Equip For Equality, Inc.

The Equip for Equality, Inc. is a private non-profit advocacy organization established in 1977 whose mission is to advance the human and civil rights of children and adults in Illinois with physical and mental disabilities or who have a disability as defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). The organization is dedicated to ensuring that individuals with disabilities in the State of Illinois are free from abuse, neglect, or exploitation; from the misuse of restraint and seclusion; and from discrimination in housing, employment, and public accommodations. Equip for Equality also works to ensure that individuals with disabilities have control over personal decisions and ready access to government services, assistive technology, and appropriate educational services during school age. The organization works to fulfill its objectives through monitoring the performance of agencies responsible for delivering services to people with disabilities; establishing a network of professional advocates and attorneys who provide technical assistance and advice in self-advocacy and direct legal services; and acting as an instrument of change by lobbying in Springfield, Illinois for laws that protect the rights of individuals with disabilities. Equip for Equality’s Training Institute on Disability Rights offers several seminars for individuals with disabilities and family members including “Rights under the Americans with Disabilities Act,””Challenging Employment Discrimination,””What Parents Needs to Know About Their Child’s Special Education Rights,””What People with Disabilities Need to Know About Guardianship,” and “What Family Members Need to Know About Guardianship.” The organization offers a variety of educational materials including brochures, handbooks, Spanish language materials, and audiotapes.