Posts by Dani Hunter
Chicago Public Schools Limiting Services for Students with Special Needs
Amy Zimmerman, Director of Children and Families Partnerships at Legal Council, was featured in a story by WBEZ that exposes problems with Chicago Public Schools’ (CPS) newest policy change affecting children with significant special needs. For the first time, CPS is offering the parents of children who attend “cluster” programs, sometimes called “self-contained classrooms,” the…
Read MoreSTATEMENT: Federal Court Order Protects Home Nursing Care for Thousands of Illinois Children
Legal Council is pleased to share that we have settled the MA v. Bellock class action lawsuit with the Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services (HFS) in favor of more than 1,200 medically complex children who need in-home nursing. The settlement ensures that these children will be assessed fairly and given appropriate notice about…
Read MoreStaff Spotlight: Ari Rothman
Staff Spotlight is a blog series featuring a member of Legal Council’s expert and ever-growing team. Today’s Spotlight features Ari Rothman, an Avodah Fellow and Homeless Advocacy Specialist who joined Legal Council last fall. What brought you to Legal Council? This year I am participating in a year-long service program called Avodah, and through Avodah…
Read MoreNew Year, New Rules: Leading the Lead Fight
This past Tuesday, a state panel approved groundbreaking policies in the fight to protect children and prevent childhood lead poisoning.
Read MoreNew Program Gives Justice-Involved Persons Living with Serious Mental Illness Free Legal Support
Justice-involved individuals living with serious mental illness now have access to civil legal assistance, thanks to a new partnership between Legal Council for Health Justice and Thresholds. Under the partnership, individuals with serious mental illness who are served by Thresholds’ Justice Program now have access to free, trauma-informed benefits advocacy. Individuals with serious mental illness…
Read MoreLegal Council partner Dr. Hamp receives high honor
Longtime Legal Council advocate and friend Dr. Nicole Hamp recently was awarded the Anne E. Dyson Child Advocacy Award from the American Academy of Pediatrics. Dr. Nicole Hamp, Ann Hilton Fisher Advocate Award honoree, and Larry Yellen, Gala host, at Legal Council’s 30th Anniversary Gala, Oct. 13, 2018. Hamp received this exceptional honor for her work…
Read More#LegalCouncil30 – A note from Legal Council Executive Director Tom Yates
#LegalCouncil30 – A note from Executive Director Tom Yates Legal Council is officially 30! Because of loyal friends like you, we have accomplished so much over the past three decades. Tens of thousands of clients facing illness and disability have had the opportunity to stabilize their lives and pursue their full potential. And Legal Council’s…
Read MoreCPS Special Education Issues Survey Results: Fall 2018
This survey examines the current development and implementation of the Chicago Public Schools (CPS) special education program.
Read MoreISBE and CPS Far Behind Schedule to Reform Special Education
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Nov. 12, 2018 Contact: Matt Cohen, Matt Cohen and Associates 312-961-4179 or mdcspedlaw@gmail.com, Chris Yun at Access Living 312-640-2134 or cyun@accessliving.org Barbara Cohen at Legal Council for Health Justice 312-605-1948 or bcohen@legalcouncil.org ISBE and CPS Far Behind Schedule to Reform Special Education, Advocates appeal to Pritzker to fix the problems Teachers say…
Read MoreIllinoisans now have access to a life-saving cure to hepatitis C
After receiving a formal threat of litigation, officials at the Illinois Department of Health and Family Services (H.F.S) negotiated with Legal Council lawyers to end the department’s policy of rationing coverage of life-saving drugs to cure hepatitis C (H.C.V) for Medicaid participants. This policy change comes after years of discussions and strategic advocacy to remove…
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