allows us to investigate, advocate, and press for meaningful change when people with disabilities are at risk.

From restoring education for youth in custody, to improving safety in nursing homes, to exposing dangerous hospital practices, to advancing community living — your support makes this impact possible.

Today, we simply want to say:

𝗧𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗸 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗽𝗲𝗼𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗱𝗶𝘀𝗮𝗯𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗲𝘀.
𝗧𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗸 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗶𝗻𝘃𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗶𝗻 𝗱𝗶𝗴𝗻𝗶𝘁𝘆, 𝗷𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗲, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘀𝗮𝗳𝗲𝘁𝘆.
𝗧𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗸 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗯𝗲𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗽𝗮𝗿𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗺𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁𝘆.

We are deeply grateful.

12/03/2025

In the spirit of Giving Tuesday, we’re reminded of a simple truth: collective action creates change.

All day, we’ve shared stories about the gaps people with disabilities face across systems — and how your support helps Equip for Equality investigate, advocate, and push for safety, dignity, and justice statewide.

As the day comes to an end, we have one last opportunity to expand that impact.

If we reach 40 gifts of $40 or more, we will unlock a Giving Tuesday match from a generous anonymous donor — doubling the power of your gift today.

Please join us before midnight:
https://efe.app.neoncrm.com/campaigns/40th-anniversary-celebration-launch

Thank you for being part of this community.

12/03/2025

Restraint and seclusion carry serious risks for people with mental illness — including trauma, injury, and even death. In 2007, Equip for Equality released a groundbreaking report, 𝘒𝘦𝘦𝘱𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘗𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘴 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘔𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘢𝘭 𝘐𝘭𝘭𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘴 𝘚𝘢𝘧𝘦: 𝘊𝘩𝘪𝘤𝘢𝘨𝘰–𝘈𝘳𝘦𝘢 𝘏𝘰𝘴𝘱𝘪𝘵𝘢𝘭𝘴’ 𝘊𝘰𝘮𝘱𝘭𝘪𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘙𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘪𝘯𝘵 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘚𝘦𝘤𝘭𝘶𝘴𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘓𝘢𝘸𝘴, examining practices across 25 private psychiatric hospitals that served both children and adults.

What we found raised deep concern:
• Nearly 25% of hospitals had no policy prohibiting use of restraints or seclusion for “discipline, convenience, or retaliation.”
• Only 42% required assessing a patient’s medical condition before restraint or seclusion was used.
• Just 23% required reporting restraint- or seclusion-related deaths within one business day, as federal rules require.
• These failures violated patients’ rights and put them at real and preventable risk.

Our report spurred widespread attention, strengthened oversight, and helped protect patients from dangerous practices that violate federal law and basic dignity.

Your support allows us to investigate, expose, and push for systemic reforms wherever people with disabilities are at risk — in psychiatric settings and beyond.

Give Now: https://efe.app.neoncrm.com/campaigns/40th-anniversary-celebration-launch

12/03/2025

When residents of several nursing homes reported systemic abuse and neglect, Equip for Equality took action.

Our multi-year investigation uncovered:
• Dangerous staffing shortages
• Failures to provide medical care
• Unsafe, degrading living conditions
• A pattern of serious harm to residents with disabilities

Our findings triggered federal enforcement, state oversight, and corrective actions that improved patient safety and patient care.

No one should be left in a place that puts their well-being at risk.

Your support this Giving Tuesday fuels investigations and systemic advocacy that protect nursing home residents statewide.

𝗧𝗼𝗱𝗮𝘆 𝗼𝗻𝗹𝘆: 𝗛𝗲𝗹𝗽 𝘂𝗻𝗹𝗼𝗰𝗸 𝗮 𝗴𝗲𝗻𝗲𝗿𝗼𝘂𝘀 𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗰𝗵 𝗯𝘆 𝗵𝗲𝗹𝗽𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘂𝘀 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗰𝗵 𝟰𝟬 𝗴𝗶𝗳𝘁𝘀 𝗼𝗳 $𝟰𝟬 𝗼𝗿 𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗲.

Give Now: https://efe.app.neoncrm.com/campaigns/40th-anniversary-celebration-launch

12/02/2025

This Giving Tuesday, we’re highlighting a landmark case that changed the trajectory for thousands of youth with disabilities in the Illinois Department of Corrections.

Equip for Equality exposed that IDOC was denying youth with disabilities critical special education services. Our litigation led to sweeping reforms, including:

• Required individualized education plans
• Access to certified teachers
• Improved disability evaluations
• Ongoing monitoring to ensure youth with disabilities don’t fall through the cracks

Young people with disabilities deserve education, dignity, and a real path forward. This case helped make that possible.

Your Giving Tuesday gift ensures we can continue responding when systems fail the people they’re meant to serve.

Today only: Your gift helps unlock a generous match if we reach 40 gifts of $40 or more.

Give Now: https://efe.app.neoncrm.com/campaigns/40th-anniversary-celebration-launch

12/02/2025

For years, people with disabilities experienced harmful policing practices — especially Black and Brown Chicagoans with mental health disabilities. Equip for Equality joined Communities United and others to press for change.

Our advocacy helped shape the Chicago Police Department Consent Decree, one of the strongest reform tools in the country. It includes requirements to:

• Improve crisis response for people with disabilities
• Reduce harmful force practices
• Increase training on disability rights
• Strengthen accountability and oversight

This work ensures disability rights are embedded in Chicago’s public safety framework — not treated as an afterthought.

Your Giving Tuesday support fuels our work to protect marginalized communities.

Today only: Your gift helps unlock a generous match if we reach 40 gifts of $40 or more. Every contribution — whether $5, $40, or more — moves us closer.

Give Today: https://efe.app.neoncrm.com/campaigns/40th-anniversary-celebration-launch

12/02/2025

Today is Giving Tuesday — a day when people come together to support work that matters. At Equip for Equality, that work is ensuring people with disabilities are safe, supported, and treated with dignity across every system in Illinois.

For forty years, we’ve uncovered gaps that put people at risk:
• Youth with disabilities in custody denied the education they were legally entitled to
• Nursing homes where residents experienced neglect or unsafe conditions
• Psychiatric hospitals using harmful restraint practices
• Police encounters that escalated because officers lacked training on disability and mental health
• Large institutions where people lived in isolation and danger

These gaps are real — and have life-altering consequences.
But because of supporters like you, Equip for Equality responds. We investigate, litigate, negotiate, and press for change that protects people statewide — regardless of disability, age, background, or where in the state they live.

Today, we invite you to help sustain this work.
Make your Giving Tuesday gift:
https://efe.app.neoncrm.com/campaigns/40th-anniversary-celebration-launch

We have a special challenge available today only — if we reach 40 gifts of $40 or more, we will unlock a generous match from a group of anonymous donors. If you were planning to make Equip for Equality part of your year-end giving, today is the day.