CHICAGO – A state program that assists individuals with disabilities in achieving greater independence has received the Sterling Achievement Award from the Council of State Community Development Agencies. The Community Development Assistance Program (CDAP) Mobility and Accessibility Rehabilitation Services (MARS) program was created to provide direct assistance to households where an individual with disabilities resides. The program assists persons with mobility impairments by helping to make their homes barrier free and functional.
“It is an honor to receive this recognition. Through programs like the Community Development Assistance Program, we are helping create a better way of life for all Illinoisans and opening the door to more opportunities for people with disabilities. We will continue to work aggressively to assist those with disabilities in living and functioning with greater mobility and independence,” said Governor Blagojevich.
The Sterling Achievement Award recognizes those state programs that have demonstrated, during a sustained period, positive results in improving the lives of lower income persons in the following program areas: Community Development/Economic Development, Housing Assistance, and Homelessness Assistance/Prevention.
The Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) administers the CDAP program on behalf of the state. CDAP assists Illinois communities with populations of 50,000 or less in meeting a variety of economic and community development needs.
CDAP-MARS has a major impact on the community by providing persons with disabilities the option of remaining in their own home by eliminating the physical barriers that they face in their everyday life. Persons with disabilities can continue to thrive in their own home while maintaining their independence. This eliminates the need for long term government aid and/or the possibility of being institutionalized in a long term care environment.
One CDAP-MARS client is a 26 year old woman with cerebral palsy who lives with her parents. She was unable to leave the house on her own, could not use the bathroom unattended, and had to be carried upstairs to her bedroom prior to receiving a grant through the program to rehabilitate her home.
“She can go whenever she wishes, onto the deck in the sunshine and into the garden, and around the block,” said her father. After the rehabilitation was complete and her new living quarters were finished, her father explained, “She entered the bathroom alone and closed the door behind her. When she exited, she was as happy as I have ever seen her. You need to understand that this was the first time in 26 years that this young lady had used a restroom unassisted. My daughter now has a world of her own to live in.”
“Supporting disability rights is a personal passion of mine, but more importantly, it’s our responsibility to ensure every person has an opportunity to a quality way of life,” said DCEO Director Jack Lavin. “Under the Governor’s leadership, we’re continuing to take strides to make state government more accessible for people with disabilities and to combat discrimination in Illinois.”
In 2007, DCEO awarded $685,000 through the MARS program to assist 51 households.