Loves Park Agency that Helps People With Disabilities Is Closing
Access Services of Northern Illinois is based in Loves Park and their mission for 30 years has been "to empower and assist individuals with developmental disabilities to participate as full citizens in their community by coordinating
and advocating for community services and supports of their choice".
This agency provides services for about 4,000 people each year in Northern Illinois, and sadly, they just announced they will be closing their doors for good on June 30, 2019.
A press release sent by Access Services of Northern Illinois to 13 WREX says;
“Our Board of Directors made the difficult decision based on four contracts, with the Illinois Department of Human Services – Division of Developmental Disabilities, that were put up for rebid in September. The specifications of the contracts called for additional responsibilities with no guarantee of sufficient funding the conduct those activities in a quality manner,” said Matt Toohey, Executive Director.
Since Access Services of Northern Illinois helps 4,000 infants, children, teens and adults with developmental disabilities every year, what happens now? This closure seems like a pretty huge loss for the community. WREX reports;
starting July 1, 2019, Service, Inc., located in Joliet, and Champaign County Regional Planning Commission located in Champaign, will assume the four contracts and provide the same services currently offered by ASNI.