The Guidebook of Laws and Programs for People with Disabilities

The Guidebook of Laws and Programs for People with Disabilities

Last updated: December 2005

Introduction: How to Use This Guidebook

Chapter 1: General Considerations

Section 1: Who Has a Disability Under the ADA?
Section 2: Are You An "Otherwise Qualified Individual With a Disability" Under 504
of the Rehabilitation Act?"
Section 3: How to Protect or Enforce Your Rights Under 504 of the Rehabilitation Act
Section 4: How to Protect or Enforce Your Rights Under the Illinois Human Rights Act

Chapter 2: Access to Services, Programs, and Activities

Section 1: State and Local Government Services
Section 2: Places of Public Accommodation
Section 3: Places of Public Accommodation and Government Services (State Law)
Section 4: Access To Programs And Activities Run By Recipients of Federal Funds Or By Federal Agencies
Section 5: State of Illinois Disabled Person Identification Card
Section 6: Accessibility of Voting Facilities And Other Voting Rights
Section 7: Operating a Motor Vehicle
Section 8: Environmental Barriers In Public Facilities and in Multi-Story Housing

Chapter 3: Care of Children with Disabilities

Section 1: Family Assistance for Children with Developmental Disabilities
Section 2: Individual Care Grants for Children with Mental Illness
Section 3: Specialized Care and Treatment for Children with Severe Physical Disabilities
Section 4: Financial Assistance to Parents Adopting Children with Disabilities
Section 5: Early Intervention Services

Chapter 4: Right to Confidentiality

Section 1: Rights to Confidentiality for People with Mental and Developmental Disabilities
Section 2: Right to Confidentiality for People with HIV or AIDS

Chapter 5: Education

Section 1: Special Education and Related Services
Section 2: Section 504: Education In Schools Receiving Federal Funds
Section 3: Educational Records and Privacy
Section 4: Parent Training and Information Programs
Section 5: Relief From Student Loans

Chapter 6: Employment

Section 1: Reasonable Accommodations and Freedom From Discrimination
Section 2: Employment Discrimination on the Basis of Disability (State Law)
Section 3: Job Discrimination In Programs And Activities Receiving Federal Financial Assistance
Section 4: Job Discrimination By Federal Agencies
Section 5: Taking Time Off Work For Illness
Section 6: Employment Opportunities for People with Disabilities 

Chapter 7: Government Benefits

Section 1: Social Security Disability Benefits and Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
Section 2: Aid to the Aged, Blind and Disabled Grant Program
Section 3: General Assistance
Section 4: Low-Income Energy Assistance

Chapter 8: Guardians and Representatives

Section 1: Guardianship of Adults with Disabilities
Section 2: Guardianship of Minors
Section 3: Advance Directives
Section 4: Medicaid Coverage of Medicare Premiums and Deductibles: The Qualified Medicare Beneficiary (QMB) Program
Section 5: State of Illinois Comprehensive Health Insurance Plan

Chapter 9: Housing

Section 1: Discrimination In the Sale, Rental and Use of Housing (Federal Law)
Section 2: Discrimination in the Sale and Rental of Housing (State Law)
Section 3: Section 504: Residential Programs Receiving Federal Financial Assistance
Section 4: Supportive Housing Programs for People with Disabilities

Chapter 10: Independent Living and Productivity

Section 1: The Home Services Program
Section 2: Home-Based Support Services for Adults with Mental Illness or Developmental Disabilities
Section 3: The Developmental Disabilities Programs
Section 4: Independent Living Services
Section 5: Community Living Facilities for Adults with Developmental Disabilities
Section 6: Community Integrated Living Arrangements

Chapter 11: Institutional Care

Section 1: The Admission, Discharge, and Transfer of Persons With Mental Illness
Section 2: The Admission, Discharge, and Transfer of Persons With A Developmental Disability
Section 3: Rights of Recipients of Mental Health and Developmental Disability Services
Section 4: Liability for the Costs of Care in State Operated Mental Health and Developmental Disability Facilities
Section 5: Nursing Home Care

