Disability Rights Movement

This organization works alongside people with all kinds of disabilities including intellectual, psychiatric, physical and sensory disabilities to ensure that they receive proper housing. These programs and services revolve around one central belief: that people with disabilities have the right to live the lives they choose for themselves, in an accessible, integrated world.

For nearly 40 years, ADAPT has fought for the right to community. Their vision of community is a place where all people can live, move, and participate in the ways that recognize and support people's individual dignity and freedom. Their vision is integration into all aspects of society, where every member of the community experiences myriad opportunities, not a multitude of barriers.

The American Association of People with Disabilities works to increase the political and economic power of people with disabilities. As a national disability-led and cross-disability rights organization, AAPD advocates for full civil rights for over 60 million Americans with disabilities. We do this by promoting equal opportunity, economic power, independent living, and political participation.

Aspires purposes is to be an ally to people with disabilities, working together to pursue greater possibilities—and create better communities in the process. This is done through designing programs based on boundless inclusivity, continuous growth, active collaboration, and collective leadership that adapts to the needs of the people who use them

The Chicago Park District is a national leader in serving individuals with disabilities. Starting in 1965, park employees began to be trained on ways to better serve Chicago citizens with disabilities. In 1968, Chicago became the birthplace of the Special Olympics with the park district playing an integral role in its development. Today, the Chicago Park District strives to enhance the lives of Chicagoans with disabilities by providing a variety of recreation and leisure opportunities.

Disability Rights Education and Defense Fund (DREDF), founded in 1979, is a leading national civil rights law and policy center directed by individuals with disabilities and parents who have children with disabilities. Their mission is to To advance the civil and human rights of people with disabilities through legal advocacy, training, education, and public policy and legislative development.

Equip for Equality supports the rights of people to make their own decisions and seeks to remove barriers that prevent them from being productive, independent and successful in all aspects of their lives: school, college, employment, recreation, sports, independent living and civic involvement. The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and other reforms meant to level the playing field for people with disabilities have improved accessibility and achieved other important changes in society. Despite these advances, however, many people with disabilities are still routinely denied their rights in education, employment, housing, government programs and in other important ways. Others find their basic needs are neglected or that they are physically or emotionally abused in institutions and in their own homes. When this occurs, people can turn to Equip for Equality for help

L’Arche Chicago’s community life is centered around three communal homes and ten core members (persons with intellectual disabilities). In addition to lifelong homes, L’Arche provides professional support services and seeks ways for core members to be actively engaged in the civic, social, and spiritual life of the Chicago metropolitan area. Sound financial management is a top priority for ensuring the long-term health of L’Arche Chicago. Our mission is to celebrate the unique value of each person and to create lifelong places of belonging through small, residential homes that empower residents to share their gifts with their neighborhood, city, country, and world.