IN 09/17/2025 COMMUNICATION:
- National Hispanic Heritage Month
- SSA Recipients Receiving Paper Checks: Action Required
- HFS Townhall: Illinois Healthcare Transformation 1115 Waiver Annual Public Forum
- Individuals With Developmental Disabilities Who Are Aging and Aging Caregivers: We Need Your Feedback!
- SODC Transition Fairs
- EVV Outreach - Personal Contact Information
- Training Opportunities
- Other Resources
NATIONAL HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH
Please join the Division of Developmental Disabilities (DDD) in recognizing National Hispanic Heritage Month, September 15 through October 15, 2025. This month invites us to reflect not only on the past but also on the vibrant and ongoing contributions of Hispanic individuals and families. Many of these contributions come from the intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) spaces. Hispanic individuals with IDD play a vital role in shaping inclusive services and supports across Illinois.
Beyond the numbers are stories of perseverance, love, and culture that inspire our work every day. We see the ways individuals with IDD, their families, and support networks are helping shape a more inclusive and responsive system. It is through your strength, culture, and partnership that we continue to learn and create better supports. Thank you for inspiring us to do this important work every day.
SSA RECIPIENTS RECEIVING PAPER CHECKS: ACTION REQUIRED
Paper Checks Are Ending by September 30, 2025. Without Action Your Payment Will Be Delayed.
Under Federal law, Social Security (RSDI, SSA, SSD, etc.) and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) payments must be paid electronically. Electronic payments reach you faster and more safely than a paper check.
To make sure your payments are not delayed, representative payees must sign up for Direct Deposit or a Direct Express Card by September 30, 2025.
There are several ways to set up electronic payment:
- You can use your my Social Security account (individual representative payees only);
- You can ask your financial institution to send your direct deposit information electronically to SSA;
- You can contact the National Teleservice Center at 1-800-772-1213 or your local field office for further information.
Learn more about updating SSA payments to direct deposit here: Update direct deposit | SSA
Don't have a bank account? The FDIC website offers information to help you open a bank account online or at a local branch.
HFS TOWNHALL: ILLINOIS HEALTHCARE TRANSFORMATION 1115 WAIVER ANNUAL PUBLIC FORUM
HFS Townhall: Friday October 3, 2025 starting at 11:00 am Central Time
Illinois Healthcare Transformation 1115 Waiver Annual Public Forum to solicit comments on the progress of the state's 1115 Demonstration Waivers.
Individuals seeking to provide oral comments must pre-register by sending an email to hfs.boards.and.commissions@illinois.gov by 5 PM on October 1, 2025.
Written comments may be submitted through October 15, 2025, by sending an email to hfs.1115waiver@illinois.gov.
Additional instructions on how to submit comments and how to join the meeting are provided on this notice: HFS Townhall Public Notice.
INDIVIDUALS WITH DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES WHO ARE AGING AND AGING CAREGIVERS: WE NEED YOUR FEEDBACK!
If you are an individual with IDD who is aging and wants to access aging services or an aging caregiver, please consider completing this survey to help the IDHS Division of Developmental Disabilities, the Department of Aging and the IDHS Division of Rehabilitation Services to make it easier for people to access the services they might need from the Disability and Aging Networks. Below is the survey in English, Spanish, Chinese, and Polish. If you need additional translations, please email DHS.DDDComments@Illinois.gov.
If you need additional translations, please email DHS.DDDComments@Illinois.gov.
EVV OUTREACH - PERSONAL CONTACT INFORMATION
DDD encourages all Home-Based consumers, Personal Support Workers (PSWs), and Employers of Record (EOR) supported through ACES$ to ensure that their personal contact information is up to date with ACES$. Personal contact information includes email addresses, physical addresses, phone numbers, and any backup contact information that may be relevant.
Without the most recent information on file, you will not be able to receive vital information regarding changes or updates regarding Electronic Visit Verification (EVV) as well as other Home and Community-Based Service (HCBS) requirements.
