Advocacy
Whether by sharing important information about disability issues with friends and family or taking part in an event near you, we'd love for you to get involved.
You Can Help!
Join Easterseals today in educating and informing public officials about issues that affect individuals with disabilities. As part of the greater Easterseals network of affiliates, we are interconnected to help individuals live a full life and help them thrive, no matter what stage of life they’re in. We stand together as many of our network depend on federal funding for their operations.
View Easterseals action alerts and steps to contact your legislators below:
You can find your legislators here ---> Find and contact elected officials | USAGov & locate your STATE OFFICIALS.
From there, you would locate their contact information either clicking on the information provided
OR searching by name or district -->Illinois General Assembly Home Page
Advocacy Effort: Medicaid Funding
Proposals are moving forward in Congress that would slash Medicaid funding which has devastating consequences for people with disabilities. The House has approved legislation that would cut Medicaid spending by $800 million over the next 10 years, leading to a potential loss of supports and benefits to 7.6 million people.
Now, the bill heads to the Senate—we still have time to engage U.S Senators!
Medicaid isn’t just a healthcare program. It’s a lifeline that provides home- and community-based services, personal care attendants, therapies, and access to essential care that many disabled individuals depend on every single day. Federal lawmakers need to understand how Medicaid supports you and your family and the significant impact that reduced funding would have. They need to be aware of issues such as waiting lists and the challenges of navigating insurance battles.
Here are resources to get started:
Tell your story! You can use the worksheet (pictured below) to help lawmakers understand how Medicaid helps you live the life you want.
- 🔍 Find Your Legislators: Use the SBE District Locator and click the globe icon next to your legislator’s name to access their contact page.
Illinois' United States Senators are Senator Dick Durbin & Senator Tammy Duckworth.
📞 Call Your Legislators: Tell them you oppose Medicaid cuts and support full funding for disability services. Use this Phone Prompt for Contacting Legislators
📝 Send an Email: Explore these helpful resources to create and send your message:
- ACLU of Illinois: Talking to Your Representatives
- Arranging a Meeting with Your Legislators (Slide #12)
- ANCOR Advocacy Platform: Tell Congress to Protect Medicaid
📣 Share This Alert: Forward this message or share our advocacy page on social media to help spread the word.
