National Council on Independent Living

SAVE THE DATE! NCIL will release our Request for 2025 Annual Conference Workshop Proposals before the end of the year. Proposals will be due Friday, February 7, 2025. The theme for this year’s Annual Conference is LEVEL UP: Building Tomorrow Together. The conference will take place July 21-24, 2025 at the Grand Hyatt Washington, DC. More information coming soon! Image: Conference Logo - LEVEL UP: Building Tomorrow Together. Graphic features level (fader) switches in blue, green, yellow, and pink. 2025 Annual Conference on Independent Living. NCIL logo features a multi-colored fingerprint in matching colors.

19th: A Disability Policy Champion’s Time in Congress Has Come to an End Pennsylvania Sen. Bob Casey was instrumental in passing multiple pieces of bipartisan legislation to advance the rights and well-being of people with disabilities. “It is important not to despair when it looks like majorities might be against you, or an administration might be contrary to what you believe in, either in disability policy, or more?broadly. Just remember the recent examples of the power of advocacy and the results that can come because of that advocacy,” Casey said. Read more: https://bit.ly/4fHwREp

Congratulations, Access Living and all Illinois advocates! #DignityInPay

Join Not Dead Yet for a Virtual Memorial for Diane Coleman You are invited to join our friends at Not Dead Yet for a virtual memorial celebrating the life and legacy of Not Dead Yet Founder Diane Coleman. Stories from her life and work will be shared. A community space to mourn her loss will be created. WHEN:?Monday, November 25, 2024; 3:00 p.m. Eastern WHERE: Zoom CART and ASL will be provided. Please email [email protected] if you have additional access needs. REGISTER TO ATTEND: https://bit.ly/4eKypMC

Action Alert: Urge Your Representative to Bring the Latonya Reeves Freedom Act to the Floor! We have an opportunity to advance the?Latonya Reeves Freedom Act (H.R. 2708). A discharge petition has been filed to bring this legislation to the House floor. A discharge petition is a way for members of Congress to force a vote on a bill that has been stuck in committee. It helps break deadlock and forces a bill to the floor. If 218 Representatives sign the discharge petition, the House of Representatives will debate and vote on the Latonya Reeves Freedom Act. About H.R. 2708 The?Latonya Reeves Freedom Act?seeks to protect individuals with disabilities who require long-term services and supports (LTSS) by strengthening their rights under the Americans with Disabilities Act. Key provisions include: - Ensuring individuals can access community-based LTSS in the most integrated settings. - Prohibiting discrimination in LTSS delivery. - Mandating states to create enforceable plans to transition individuals from institutional settings. - Addressing disparities in LTSS access. - Enhancing independent living opportunities. Read the full bill text (PDF): https://bit.ly/3CHgNUo What You Can Do Check the Signers:? View the list of Representatives who have signed the discharge petition: https://bit.ly/40Ofm0I If your Representative hasn’t signed, it’s crucial to contact them and urge them to act.?You can find out who your Representative is at house.gov Contact Your Legislator:? Urge your Representative to sign the discharge petition and support H.R. 2708: https://bit.ly/4hOUxs0 Image: ACTION ALERT – National Council on Independent Living Advocacy and Action Center graphic features two abstract letters A, reflected horizontally in purple and green.

NCIL Welcomes Four New Board Members! NCIL would like to welcome four new members to our Board of Directors! These new members include individuals recently elected by the NCIL membership and individuals appointed by the NCIL Board President. New members will join current and returning Board members and will serve either one or two year terms. Lillian Harrison – Region 3 Representative NCIL’s President appointed Lillian Harrison to the position of Region 3 Representative this fall. Lillian is the Executive Director at Independent Resources, Inc. in Wilmington, Delaware. She considers one of her greatest accomplishments as an advocate in IL to be that she is able to utilize her seats on state, county, and local boards, including the Governor’s Council on Housing, to ensure individuals with disabilities have a seat at the table. Part of the reason she wanted to serve on the NCIL Board is to open up opportunities for greater collaborations and partnerships. Region 3 includes Delaware, District of Columbia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and West Virginia. Jennifer Kucera – Region 5 Representative NCIL’s President appointed Jennifer Kucera to the position of Region 5 Representative this fall. Jennifer is a firm believer in “Nothing About Us Without Us” and serves as the Healthcare Outreach Coordinator at The Center for Disability Empowerment in Columbus, Ohio. She is also a member of United Healthcare’s National Advisory Board on People with Complex Care Needs and is Chair of Ohio’s Developmental Disabilities Council. Region 5 includes Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio, and Wisconsin. Greg Colvin – Region 6 Representative This summer, NCIL’s membership elected Greg Colvin to the position of Region 6 Representative Greg currently resides in Oklahoma. He has been an individual member of NCIL for two years and has lived experience in disability. By serving on the NCIL Board Greg wants to help others achieve full independence. Region 6 includes Arkansas, Louisiana, New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Texas. Andrew Brown – Youth At-Large NCIL’s membership elected Andrew Brown to the position of Youth At-Large. Andrew has been a NCIL member for four years. Andrew is affiliated with Independence Associates, a Center for Independent Living in East Bridgewater, Massachusetts, where he has served as a Youth Consumer Board Member. Andrew has deep knowledge of Independent Living and a passion for disability advocacy. He believes that youth presence is an important part of NCIL’s mission and will benefit the Board of Directors. NCIL extends our deepest appreciation to outgoing Board members Samantha Moreno (Region 6 Representative) and Larissa Martin (Diversity, Equity, Accessibility, and Inclusion Committee Chair) for their guidance and leadership. Visit https://lnkd.in/evjNEaFr for further information.

