IL: Egyption Regional Human Rights Authority

On May 22, the Egyptian Regional Human Rights Authority met for its regular meeting, this time at the Depot in Anna.

This rather unassuming group of nine private citizens and health care professionals meets six times a year to discuss their investigations of disabled individuals’ complaints of rights violations by service-providing agencies.

The Human Rights Authority is one program under the Illinois Guardianship and Advocacy Commission, a state agency that promotes the rights of persons with disabilities.

“(A service provider) can be anything from a special education program to a group home to a hospital psychiatric unit; any place where individuals with disabilities might receive disability-related services,” said HRA Director Teresa Parks.

The Egyptian regional authority, which encompasses Southern Illinois, is one of nine regions across the state.

The local panels, which review and investigate complaints, are usually made up of three service providers and six citizens.

The Egyptian Regional Authority service providers include Sharon Mumford, J.R. Livesay and Mary McMahan, as well as Alphonso Farmer, Kathy Rambeau, Clarence E. Russell, Phyllis Brown, Pam O’Connor and Sue Taylor Barfield.

“The bulk of the review, the majority of the membership, is made up of consumers, family members and concerned citizens,” Parks said. “So it’s consumer and family member driven.”

Parks said they are regularly looking for local volunteers to serve on the panel.

Full Article and Source:
Citizens Evaluate Help Disabled Through Local Human Rights Authority