IL Council on Developmental Disabilities

12/19/2025

Family Caregiver Exemption for SNAP Federal Work Requirements

This Illinois Division of Developmental Disabilities (DDD) Communication from December 19, 2025 includes information about a Family Caregiver Exemption for SNAP Federal Work Requirements, which go into effect February 1, 2026.

The communication says “Caregivers are required to contact the IDHS (the Illinois Department of Human Services) via the local Family and Community Resource Center to report their status.”

Here is a link to the DDD Communication: https://www.dhs.state.il.us/page.aspx?item=176387

Scroll down to find the information about the Family Caregiver Exemption.

When policy is being written, prior to being published, the Draft Information Bulletin (Draft IB) is shared for public comments and feedback. Review the current Draft IBs by visiting DDD Draft Information Bulletins and submit comments on open drafts to DHS.DDDComments@illinois.gov.

12/18/2025

SNAP Rules are changing on February 1.

The new rules include Work Requirements. SNAP recipients need to meet the requirements or apply for an exemption by February 1.

A number of organizations and agencies are lining up resources and programs to help people make this transition. This includes the Greater Chicago Food Depository.

Learn more: chicagosfoodbank.org/snap
Greater Chicago Food Depository

See what SNAP has to offer and get answers to your questions on food stamps, eligibility and case management.

12/17/2025

Starting in late 2021, ICDD has worked on a Supportive Housing Navigator Project. Through this project, Housing Navigators at seven Independent Service Coordination Agencies in Illinois assist people with DD with finding and moving into supportive housing. Hundreds of self-advocates with DD are connected to the Housing Navigator Program, and the program has helped dozens move into homes of their own. In 2024, the Illinois Division of Developmental Disabilities transitioned Housing Navigation from a Pilot Program to a regular part of their work. This is a photo that includes ICDD Director Kimberly Mercer-Schleider, and former ICDD staff person Dennis Deany with Housing Navigators Janelle Napalit and Karen Edgar of Service Inc. Illinois.

12/16/2025

Sharing this from the page of the National Association of Councils on Developmental Disabilities -- Webinar: December 17

Webinar Alert!

Wednesday, December 17th
4:00pm - 5:00pm ET
Free to attend; registration is required
Link to register is in first comment

Join NACDD for a community webinar that will provide an overview of changes to Medicaid stemming from the 2025 reconciliation law, based on KFF's recent report "States' Management of Medicaid Home Care Spending Ahead of H.R. 1 Effects." The report will be presented by KFF, a non-partisan information organization.

Zoom captioning is available for this event. If you require other accommodations to participate, please detail them in your registration. We will have the most success fulfilling your accommodation requests if they are submitted by December 10th.

12/15/2025

Here a message that was sent out over the Illinois Council on Developmental Disabilities Network last Friday, December 12. The message includes a SNAP Update from the Illinois Department of Human Services.

Dear ICDD Network,

We are sharing an important update about SNAP Work Requirements and people receiving Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) through the Social Security Administration.

The Illinois Department of Human Services (IDHS) systematically exempts individuals who receive SSI or SSDI from SNAP Work Requirements. An exemption request form is not needed. If you receive SSI or SSDI, you do not need to take any action and will continue to receive your SNAP benefits. Some people have received exemption request forms in the mail, but you do not need to send them back if you receive SSI or SSDI.

For individuals who are in the process of applying for SSI or SSDI, have a pending application or have appealed a denial, you can contact your local Family and Community Resource Center (FCRC) or call the IDHS Helpline at 1-800-843-6154.

If you have any other questions about whether you are impacted by the SNAP Work Requirements, you can use the Screener Portal: SNAP Work Requirements Screener.

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12/12/2025

The Illinois Council on Developmental Disabilities has approved a Direct Investment for a 2026 Speak Up and Speak Out Summit. Speak Up and Speak Out is the only event of its kind in Illinois because it is led by and for people with developmental disabilities, giving them leadership training and real opportunities to speak up and speak out directly to policymakers and decision makers from across the state. Visit this page for more information:

The Illinois Council on Developmental Disabilities (ICDD) has approved a Direct Investment for a 2026 Speak Up and Speak Out Summit. ICDD will invest $180,000 in The Arc of Illinois to plan and host the 2026 Speak Up and Speak Out Summit (SUSO). SUSO

12/11/2025

This post is shared from the Wisconsin Board for People with Developmental Disabilities. A piece about family caregivers and the ACA Marketplace.

Contact your senators

12/09/2025

Congratulations to ICDD Council Member Curtis Harris (pictured in this image holding an award). On Saturday, December 6, Curtis was presented with the Self-Advocate of the Year Award at the Autism Allies Association Christmas Gala Fundraiser.

12/08/2025

𝗔𝗽𝗽𝗹𝗶𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗡𝗼𝘄 𝗢𝗽𝗲𝗻 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲 𝗜𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗼𝗶𝘀 𝗦𝘂𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗛𝗼𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗜𝗻𝘀𝘁𝗶𝘁𝘂𝘁𝗲!

From CSH:

CSH and the Illinois Housing Development Authority (IHDA) are pleased to announce that applications are now available for the 2026 Illinois Supportive Housing Institute.

The Institute provides a training and technical assistance program designed to help aspiring and established service providers and housing professionals to turn their concepts for supportive housing into viable, fundable proposals that aim to prevent homelessness, improve community health outcomes, and improve housing stability.

The 2026 Supportive Housing Institute’s sessions will be held in Springfield, Illinois. Participants are expected to attend 10 total training sessions (eight in-person and two virtual) held between February through June 2026.

𝗖𝗹𝗶𝗰𝗸 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗸 𝗯𝗲𝗹𝗼𝘄 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗶𝗻𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻. This includes the application and information about two informational webinars, the first of which is on Wednesday, December 9.

𝗠𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗜𝗻𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻:

About the Institute Corporation for Supportive Housing (CSH) and the Illinois Housing Development Authority (IHDA) are excited to announce their partnership for the 2026 Illinois Supportive Housing Institute (the Institute). The 2026 Institute will include both in-person and virtual sessions aimed a...

12/05/2025

Shared from the page of Chicagoland Disabled People of Color Coalition "Respectful Language."

Disability Inclusion Tip: Always use respectful language around disability, not just when you are around a disabled person. Avoid outdated terms like the "R" word.

12/04/2025

The IDD System Redesign Coalition is hosting Dignity in Pay Provider Feedback Sessions. The Provider Feedback Sessions will focus on the processes in place that Providers navigate to support a person pursuing employment opportunities. Critical input from m the sessions will be summarized and shared with the IDD System Redesign Coalition: Disability Partners and the EEOPD DIP Workgroup to inform the DIP MYP annual report.

These are the dates and times of the sessions:

• Tuesday, December 9, 2025, from 10:00 am – 11:30 am
• Wednesday, December 10, 2025, from 2:30 pm – 4:00 pm

Register for the sessions at this link:

For these sessions, we will focus on Recommendation 5:  Streamlining Services and Shared Tools Across DRS and DDD found on page 24 of the DIP MYP.  We will walk through the current process for a person navigating the systems to access employment, including detailing steps in the processes....

12/03/2025

Happy International Day of Persons with Disabilities. Each year, December 3 is recognized as International Day of Persons with Disabilities. Here is a piece from the World Health Organization talking about the day. https://www.emro.who.int/media/news/international-day-of-persons-with-disabilities-2025-fostering-disability-inclusive-societies.html

WHO distributes assistive technology tools to older people and people living with disabilities in cooperation with local NGO, Islamic Republic of Iran. Photo credit: WHO