13th Annual Informational Seminar

AGENDA  March 26, 2025

9:00 - 9:10 am Welcome and Overview Presented by Shirley Perez, Program Director, Ruth Aguilar, Senior Family Advocate, Annie Bruno, Family Advocate, Shakari Asbury, Family Advocate

9:10 am – 10:10 am Planning for the Future: What you need to Know about guardianship and alternative and an update on ABLE – Presented by Brian Rubin, JD and Benji Rubin, JD, Rubin Law

10:10 am – 11:15 am SSA-101 Presented by Shahzaib (Shazz) Shakeel, Public Affairs Specialist with the Social Security Administration

The SSA-101 session will be covering the fundamental concepts and key points about some of the most common Social Security Benefits and programs, including Retirement, Spousal/Survivors, Disability, and SSI. The SSA-101 will be designed for a beginner audience with minimal prior knowledge or SSA programs.

11:15 -11:25 Break

11:25 -12:20 pm Ligas Consent Decree update – What’s Next Presented by Sujatha Jagadeesh

12:20 – 1:00 pm Lunch Break

1:00 pm– 2:15 pm Keynote Speaker – Update on what happening at DHS/DDD, DDD Budget and more Presented by Tonya Piephoff, Director Division of Developmental Disabilities

2:15 pm – 2:30 pm The Arc of Illinois Update Samantha Alloway, Executive Director Arc of Illinois

2:30 pm – 3:00 pm Meet The Aaron Family Presented by Senior FAP Ruth Aguilar in the form of an interview with the family.

A family’s transition experience from the DRS to the DDD waiver. The Aaron’s family shares their unique perspective on community access, to job readiness and living with Autism and developmental disabilities.

3:00 pm – 4:00 pm Conversation with Your Fiscal Agency- Aces$ Presented by Tasha Whiteside, Illinois Program Director, Aces$

4:00 pm – 4:15 pm Wrap Up and Thank you