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The Public Policy and Public Affairs Unit of the Mayor’s Office for People with Disabilities helps the department promote an understanding of issues concerning people with disabilities, from high-level initiatives to grassroots community outreach. This unit provides public policy and public affairs services to individuals, organizations and media outlets with the overarching goal of full inclusion and making Chicago the most accessible city in the nation.
Public Policy
- Identifies and directs MOPD’s legislative and policy priorities
- Spearheads departmental accessibility and disability policy initiatives
- Monitors and analyzes City, State and Federal legislation and develops the City’s official positions on disability-related issues
On-going initiatives include:
- Drafting and spearheading emergency preparedness policies
- Increasing accessible voting throughout Chicago
- Developing accessible technology policies
- Increasing and promoting the use of certified disabled owned businesses
- Partnering with first-responder agencies to develop policies related to and affecting the disability community
Past initiatives include:
- Developed guidelines for sidewalk café accessibility for nearly 1,000 licensed restaurants
- Provided oversight, in coordination with the Chicago Department of Transportation, of the installation of over 25,000 new compliant curb cuts
- Incentivized the Business Enterprises Owned by People with Disabilities (BEPD) certification program to promote the utilization of disabled owned businesses
- Spearheaded efforts to caption web cast of City Council meetings
- Developed a five-year capital improvement plan to make 77 CPS schools accessible
Public Affairs and Information
- Manages media relations and public affairs for the department
- Produces departmental brochures, newsletters and directories
- Coordinates community outreach for the department to promote programs and services
- Provides guidance and assistance to City departments, sister agencies and community organizations seeking disability-related information such as: statistical data, reasonable accommodations resources and through the distribution of information to the disability community
- Responds to general accessibility- and disability-related information requests from the public
Most Recent News (Public Policy and Public Affairs)
| Jul 26, 2013 | Mayor Emanuel commemorates the 23rd anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act |
Supporting Information
- Business Enterprises Owned by People with Disabilities (BEPD) Initiative
- Emergency Preparedness Resources for People with Disabilities
- Facts and Figures about People with Disabilities in Chicago and the U.S.
- Guidelines for Writing and Reporting about People with Disabilities
- Service Animals
Department Main Office
Mayor's Office for People with Disabilities
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