(20 ILCS 4007/5)
Sec. 5.
Legislative findings.
The General Assembly recognizes that
many persons with disabilities and their families receive some level of
support and services that are funded or administered by State human
services agencies. The support and services are provided to persons with
disabilities or their families, if appropriate, through arrangements with
local community based vendors, organizations, or agencies. The General
Assembly further recognizes that persons with
disabilities who receive the services and support, directly or indirectly,
are often not consulted for their perspectives, nor are their viewpoints
sought regarding the
efficiency, strengths, or weaknesses of the services and support. Various
agencies in State government also promulgate standards that govern the
administration or operation of the services and support. Seldom are
persons with disabilities or their families involved in the development of
standards that directly affect the quality of the services and support that
they receive. In addition, there are legislative commissions that serve in
an advisory capacity concerning the services provided to persons with
disabilities and their families, whose membership does not include persons
with disabilities and their families.
Therefore, the General Assembly finds that:
(a) Persons with disabilities and their families have a significant
contribution to make in the decision making processes that shape the
support and services they receive through State government.
(b) Persons with disabilities and their families should be provided with
meaningful opportunities to contribute their perspectives through their
experiences concerning issues relating to services, support, and standards
that ultimately affect them.
(c) Services and support should be responsive and sensitive to the
cultural, racial, age, language, and gender characteristics of persons with disabilities
and their families.
(d) Meaningful opportunities to contribute their perspectives should
provide adequate information, in a manner that facilitates and allows for
participation by persons with disabilities and their families.
(Source: P.A. 87-977.)
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