We (providers) need to stop thinking in terms of CAN’T and start thinking in terms of HOW. ~ Leanne Mull, BTS Co-Director
June 6, 2023
Leanne Mull’s TEDx Talk Featured as an Editor’s Pick!
Leanne Mull’s TEDx talk titled, "Guardianship and Disability Justice: It Doesn't End with Britney Spears," is being featured as an Editor’s pick! Leanne’s talk sheds light on advocacy not just for the disability community, but all of us. What is missing from the narrative are the stories of the people most often affected by guardianship, adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. While some people may benefit from the protection that guardianship offers, the current system treats guardianship as a forgone conclusion for everyone with an intellectual or developmental disability. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx.
CREST ILLINOIS
CREST Illinois is a project coordinated with the Illinois Family Violence Coordinating Council to improve the criminal justice system response to domestic violence in communities across Illinois by promoting policy and procedural change, coordinated community response, and cross-training in order to encourage victim safety and offender accountability.
This project has been made possible by a federal grant, the Improving Criminal Justice Responses to Sexual Assault, Domestic Violence, Dating Violence, and Stalking Grant Program (ICJR), formerly known as the Grants to Encourage Arrest Policies and Enforcement of Protection Orders Program (Arrest), through the Office of Violence Against Women at the United State Department of Justice (OVW/DOJ). ICJR is designed to encourage partnerships among state, local, and tribal governments, courts, victim service providers, coalitions, and rape crisis centers, to ensure that sexual assault, domestic violence, dating violence, and stalking are treated seriously, requiring the coordinated involvement of the entire criminal justice system and community-based victim service providers.
In October 2019, the Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority/IFVCC was awarded the ICJR Grant from OVW/DOJ. The CREST IL Advisory Committee and local FVCCs serving communities statewide provide localized training and technical assistance for the adoption and implementation of the Illinois Model Protocol for Law Enforcement and Prosecution: Responding to Victims of Domestic Violence (DV) and the Illinois Model Protocols for Law Enforcement and Prosecutors: Responding to People with Disabilities and Older Adults (PWDOA) Who Experience Sexual Assault, Domestic Violence, Abuse, Neglect or Exploitation (the Model Protocols) developed through Arrest grant funding.
While the CREST ILLINOIS funding ended in September 2023, you can still learn more and access resources here.
September 12, 2022
Congratulations to Blue Tower Solutions, Inc. Co-Director Linda Sandman
Recipient of the 2022 NASW-Illinois Chapter Statewide Awards Lifetime Achievement Award
There are nearly 720,000 social workers in our nation with roughly 20,000 in Illinois alone. That national number is expected to grow by 12 percent by the end of the decade, making social work one of the fastest growing professions in the nation. This is because the life-affirming services that social workers provide are needed more than ever. This is especially true as our nation continues to grapple with the COVID-19 pandemic, systemic racism, economic inequality, global warming, and other crises.
In continuation of this year’s National Professional Social Work Month theme, “The Time is Right for Social Work,” the National Association of Social Workers, Illinois Chapter (NASW-IL) is honoring the work of some exceptional Illinois social workers and individuals of every generation, whose work promotes social justice and social change with and on behalf of the people and clients they serve.
One such exemplary Illinois social worker being honored this year is 2022 NASW-Illinois Chapter Statewide Lifetime Achievement Award recipient Linda Sandman. Linda Sandman (MSW, University of Illinois at Chicago; LCSW) has over 35 years’ experience working with people with disabilities, including mental health, intellectual and developmental disabilities. Currently, Linda is a co-director with Blue Tower Solutions, Inc., a nonprofit organization dedicated to engaging individuals, organizations, and systems to create cultures of respect, inclusion, dignity, and equality for people with disabilities. She is bilingual (Spanish/English) and bicultural and deeply committed to promoting inclusion for all. Linda played a role in implementing landmark legislation in Illinois giving access to sex education for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities, culminating years of work promoting sexuality education and violence prevention.
In support of their nomination of Linda, colleague Teresa Parks, Deputy Director of Illinois Guardianship and Advocacy Commission wrote: “Ms. Sandman is a motivated leader in the disability field…. [S]he has created a large body of resources for the benefit of persons with disabilities, their families and for professionals. She has always approached her work in a way that advocates for persons with disabilities as well as helping persons with disabilities to advocate for themselves. Her work embodies highly ethical practices and approaches, professionalism, thoroughness, diversity, human rights and social justice.”