UPCOMING SODC TRANSITION FAIRS
The State-Operated Developmental Centers (SODC) continue to host transition fairs for residents and family/guardians to help educate all regarding options for where individuals might want to receive services. Send an email to DHS.DDD.Transformation@Illinois.gov if you're interested in signing up as a vendor at the SODC transition fairs.
Transition fairs for Fall 2025 are from 9am-12pm Central Time on the dates listed below:
- Shapiro Developmental Center
- 09/19/2025
- back-up date 09/26/2025
- Murray Developmental Center
- 10/03/2025
- back-up date 10/10/2025
- Kiley Developmental Center
- 10/08/2025
- back-up date 10/15/2025
- Mabley Developmental Center
- 10/10/2025
- back-up date 10/17/2025
- Choate Developmental & Mental Health Center
- 10/22/2025
- back-up date 10/29/2025
- Fox Developmental Center
- 10/24/2025
- back-up date 11/07/2025
Additional transition resource: Family Transition Project
MEDICAID ADVOCACY OPPORTUNITY IN ILLINOIS
The Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services (HFS) is periodically recruiting members for a Beneficiary Advisory Council (BAC). The BAC will be made up of current and former Medicaid customers and family members or caregivers with experience supporting Medicaid customers.
- Members of the BAC will provide critical input on their experiences with the Illinois Medicaid program, which will help craft future policy developments aimed at improving the program for customers.
- Learn more about the program here: Beneficiary Advisory Council
- The most recent round of applications was accepted through September 8, 2025. There will be additional application periods.
- Interested applicants can be notified by email when the next application period opens if they sign up for HFS Email Notification Request by clicking this link: HFS Email Notification Request. An announcement will also be made in future DDD Communication when applications are being accepted.
TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES
- ACES$ will be offering online training opportunities regarding EVV requirements for Personal Support Workers (PSW), Self-Directed Assistance Providers (SDA), and Self-Directed families. Training is scheduled for Thursday, September 25th at 1:00pm Central Time. Registration here: ACES$ EVV Training Registration.
- DDD - "Training Tips for Engagement" will be hosted virtually September 25, 2025, from 10:00 am to 12:00 noon Central Time. This training is hosted quarterly for Qualified Intellectual Disabilities Professionals (QIDP), Independent Service Coordination (ISC) Agencies, and Leadership. Register here: Engagement - Webex
OTHER RESOURCES
- Social Security Administration (SSA) - "Debunking the 3 Biggest Myths about Disability Benefits and Work" is a free virtual webinar will begin at 2:00 pm Central Time on September 17, 2025. This program is for Social Security Beneficiaries that want to work while receiving SSA benefits and is one session in a series of virtual presentations (part of Work Incentive Seminar Event (WISE) webinars). Register for the webinar here: Ticket to Work Webinar. If you have any questions about this webinar, please contact support@choosework.ssa.gov.
- IL Life Span (ILS) Program - "Tecnologia Asistida Soluciones de tecnología inteligente para tu hogar" is a virtual and free webinar in Spanish. Presentation begins September 25, 2025, at 5:30 pm Central Time. Learn more and register here: Tecnologia Asistida Registration
- Every Step of the Way (ESW) Resource Center - Catch-22 Caregiver Meeting "Sharing is Caring" is a free virtual webinar for parents, caregivers, family members, guardians of individuals age 14-59 years old. The event is hosted online September 18, 2025, starting at 6:30 pm Central Time. Learn more and register here: ESW Registration - Zoom
- UIC - "Family Support Stories" Podcast aims to bridge the gap between research, policy, and the lived experience of families of people with disabilities. The latest episode, "Caring for Ourselves, Caring for our Families," and previous episodes can be found on Spotify by clicking here: UIC Podcast
The information contained herein should not be considered a substitute for the appropriate official statutes, rules, regulations, or the advice of legal counsel. To request to be added to our email database, or to update your contact and service information, please complete our Contact Survey. Information provided will help us to better tailor communications to you in the future.
Return to DDD Communication
Return to DDD Home Page
