JOLIET – July is Disability Pride Month, and State Senator Rachel Ventura is celebrating the recent milestones supporting accessibility and inclusion for Illinoisans with disabilities.
“Disability Pride Month is a chance for us celebrate and promote inclusivity of everyone in our community,” said Ventura (D-Joliet). “Alongside my colleagues, we have made great strides in the protection and support of the disability community and I will continue to advocate for all members of our community, no matter their ability. We are all unique, and there is nothing that should hold us back.”
Ventura worked to secure protections for Illinoisans with disabilities this spring legislation session by supporting the following pieces of legislation:
- Senate Bill 1327 (Chief Co-Sponsor): Strengthens long-term disability insurance transparency on coverage limits regarding mental healthcare and substance use treatment.
- Senate Bill 2761 (Co-Sponsor): Improves safety and support for young students with service animals by requiring all school faculty receive instruction on service animals during annual training.
- House Bill 4379 (Sami’s Law): Expands restroom accommodations in new, large public buildings by ensuring more handicap restroom stalls include a changing station for Illinois children and adults with severe mobility obstacles or other disabilities.
- House Bill 4620: Connects families with children with disabilities to cost-saving ABLE accounts upon receiving a diagnosis, enabling them to plan and save for medical equipment, home adaptations and other necessities.
- House Bill 4472: Aims to improve interactions between law enforcement and neurodivergent drivers by establishing the Blue Envelope Program throughout Illinois.
“Every July, we celebrate Disability Pride Month to recognize all of the achievements made by people with disabilities across this country,” said Ben Stortz, Cornerstone Services President and CEO. “The passage of the American with Disabilities Act in July of 1990 was a landmark event that has paved the way for countless success stories that have been written since. Cornerstone is proud to be a part of this fantastic, supportive community that continues to work toward increasing opportunities and improved the lives of individuals with disabilities every day.”
Ventura will continue to fight for people with disabilities throughout her time in the General Assembly and beyond.