The NASW-Illinois Chapter is proud of the work of Linda and others like her who work every day to effect positive changes in their communities and beyond. Linda is one of four individuals being honored as this year’s 2022 NASW-Illinois Chapter Statewide Awardees.
To learn more about the other statewide awardees, please visit the NASW-Illinois Chapter website or contact Joel L. Rubin, executive director, at jrubin.naswil@socialworkers.org.
February 23, 2022
Shining A Light: Creating Pathways to Equity, Safety, Healing, and Justice With People with Disabilities
Written by Shirley Paceley, Blue Tower Solutions, Inc. Co-Director
Recently published, Shining A Light: Creating Pathways to Equity, Safety, Healing, and Justice With People with Disabilities is a powerful personal and professional memoir of one woman’s journey in partnership with other people with disabilities to find equity, safety, healing, and justice. Shining A Light confronts the oft-hidden issue of sexual assault against people with disabilities, including its alarming prevalence and insightful stories of resilience and hope. Chapters on education, trauma and recovery, criminal justice, and systems change Illuminate how service professionals can create authentic and healing relationships with survivors with disabilities and transform systems of service, healing, and justice.
Learn more about Shining a Light as well as purchase information here.
May 27, 2021
Parents as Primary Sexuality Educators for Adolescents and Adults With Down Syndrome: A Mixed Methods Examination of the Home B.A.S.E for Intellectual Disabilities Workshop
Blue Tower Solutions' Co-Director Linda Sandman has co-authored an article for the American Journal of Sexuality Education together with lead author Katherine Frank. The article: Parents as Primary Sexuality Educators for Adolescents and Adults With Down Syndrome: A Mixed Methods Examination of the Home B.A.S.E (Home Based Adolescent Sexuality Education) for Intellectual Disabilities Workshop can be viewed online at this link:
https://www.tandfonline.com/eprint/TRWMGNISAHPMNZMVUAN8/full?target=10.1080/15546128.2021.1932655
The article reports on research conducted by Frank and Sandman on the impact of a workshop series for parents of individuals with Down syndrome called Home B.A.S.E. for Intellectual Disabilities (ID). The workshop is designed to help parents gain more comfort and confidence talking about sexuality with their adolescent or adult with ID.
April 21, 2020
Trauma-Informed Person-Centered Planning: A Guide for People with Disabilities and the Professionals and Family Members Who Provide Supports
(Updated April 2020)
The Trauma-Informed Person-Centered Planning Guide, originally developed in 2019, was recently revised based on feedback and promising practice. Let’s continue to incorporate trauma-informed care into the person-centered planning process. Access the updated guide by clicking below:
February 2016
“Who, What, Where, When: A Symbol Book for Victims who use Augmentative and Alternative Communication"
Illinois Imagines
Illinois Imagines was a statewide project to improve services to women, and all people with disabilities who have been victims of sexual violence. The project was funded by the Office on Violence Against Women, U.S. Department of Justice from 2006-2018 and directed by the Illinois Department of Human Services, Illinois rape crisis centers, disability service agencies and self-advocates. Blue Tower Solutions, Inc. was proud to be involved in the Illinois Imagines project over its many years.
As part of the Illinois Imagines project, a resource was developed titled "Who, What, Where, When: A Symbol Book for Victims who use Augmentative and Alternative Communication". This symbol book can be used to augment communication between victims of abuse, neglect and exploitation who use augmentative and alternative communication and service providers for people with disabilities and/or providers of victim services. The book may be employed for counseling, interviewing, education, and/or abuse disclosure. While the book may prove helpful for those in the criminal justice system in communicating with and interviewing people with communicative disabilities, it is not intended as an investigative tool nor has it been tested for use in court.
This symbol book is not intended to replace sign language or deaf interpreters for people who are deaf or hard of hearing. It may be useful as a supplemental visual accommodation, but is not specifically designed for their unique needs.
The material in this symbol book was originally written and compiled by Christine White Consultant to the Iowa Coalition Against Sexual Assault, ©2006. The symbol book developed through Illinois Imagines is an adaptation of that original work. The Picture Communication Symbols ©1981-2006 by Mayer-Johnson LLC, utilized in the symbol book are used with permission. The printed version of the symbol book was supported by Grant#2011-FW-AX-KO1O, awarded by the Office on Violence Against Women, United States Department of Justice. The opinion, finding, conclusion, and recommendation expressed in this program are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Department of Justice, Office on Violence Against Women.
To receive information about "Who, What, Where, When: A Symbol Book for Victims who use Augmentative and Alternative Communication", please contact us at BlueTowerSolutions@gmx.com. To view other Illinois Imagines materials and resources, please visit http://icasa.org/resources/illinois-imagines/materials-toolkit-and-other-material.
