Advocacy Efforts

Promoting Equality and Shaping Public Policy

Advocacy Efforts

Ray Graham Association can trace its founding to the grassroots efforts of a few families more than 60 years ago. Advancing public policy to positively impact people with disabilities is still a priority. We strive to offer services that align with best practices by pushing for continuous quality improvement. When these practices don’t exist, we believe it is our responsibility to partner with others to create them.

Ray Graham Association is part of long-term advocacy initiative called Partners for the Solution which promotes public awareness, advocates for equality and shapes public policy to best support people with disabilities in Illinois.

Wage Campaign

As a founding leader of the They Deserve More coalition, Ray Graham Association (RGA) is now one of over 80 agencies taking on the wage campaign to increase wages for our dedicated Direct Support Professionals (DSPs). Prior to 2017’s budget, there hadn’t been a wage increase in over a decade. Since the start of the campaign (2016), wages for DSPs have increased by $1.25. There was a 75-cent increase in 2017 and we were able to secure a 50-cent wage increase in the IL budget for 2018. While we were hoping for a higher increase in wages, it is a significant step in the right direction. We continue to advocate for further wage increases.

2019 Campaign
Recruiting and retaining direct support team members at RGA continues to be one of our greatest challenges. The increase in the state’s minimum wage will have a further negative impact. We need a rate increase to keep our wages above the minimum wage!
Please contact your State Representative and State Senator and ask them to support House Bill 2148 and Senate Bill 1148.  These are identical bills that address the need to keep our direct support team members’ wages above the statewide minimum wage.
To get updates from the They Deserve More coalition Click Here

Advocacy Committee

RGA’s Advocacy Committee is comprised of people that receive services, families, Board members and RGA Team members. We focus on issues important to the people we support and act as champions so that our collective voices are heard and quality services for people with disabilities are preserved at all levels.

Stand with us and let us know you want to be involved. Join the Advocacy Committee by emailing us at info@raygraham.org.

CONTACT US Ray Graham Association
901 Warrenville Road, Suite 500
Lisle, IL 60532

Call Us: 630-620-2222
Email Us: info@raygraham.org
CONNECT WITH US
Ray Graham Association meets national standards on culturally and linguistically appropriate services (CLAS). Our plan is available for review upon request.

Ray Graham Association welcomes calls from IL Relay Service (7-1-1).