SR2171 100TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR2171 LRB100 24189 ALS 43386 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to learn of the death of Ann Ford, who passed away on September 23, 2018; and

WHEREAS, Ann Ford was born to Bill and Mary Ford on July 26, 1941; a self-advocate who contracted polio at age five, she overcame tremendous personal adversity and, drawing on firsthand experience, encouraged others to pursue their goals no matter the obstacle; she earned a degree from Roosevelt University in Chicago; and

WHEREAS, Ann Ford dedicated her career to empowering people with disabilities to become full participants in society; she began working for the National Paraplegia Foundation in Chicago in 1967; in 1978, she moved to Massachusetts to serve the new England Spinal Cord Injury Association; she then returned to Illinois, where she was the first director for two Centers for Independent Living; in 1985, she launched and led the Peoria-based Central Illinois CIL; in 1991, she started the DuPage CIL in Glen Ellyn; she served statewide as the first Executive Director of Illinois' Network of Centers for Independent Living from 1999 until 2017; and

WHEREAS, Ann Ford was instrumental in efforts to pass and demand compliance with the ADA; she fought against harsh rules that harmed home caregivers, successfully lobbied to de-institutionalize disabled adults, and oversaw a drive to secure decent health insurance for people with disabilities; her expertise was featured in Lives Worth Living, a 2011 documentary on the history of disability rights in America; she earned the Justin Dart Distinguished Citizen Award from the Coalition of Citizens with Disabilities and Marianjoy's Courage Award for Distinguished contributions on behalf of people with disabilities; and

WHEREAS, Ann Ford was a devoted mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother and a loving, caring sister; and

WHEREAS, Ann Ford was preceded in death by her parents and her brothers, Bill and John Ford; and

WHEREAS, Ann Ford is survived by her daughter, Erin Ford; her grandson, Andrew (Arianna) Masters; her great-grandson, Jack; her sisters, Judy (Jim) Lynch and Shea Ford; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDREDTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of Ann Ford and extend our sincere condolences to her family, friends, and all who knew and loved her; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to the family of Ann Ford as an expression of our deepest sympathy.