A Message from Theo Braddy: The Giants We Face This is Theo Braddy, Executive Director of NCIL. This is an early message, but we need to hear it now. The title is “The Giants We Face”. ? This election has deeply impacted the disability community, leaving us uncertain about what lies ahead. The campaign raised many questions about how people with disabilities and other multi-marginalized groups will be treated under this new Administration. Read more: https://bit.ly/3Oa2lGY Listen to the audio version of this message: https://bit.ly/48OJ2MV Image: NCIL staff Jenny Sichel and Theo Braddy pose for a selfie outside the Grand Hyatt. Behind them, the sidewalk is filled with people lining up to begin the NCIL 2023 March to the Capitol.

In Memoriam: Diane Coleman ? NCIL mourns the loss of Diane Coleman, a visionary leader and beloved member of our disability rights community. Diane was a fierce advocate whose influence reached far and wide, from her early involvement with ADAPT in the 1980s to her tireless work with the Progress Center for Independent Living and her founding of Not Dead Yet. She was also a dedicated member of our Healthcare Subcommittee, where her insights and passion for justice strengthened our work. Diane’s leadership and advocacy have been pivotal in challenging the use of?Quality-Adjusted Life Years (QALYs) in hospitals – a practice that assigns a value to life.?Her efforts have also shaped the disability community’s opposition to assisted suicide and euthanasia, laying a foundation that will continue to support and guide advocates for generations to come. ? Diane’s advocacy was rooted in her love and respect for those around her. She valued empowering others, especially young advocates, and believed deeply in collective action. While she managed, taught, and organized with skill, the strength and authenticity of those she cared about?mattered most to her. Through her enduring friendships and commitment to community, Diane built a network of support and activism that has strengthened the fight for dignity and justice for all. ? Her legacy is not only in her accomplishments, but in the resilience, empowerment, and advocacy that she instilled in the community. Our thoughts are with her family, friends, and the countless people whose lives she impacted. ? In solidarity and remembrance, National Council on Independent Living More information: - See service schedule and virtual guestbook: https://bit.ly/3YQiWGe - Learn more about Not Dead Yet: https://notdeadyet.org/ Image: Diane Coleman holds a bouquet and smiles for the camera. She is wearing glasses and a sparkly sweater.

A Message from NCIL Director of Advocacy and Public Policy Jessica Podesva "I voted this morning! Early voting is underway in many states.?As members of the disability community and as advocates, our voices are essential to shaping the policies that affect our lives and future. This election is an opportunity to make our voices heard on issues like healthcare, accessibility, employment, and education. If you haven’t yet, make a plan to vote! Whether you’re voting early, by mail, or on Election Day, let’s ensure our community shows up strong. Our votes matter, and together we can work toward a more accessible, inclusive future for all." - Jessica Podesva #DisabilityVote #VoteEarly #NCIL Image: I Voted Sticker

A Message from Theo Braddy: A Precious Moment November 1, 2024 Listen to the audio version of this message (https://bit.ly/4hnWZWh) Hello, this is Theo Braddy, Executive Director of NCIL, bringing you another message. This one I am calling: A Precious Moment At last, I'm putting words to an experience that left a profound impact on me a few months ago. I wanted to share this sooner, but life has a way of making demands on your plans. In early July, just before the NCIL Annual Conference, I had an experience I won't soon forget. I had the honor of joining Alison Barkoff, the former ACL Administrator and Assistant Secretary for Aging, and key officials from the Department of State, united with an awesome group of disability rights leaders. Together, we addressed the First Lady of Ukraine and her delegation. Our mission was to offer our insights as Ukraine undertakes an enormous shift — from institutionalization to community-based support for people with disabilities. Ukraine faces profound challenges: veterans returning home with life-altering disabilities and children carrying lifelong disabling conditions. And as I sat there, I couldn’t help but feel both grateful and clearheaded. Yes, the U.S. has a long road ahead in fully realizing the rights of people with disabilities, but sitting across from that delegation, I felt an unmistakable sense of gratitude for how far we've come. When it was my turn to speak, at that precious moment, I wanted to leave them with something they could carry home, something powerful and rooted in our own hard-earned lessons. I went over my allotted time — cutting my words, making space for what mattered most — and left them with this: "How you see people with disabilities will determine how you treat them. If you see us as less valuable, if you pity us, if you view us as charity cases who only take from society without contributing, then you will never treat us as you treat yourselves." Read more: https://bit.ly/4fwQdMd Image: Theo Braddy and eight other people, including Ukraine’s First Lady, gather for a group photo.