The Arc of Illinois

The Ligas Family Advocate Program has one purpose - to connect recipients of Ligas award letters seeking Home Based or CILA services and their families with family advocates who are knowledgeable about creative ways to utilize their Ligas funding to build successful lives in the community. Ligas Family Advocates will work to provide information to award letter recipients and their families about options. A primary goal of the program is to connect families with other families so they can share their unique perspectives as stakeholders in the system.

The Arc of Illinois, through a grant from the Illinois Council on Developmental Disabilities, administers the Consumer Involvement Program and distributes consumer stipend funds to enable people with developmental disabilities and their family members to attend conferences of their choice that are directly related to developmental disability issues. An in-state or out-of-state conference directly related to developmental disabilities. Assistance may be provided for: Conference Registration, Child Care, Respite Care, Meals, Personal Attendant, Hotel, Transportation, and more.

We encourage people with intellectual/developmental disabilities (I/DD) living in large institutions (and their families) to explore the possibilities of community living. Family advocates meet one on one with self-advocates and their families by phone, email, or in person - whatever is most helpful. We are here to listen and learn their histories, their needs, and their concerns. For more information, visit: https://www.thearcofil.org/familytransition/