IN 06/18/2025 COMMUNICATION:
- Anniversary of the ADA v. Olmstead Supreme Court Decision
- Aging and Disability Providers and Independent Service Coordination Agencies - Survey Alert
- Revisions to Input Screen for CIRAS Incident Reporting
- Request for Applications: Stabilization Homes
- Other Resources
26TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE ADA v. OLMSTEAD SUPREME COURT DECISION - JUNE 22, 2025
The Division of Developmental Disabilities (DDD) is proud to observe the 26th Anniversary of the Olmstead v. L.C. U.S. Supreme Court decision. This landmark ruling affirmed that the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) prohibits the unnecessary segregation of individuals with disabilities and ensures their right to live and receive services in the most integrated setting possible.
The Olmstead decision has been instrumental in empowering individuals with disabilities to live more independently, participate fully in their communities, and access services in their homes and local environments. It has brought about significant positive change, allowing countless individuals across Illinois and the United States to lead lives marked by greater autonomy, dignity, and inclusion.
At DDD, we remain committed to supporting individuals in achieving their personal goals and aspirations in the environments of their choice. Our efforts continue to reflect this commitment through DDD's significant expansion of funding of more than $1 billion for community services and specifically more than $650 million in funding of the Guidehouse Rates Study.
AGING AND DISABILITY PROVIDERS AND INDEPENDENT SERVICE COORDINATION AGENCIES - SURVEY ALERT
Survey: Bridging Aging and Disabilities Survey for Organizations in the Aging and DD Networks
The Division of Developmental Disabilities (DDD) in partnership with the Department on Aging (DoA), the IL Council on Developmental Disabilities (ICDD), the Division of Rehabilitation Services (DRS), the University of Illinois Chicago (UIC), and the community Statewide Advisory Team (SAT), is working to improve the experiences of and supports for aging caregivers and individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD) who are aging.
Through the "Bridging Aging and Disability" grant funded by the National Association of Councils on Developmental Disabilities (NACDD), state staff and key community stakeholders are coming together to understand the gaps in connecting individuals with I/DD and aging caregivers with needed services.
One step in this process is to hear from providers, case managers, and others working in disability and aging supports to understand where you do and do not engage with the other networks and what resources and information your organization might need to make connections.
Your insights will help us improve access to needed services and supports for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities who are aging, and their aging caregivers as well as helping us to offer better training and resources to the service systems.
Please complete this brief survey and share your experience, knowledge, and interest in making sure there is no wrong door to connect with aging and I/DD services.
Survey: Bridging Aging and Disabilities Survey for Organizations in the Aging and DD Networks
REVISIONS TO INPUT SCREEN FOR CIRAS INCIDENT REPORTING
Effective August 1, 2025, the Critical Incident Reporting and Analysis System (CIRAS) data entry input screen will be revised.
It is important for critical incident documentation to reflect accurate and complete information. For the CIRAS incident data analysis process, it is critical to distinguish between the actual date and time of an incident versus the discovery date and time of the incident. Thus, the goal of this revision is to remove assumptions about an incident date and include specificity of whether the date represents the actual date/time of the incident or does it represent a discovery date/time. This will assure appropriate conclusions are drawn when analyzing the CIRAS data and assessing for trends and patterns.
The below information/updates will be reflected in the upcoming revisions to the CIRAS manual.
The following data entry screen prompts will remain the same:
- Date the Incident occurred as observed or reliably reported: Enter the date the incident occurred or reliably reported.
- Time of day that the Incident occurred as observed or reliably reported: Enter the time of day the incident occurred or reliably reported.
The following new data entry screen prompts will become effective on August 1, 2025:
- Date that the reporting agency discovered the incident occurred is the same as the date the incident occurred. If the discovery date and the actual date of incident are the same, check the box. If not, leave the box unchecked.
- Date the reporting agency discovered the incident occurred. The discovery date has been included to distinguish it from the observed or reliably reported date. If the incident was not observed or reliably reported when it occurred, then the discovery date reflects when the incident was discovered, which differs from when the incident occurred.
- If the box is checked, this date is automatically populated to be the same as the date incident occurred or reliably reported.
- If the box remains unchecked, a discovery date must be entered. This is a required field.
- Time that the reporting agency discovered the incident occurred is the same as the time the incident occurred. If the discovery time and the actual time of incident are the same, check the box. If not, leave the box unchecked.
- Time the reporting agency discovered the incident occurred. The discovery time has been included to distinguish it from the observed or reliably reported time. If the incident was not observed or reliably reported when it occurred, then the discovery time reflects when the incident was discovered, which differs from when the incident occurred.
- If the box is checked, this time is automatically populated to be the same as the time incident occurred or reliably reported.
- If the box remains unchecked, a discovery time must be entered. This is a required field.
The following Sample CIRAS Data Entry Screenshot shows the four new prompts on the CIRAS incident reporting screen: CIRAS DataEntryScreenRevisions 080125 A11Y (docx)
REQUEST FOR APPLICATIONS: STABILIZATION HOMES
The Division of Developmental Disabilities (DDD) is very excited to announce that our Request for Applications (RFA) for providers to provide Stabilization Services has been posted!
Review questions and answers submitted for the RFA here: IDHS: Request for Applications for Stabilization Homes: Questions and Answers
As a reminder, there was legislation passed that increased the current capacity of stabilization homes (SH). There are currently 8 short-term stabilization homes. The legislation will add an additional 8 long-term homes and 2 short-term homes. DDD encourages all current CILA providers with expertise in behavioral health supports to consider applying. The deadline for applications is July 1, 2025.
OTHER RESOURCES
The Arc of IL - Virtual Support Group offered to parents, caregivers, and family members of individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities on June 24, 2025 at 5:00 pm Central Time. Free and open to the public; registration required. Learn more and register here: Family Support Group Zoom.
DSCC and IL Life Span - Preparing for Adulthood; Session One is hosted on Zoom at 6:00pm Central Time June 26, 2025. This is a virtual opportunity for families, parents, caregivers, and youth ages 12-15 years of age. As young people move toward adulthood, families face new challenges and changing roles. Learn more and register here: Preparing for Adulthood Zoom.
S.I.B.S Network Event - The Grief and Bereavement Experiences of Children with Intellectual Disabilities webinar on June 30, 2025, starting at 7:00pm Central Time. Learn more and register here: Grief in Children Zoom.
UIC Research Study - Researchers at the Assistive Technology Unit, University of Illinois Chicago, are seeking participants to share their experiences with accessing assistive technology and AAC services. Target audience includes adults who use communication devices, caregivers of device users, and other key stakeholders (e.g., Qualified Intellectual Disability Professionals and Social Workers). If interested, please contact Stephanie Bay at sbay2@uic.edu or 312-995-2353 (call or text).
Disability Scoop - Supreme Court decision rules in favor of people with disabilities 06/12/2025. "Today's decision confirms that students with disabilities have the right to seek justice for discrimination in schools without facing legal barriers that don't exist in workplaces, housing or other areas of public life," said Shira Wakschlag, senior executive officer of legal advocacy and general counsel at The Arc of the United States. Learn more here: DisabilityScoop Article.
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