Equip For Equality

Equip For Equality Contact information, map and directions, contact form, opening hours, services, ratings, photos, videos and announcements from Equip For Equality, 20 N Michigan Avenue, Ste 300, Chicago, IL.

Equip for Equality provides legal & self advocacy services for People with Disabilities. 800-537-2632 (v) 800-610-2779 (tty) www.equipforequality.org - Offices located in Chicago, Rockford, Springfield, Moline and Carbondale

Welcome, Michael Berns!Michael is officially joining Equip for Equality as a Staff Attorney in our Client Assistance Pro...
09/24/2025

Welcome, Michael Berns!

Michael is officially joining Equip for Equality as a Staff Attorney in our Client Assistance Program (CAP)—but he’s no stranger to our team. Michael worked with us during law school as both a summer intern and an Illinois Access to Justice clerk.

CAP helps people with disabilities get the most out of Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) services and Centers for Independent Living (CILs)—programs that support employment goals and independent living.

“I’m excited to join the CAP team and dive into this new role. I look forward to building on my experience at EFE conducting client intake and supporting cases.”

We’re thrilled to have Michael continue his journey with us in this new role!

Important update on consent decree enforcement work in Chicago: Reform groups have raised alarm that CPD’s increasing us...
09/24/2025

Important update on consent decree enforcement work in Chicago: Reform groups have raised alarm that CPD’s increasing use of force against Black and Latino Chicagoans violates the federal consent decree.

In partnership with the ACLU of Illinois, and alongside Northwestern University Pritzker School of Law Community Justice and Civil Rights Clinic and the University of Chicago Law School Mandel Legal Aid Clinic, Equip for Equality is proud to be part of this critical work to ensure accountability and protect civil rights.

Read more from WTTW News: https://news.wttw.com/2025/09/24/reform-groups-say-cpd-s-increasing-use-force-against-black-latino-chicagoans-violates

Students with disabilities in Chicago are starting the year without the supports they need. Staffing cuts and late hires...
09/17/2025

Students with disabilities in Chicago are starting the year without the supports they need. Staffing cuts and late hires mean kids are waiting for services they are legally entitled to.

As Olga Pribyl, Vice President of the Special Education Clinic at Equip for Equality, said: “Schools should be appropriately staffed at the start of school.”

Read complete coverage by Sarah Karp at Chicago Sun-Times/WBEZ Chicago: https://chicago.suntimes.com/education/2025/09/17/cps-special-education-teachers-aides-cuts-and-new-positions-leaves-students-lost-behind-and-unserved-legally-required

📞 For help, contact our Special Education Hotline: 1-866-KIDS-046 (1-866-543-7046)

Who helped you move forward in your journey of understanding disability rights? Tag an advocate, teacher, or mentor to s...
09/11/2025

Who helped you move forward in your journey of understanding disability rights? Tag an advocate, teacher, or mentor to show your gratitude—and to give others the benefit of their wisdom.

News Alert: Recent data shows that incidents where Chicago police officers point their fi****ms at people increased 44% ...
09/10/2025

News Alert: Recent data shows that incidents where Chicago police officers point their fi****ms at people increased 44% from 2022 to 2024.

“Pointing a gun at a person is a forceful and threatening action that causes long-lasting trauma and terror," says Jessica Gingold, a Senior Attorney at Equip for Equality who represents a coalition of police reform groups. "Those victims are forever impacted, especially individuals with disabilities and children, some as young as 3 and 4 years old.”

Gingold calls on CPD to be transparent about why these incidents are increasing and about the criteria used to decide whether pointing a gun was “reasonable.”

Read more: https://news.wttw.com/2025/09/10/number-times-cpd-officers-pointed-their-guns-people-increased-44-2022-2024-data

𝗦𝘁𝗮𝗳𝗳 𝗙𝗲𝗮𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲: 𝗝𝘂𝗹𝗶𝗲 𝗛𝗼𝗯𝘀𝗼𝗻Julie Hobson serves as a Clinical Monitor at Equip for Equality, where she advocates for peop...
09/10/2025

𝗦𝘁𝗮𝗳𝗳 𝗙𝗲𝗮𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲: 𝗝𝘂𝗹𝗶𝗲 𝗛𝗼𝗯𝘀𝗼𝗻

Julie Hobson serves as a Clinical Monitor at Equip for Equality, where she advocates for people with developmental disabilities living in state-operated facilities. Their goal is her goal: to make their dream—and fundamental right—to live in the community a reality.

