SILC Members
SILC members are volunteers appointed by the Governor. A majority of voting members must be persons with disabilities who do not work for state agencies or Centers for Independent Living. Members are from all regions of the state, represent a broad range of disabilities, and are knowledgeable about Centers for Independent Living and independent Living services.
Voting members include persons with disabilities, parents, advocates, and representatives from private business, organizations serving persons with disabilities, and CILs. Non-voting members represent state agencies that provide services to persons with disabilities.
SILC Executive Committee Officers
Council Chair: ELIZABETH SHERWIN resides in Rock Island. Liz is the Executive Director for the Illinois-Iowa Center for Independent Living. Liz serves as Chairperson of the Council.
Vice Chair: BARBARA PRITCHARD resides Urbana. Barbara services as Vice Chair of the Council. Barbara and her late husband Lester founded the Campaign for Real Choice in Illinois, a grassroots organization that is dedicated to changing Illinois from a state that funds institutions to one that supports the needs and preferences of people with disabilities.
Treasurer: GAIL KEAR resides in Bloomington. Gail is the Executive Director of the LIFE Center for Independent Living in Bloomington. Gail is the appointed representative for the Illinois Network of Centers for Independent Living. Gail serves as Treasurer on the Council and Chairperson of the Operations Committee.
Secretary: RUTH THOMPSON resides in Rushville. Ruth is a Health and Housing Outreach Specialist with the Illinois Institute Rural Affairs at Western Illinois University. Ruth services as Secretary and Chair of the Outreach Committee.
Council Members
KEVIN BYRD resides in Springfield. Kevin is the ex-officio member representing the Illinois Department of Human Services, Division of Developmental Disabilities.
CHARLOTTE CRONIN resides in Peoria. Charlotte is a parent of a young adult with a disability and the Executive Director of the Family Support Network.
JOHN ECKERT resides in Springfield. John is an ex-officio member representing the Illinois Department on Aging, Bureau of Planning and Program Management.
MELANIE FLEENOR resides in Springfield. Melanie is an ex-officio member representing the Illinois State Board of Education.
J. ANEL GONZALEZ resides in Chicago. Anel is employed at the Great Lakes Disability and Business Technical Assistance Center as their Bilingual Technical Assistance Specialist. Anel serves on the Outreach Committee.
WILHELMINA GUNTHER resides in Springfield. Willie is the Executive Director of the Illinois Assistive Technology Program. Willie serves on the Operations Committee.
PAM HEAVENS resides in Joliet. Pam is the Executive Director of the Will-Grundy Center for Independent Living. Pam serves on the Planning and Programs Committee.
MARK KARNER resides in Chicago. Mark serves as Chairperson on the Planning and Programs Committee.
DAWN LUCASEY resides in Glenarm. Dawn is the senior physical therapist on the spinal cord rehabilitation team at the Regional Rehabilitation Center at Memorial Medical Center in Springfield.
JOHN MILLER resides in Peoria. John is the Executive Director of the Illinois Deaf and Hard of Hearing Commission. John serves on the Planning and Programs Committee.
JUDITH PANKO REIS resides in Wilmette. Judy is the Director of Health Resource Center for Women with Disabilities. Judy serves on the Operations Committee.
KEN WILLIAMS resides in Chicago. Ken is an ex-officio member representing the Department of Human Services, Division of Rehabilitation Services, Independent Living Unit. Ken serves on the Outreach Committee as well as the Planning and Programs Committee.
MICHAEL WONDERLICH resides in Chicago. Michael is an ex-officio member representing the Department of Children and Family Services.
SILC Standing Committees
Operations: Gail Kear (Committee Chair), Willie Gunther and Judy Panko Reis
Outreach: Ruth Thompson (Committee Chair), Dawn Lucasy, Anel Gonzalez
Planning and Programs: Mark Karner (Committee Chair), Barbara Pritchard, David Dailey, Pam Heavens, John Miller and Ken Williams
- Meeting Dates and Minutes
- Board Appointment
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