Chapter 12: Protection from Abuse and Exploitation

Section 1: The Domestic Abuse Project
Section 2: Protection From Domestic Violence
Section 3: Criminal Offenses Against People with Disabilities

Chapter 13: Telecommunications

Section 1: Telecommunications Relay Services (TRS)

Chapter 14: Transportation

Section 1: Access To Transportation Services
Section 2: Paratransit
Section 3: Section 504: Transportation Providers Receiving Federal Financial Assistance
Section 4: Access to Air Travel

Chapter 15: Miscellaneous Rights

Section 1: Credit and Financial Services
Section 2: Insurance Discrimination
Section 3: Property Tax Relief
Section 4: Technology-Related Assistance for People with Disabilities
Section 5: Legal Advocacy for People With Disabilities
Section 6: The Sale of Hearing Instruments

To find a lawyer in Illinois, search the "Helpful Organizations" section below.

To see a list of:
Guardianship & Advocacy Commission Offices in Illinois click here
Equip for Equality Offices in Illinois  click here
Centers for Independent Living in Illinois click here

Helpful Organizations
The following organizations may be able to help you with child support

Organizations 1 of 10 |

1.

Prairie State Legal Services, Inc. - Kankakee Office
191 South Chicago Kankakee, IL 60901 | View map

Phone: 815-935-2750
TTY: 815-935-2764
Toll-free: 800-346-2864

Languages: English
View Website

Prairie State Legal Services, Inc. provides free legal services in civil legal matters for low-income persons who have incomes below 125% of the federal poverty guidelines and senior citizens age 60 and older regardless of income.

Eligibility

Whether you are eligible for help from Prairie State Legal Services depends on the following factors:

  • You meet our income and asset guidelines, or are age 60 or older.
  • We have no ethical conflict of interest regarding your legal issue.
  • You live within the service area of Prairie State, or have a civil legal problem in one of the counties in our service area.
  • You meet the citizenship or immigration requirements established by Congress. It should be noted that immigrants who are fleeing domestic violence or trafficking are eligible for legal help regardless of immigration status in matters to address the abuse.
  • Government regulations do not prohibit Prairie State Legal Services from handling your type of legal problem.
  • You have one or more legal problems that can be addressed by PSLS attorneys and that fall within our established priorities.

Types of Legal Help

Due to high demand for our services, our staff is able to provide representation in certain areas of civil law designated as a priority. The following kinds of problems are illustrative of the cases that we may be able to help with (not an exclusive list):

High Priority Cases

  • Family Law: Protection from abuse or exploitation of domestic violence victims, elderly, children and persons w/disabilities; divorce and related relief for domestic violence victims.
  • Housing Law: Evictions and lock-outs; foreclosure defense; loss or denial of subsidized housing benefits; loss or denial of essential public utilities; substandard housing conditions cases that cannot be addressed by other agencies.
  • Health Care: Loss or denial of medical or nursing home care; loss or denial of medical benefits (Medicaid, Medicare).
  • Needs-based government assistance: Loss or denial of SSI, GA, TANF, VA, food stamps.
  • Other income benefits where alternative representation is unavailable: Loss or denial of unemployment insurance, Social Security Title II benefits.

Other Cases We May Handle

  • Family Law: Child support, custody, guardianship, visitation, parental rights, divorces for non-domestic violence victims.
  • Housing: Rent issues; security deposits; unit size; discrimination.
  • Education: admission, expulsion, special education & related services.
  • Health care and people with disabilities: powers of attorney and other health care documents; discrimination and reasonable accommodations.
  • Income or benefits: overpayments of government assistance; health insurance matters; employment issues.
  • Consumer Law: Bankruptcy or other debt relief; consumer fraud; protection of exempt income and assets; unfair debt collection practices; repossession; contract defenses.
     

View current federal poverty levels

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Please do not email legal questions or information about your problem. We will not answer legal questions or provide legal assistance. You can find referrals to legal organizations that may be able to help you by clicking here.