Provides peer support counseling, information and referral to services that help disabled individuals, skills training, advocacy for persons with disabilities and their families and disability awareness and leadership education. Working with individuals in their homes or in locations convenient to the individual.

Offers to educate businesses, the public, and legislature about issues important to people with disabilities. Staff aim to empower people with disabilities to assess their needs, identify potential risks, establish their own goals, evaluate available resources, and develop and implement a strategy to take control of their lives.

Offers services which assist persons with disabilities in achieving and/or maintaining independence. Services include, but are not limited to:

- Information and Referral (personal assistant, interpreter, and housing referrals).

- Access and Advocacy (accessibility surveys, assistive devices, Braille printing).

- Skills Development (personal assistant management training, basic computer skills, public transit use, budgeting).

- Counseling (independent living, peer, vocational).

- Free Amplified Phones for Illinois residents with verifiable hearing loss who have a land line.

- Independent Living Needs Assessment.

- Mass Transit District Disability Verification.

- Reintegration into the community from nursing home, etc. (Includes possible financial assistance for moving home or into supportive living).

- PACE Presentations.

- PACE will readily provide sign language interpreters to access PACE events on request.

- Advocates for the civil rights of individuals with disabilities.

- Coordinates public disability awareness activities including presentations to community groups.

- Assists individuals with hearing and speech disabilities access communication needs.

- Assists with independent living skills training (money management, assertiveness training, self-advocacy, etc.).

- Provides information and referral services.

- Provides peer mentoring for individual and group settings.

- Provides transition services such as moving qualified individuals from nursing facilities or other institutions to independent living.

- Assists youth with disabilities transition from high school to adult life.

- Provides personal assistant services.

- Operates a Community Advocacy Training program for youth and adults.

- Assists individuals with vision loss or blindness acquire assistive devices and skills training.

- Operates a medical equipment loan program.

- Provides mentoring for parents of youth with disabilities.

Provides peer support counseling, information and referral to services that help disabled individuals, skills training, advocacy for persons with disabilities and their families and disability awareness and leadership education. Working with individuals in their homes or in locations convenient to the individual.

Created so that eligible children and adults who have a disability could obtain legal advice and representation to protect and enforce their rights guaranteed by Illinois' mental health laws. Attorneys provide needed assistance to persons with disabilities in a variety of settings:

- Mental health facilities.

- Residential programs.

- Community placements.

- Nursing homes.

Issues addressed include, but are not limited to: admission and discharge from hospitalization, adequate treatment, refusal of unwanted services, and confidentiality of mental health records. Assistance takes the form of information, referral, and legal representation in court hearings and administrative proceedings.

- Individual advocacy focuses on the individual with a disability and services available within the community to assist them in living independently and to eventually become their own advocate.

- Systemic advocacy involves working together to eliminate barriers and allow people with disabilities to fully participate in their community.

Assists people with learning disabilities in the following ways:

- Monitors and advises the Illinois State Board of Education on issues dealing with students with learning disabilities.

- Provides advocacy information and support to parents, individuals with learning disabilities and professionals.

- Provides scholarships for post-secondary education for students with learning disabilities.

- Provides the Robert Abbott Scholarship for students who are in school to become a teacher in the field of Special Education.

- Provides and support workshops and mini-conferences for educators and parents.

- Increases public awareness of learning disabilities throughout Illinois.

- Provides scholarships for membership and workshop fees for parents of children with learning disabilities, and for adults with learning disabilities.

Created so that eligible children and adults who have a disability could obtain legal advice and representation to protect and enforce their rights guaranteed by Illinois' mental health laws. Attorneys provide needed assistance to persons with disabilities in a variety of settings:

- Mental health facilities.

- Residential programs.

- Community placements.

- Nursing homes.

Issues addressed include, but are not limited to: admission and discharge from hospitalization, adequate treatment, refusal of unwanted services, and confidentiality of mental health records. Assistance takes the form of information, referral, and legal representation in court hearings and administrative proceedings.

Provides peer support counseling, information and referral to services that help disabled individuals, skills training, advocacy for persons with disabilities and their families and disability awareness and leadership education. Working with individuals in their homes or in locations convenient to the individual.

Created so that eligible children and adults who have a disability could obtain legal advice and representation to protect and enforce their rights guaranteed by Illinois' mental health laws. Attorneys provide needed assistance to persons with disabilities in a variety of settings:

- Mental health facilities.

- Residential programs.

- Community placements.

- Nursing homes.

Issues addressed include, but are not limited to: admission and discharge from hospitalization, adequate treatment, refusal of unwanted services, and confidentiality of mental health records. Assistance takes the form of information, referral, and legal representation in court hearings and administrative proceedings.

Develops and provides support to affiliates and partners, coordinates statewide advocacy and awareness, directly educates stakeholders, and coordinates strategic initiatives to advance mental health equity, access, and parity.