Good Day, Advocates,
Recently your Advocacy/Government Relations Committee (A/GRC) met twice with attorney general candidate, Sen. Lisa Madigan. The A/GRC's meeting first meeting with Sen. Madigan resulted in a firm commitment from Sen. Madigan to represent the interests of people with MS. Sen. Madigan also committed, if elected, to an office of people with disabilities staffed by persons with disabilities and chronic illness.
The other attorney general candidate, Joe Birkett, agreed to meet with the A/GRC, if elected.
The second meeting with Sen. Lisa Madigan was held regarding issues the A/GRC brought up about accessibility issues in the State of Illinois; and, in particular, Walgreen Co. drug stores. Whoever is elected attorney general in Illinois will have jurisdiction over accessibility laws and enforcement and for that reason is of prime importance to people with MS and the A/GRC. Sen. Madigan arranged a meeting at our Chapter offices accompanied by four Walgreen executives - three of which were responsible for design and accessibility of Walgreen stores. We presented our issues that Walgreen's although ADA complaint was not customer friendly. These issues resulted from the sloped design outside of the stores in some new construction, and additional issues and obstacles both inside and outside some of the Walgreen stores. The A/GRC explained that flat surfaces are best for accessibility, and turnstiles, shopping carts, doors, etc., and all need to be customer friendly.
The Walgreen Co. executives were very cooperative and gave the A/GRC a commitment to rectify any design flaws and to review new construction so as to be not only ADA compliant but customer friendly. The A/GRC found this cooperation commendable. The A/GRC and Walgreen Co. agreed to a one-year timeframe to address the above issues and will meet again in approximately one year to review the progress on the above issues.
I cannot say enough about the diligence of database member, Rosemarie Botthoff, who along with A/GRC member, Linda Stearns, brought this issue to the attention of the A/GRC. Rosemarie single-handedly supplied me with photographs, documentation and the perseverance to follow through. While Rosemarie's approach is different from the approach of the A/GRC, it proved that working on this issue together through our A/GRC we have taken a big step towards fulfillment of our goal. I would use Rosemarie as an example of how each database member can bring issues to the A/GRC, and then we can work toward a solution. Personally, I can state that nothing is more valued by the A/GRC then improving the quality of life of people with MS by improving the accessibility of people with MS living their lives and performing their everyday tasks. Hats off to Rosemarie Botthof and Linda Stearns.
Until the next update,
Yolanda Treiguts
Chair
Advocacy/Government Relations Committee