This dream is mired in hard truths, which Julie articulates so clearly: “There is constant resistance within the system to change—especially when it comes to appropriate community housing for individuals with physical disabilities and mental health resources for individuals who are dually diagnosed.”

It is Julie's work to take on these systemic barriers to community living, and to push for the safe, integrated, and dignified living environments that people with developmental disabilities deserve. We’re proud to recognize Julie’s dedication to confronting entrenched systems and fighting for meaningful reform.

𝗟𝗶𝗴𝗮𝘀 𝗖𝗮𝘀𝗲 𝗨𝗽𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗲: The State of Illinois has appealed the district court’s decision to keep the Ligas Consent Decree in ...
09/04/2025

𝗟𝗶𝗴𝗮𝘀 𝗖𝗮𝘀𝗲 𝗨𝗽𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗲: The State of Illinois has appealed the district court’s decision to keep the Ligas Consent Decree in place. Their appeal is now before the US Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit.

The Ligas Consent Decree was entered in 2011 to ensure that people with developmental disabilities can live in the community—not institutions—which is their civil right.

The decree has brought real progress, but there are still serious issues with the developmental disabilities system in Illinois that require court oversight.

Equip for Equality will continue to work to ensure the Ligas Consent Decree remains in place.

Stay tuned for case updates, and remember you can always call Equip for Equality if you need help leaving an institution or getting the services you need to live safely in the community.

𝗖𝗿𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝗨𝗽𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗦𝗼𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗦𝗲𝗰𝘂𝗿𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗕𝗲𝗻𝗲𝗳𝗶𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗿𝗶𝗲𝘀Starting September 30, 2025, the Social Security Administration will no...
09/02/2025

𝗖𝗿𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝗨𝗽𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗦𝗼𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗦𝗲𝗰𝘂𝗿𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗕𝗲𝗻𝗲𝗳𝗶𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗿𝗶𝗲𝘀

Starting September 30, 2025, the Social Security Administration will no longer issue paper checks for benefit payments.

To keep receiving your benefits, you must switch to direct deposit or a Direct Express® card before that date.

If you don’t take action by 9/30/25, your benefit payments will be disrupted.

Learn more and set up your electronic payment option here: https://blog.ssa.gov/social-security-to-fully-transition-to-electronic-payments/

Please share this update widely so no one misses their benefits!

09/02/2025

Check out what’s happening this September for New Leaf, and stay tuned for individual reminders—especially for events that require registration! Help us spread the word 💚

These are more than acronyms.More than obscure dollars and cents.These are human lives.Congress is considering deep cuts...
08/29/2025

These are more than acronyms.
More than obscure dollars and cents.
These are human lives.

Congress is considering deep cuts to the disability rights programs that protect people’s ability to live, learn, work, and vote.

The House Appropriations Committee meets next week—there’s little time to act. Call your Representatives and urge them to protect full funding for the Protection & Advocacy System!

08/29/2025

Come get your record cleared! Join for a Records Expungement Workshop with NLEN, New Leaf Illinois, and the Illinois Coalition to End Permanent Punishments! Learn your rights, understand the expungement process, and connect with resources that can help you move forward.

📅 Thursday, September 4th
🕤 9:30 AM – 12:30 PM
📍 1111 S. Homan Ave

On Tuesday, September 9 from 1:00 pm - 4:30 pm, the federal judge overseeing the CPD consent decree will hear from the p...
08/28/2025

On Tuesday, September 9 from 1:00 pm - 4:30 pm, the federal judge overseeing the CPD consent decree will hear from the public. This is an opportunity to make your voice heard on how policing impacts you and what needs to change.

If you want to speak at the hearing—sign up by September 8th at 4:30pm at bit.ly/consentdecreeCHI

To join the hearing by Zoom, click bit.ly/zoomsep9

Address

20 N Michigan Avenue, Ste 300
Chicago, IL
60602

Opening Hours

Monday 8:30am - 5pm
Tuesday 8:30am - 5pm
Wednesday 8:30am - 5pm
Thursday 8:30am - 5pm
Friday 8:30am - 5pm

Telephone

+13123410022

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