February 21, 2020
Illinois Sex Education Oversight Workgroup Participation
Co-Directors Krescene Beck and Linda Sandman have been invited to participate in the ad hoc Sex Education Oversight Workgroup tasked with the implementation of the new Illinois state law (Public Act 101-0506). This workgroup is chaired by Kathy Ward of the Division of Developmental Disabilities, Illinois Department of Human Services (DHS) and Teresa Parks, Human Rights Authority Director, Illinois Guardianship and Advocacy Commission.
The new law provides for access to sexuality education for individuals with developmental disabilities receiving services through the Department of Human Services (DHS). You can read more about the law at this link: http://www.ilga.gov/legislation/publicacts/fulltext.asp?Name=101-0506&GA=101
Krescene and Linda also participate on the Curriculum committee, a subcommittee of the Oversight Workgroup. The Curriculum committee is reviewing sexuality education curricula and related resources to support the implementation of the new law. Both Krescene and Linda are honored to serve the state and the many individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities who will be impacted by this new law.
February 13, 2020
Congratulations Linda!
Blue Tower Solutions Co-Director Linda Sandman has been appointed a Clinical Assistant Professor, (affiliated faculty appointment) with the Department of Disability and Human Development (DHD), at the University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC).
Linda previously worked at UIC DHD until 2016 and is delighted to continue her relationship with both DHD and the Institute on Disability and Human Development, the University Center of Excellence in Developmental Disabilities Education, Research and Service for Illinois.
November 20, 2019
Exciting News!
Linda Sandman was honored to be included on a nationwide panel of experts in the areas for Sexuality Education and Prevention of Abuse and Neglect at the annual AUCD Conference 2019 in Washington, D.C. The title of the 2-part panel presentation was: "Leading Change Together to Prevent Abuse and Promote Sexual Health for People with IDD" and the panelists represented important work going on in the following states: Alaska, Illinois, Kentucky, Montana, Oregon, Virginia, and Washington, D.C. Linda highlighted the groundbreaking work of the Illinois Imagines project, including many of the free and accessible resources created through the project.
In addition to being on the panel, Linda appreciated the opportunity to personally re-connect with colleagues and friends, Katherine McLaughlin from Elevatus Training and Rosemary Hughes of the Rural Institute for Inclusive Communities at the University of Montana, Missoula.
AUCD Conference 2019
Elevatus Training - Katherine McLaughlin and Linda Sandman
Rosemary Hughes from the Rural Institute, University of Montana, and Linda Sandman
October 24, 2019
SEX & RELATIONSHIPS CONVERSATION CARDS
For a long time, it was assumed that people with intellectual and developmental disabilities were not only incapable of having sexual relationships, but also not interested in doing so. This is simply not true – people with intellectual and developmental disabilities have the same wants and needs when it comes to sex and relationships as nondisabled people.
The Sex & Relationship Conversation Cards, produced by CQL | The Council on Quality and Leadership, help support staff and people receiving services to initiate conversations about sex and relationships. Through interactive card games, people receiving services can learn about sex and relationships, along with the array of rights and responsibilities involved, as well as supports that can help people along the way.
BTS Co-Director Leanne Mull contributed to the new Sex and Relationship Cards launched October 23, 2019 at the CQL Conference in Maryland.
Learn more at https://c-q-l.org/resource-library/sex--relationships-conversation-cards
August 14, 2019
BTS Co-Director Linda Sandman, along with her colleague and friend Katie Frank, recently had an article published in Sexuality and Disability. Katie is an Occupational Therapist who received her PhD in Disability Studies at UIC (University of Illinois at Chicago). She now works for the Adult Down Syndrome Clinic at Lutheran General.
The title of the article is "Supporting Parents as Sexuality Educators for Individuals with Intellectual Disability: The Development of the Home B.A.S.E Curriculum".
In the article, Linda and Katie focused on the curriculum development for Home B.A.S.E., the parent sexuality education curriculum they have been working on for some years now and was the subject of Katie's dissertation research.
We're busy writing up more of the findings from our work and will keep you posted!
April 26, 2019
The series on Sex, Love and Life: Navigating Womanhood with Disabilities is now online. It is separated by segments, so you can watch each one independently. BTS Co-Director Linda Sandman is featured in a segment about Illinois Imagines Chicago.
Check it out at https://www.newsy.com/stories/initiative-takes-on-sexual-violence-in-disability-community/.
April 11, 2026 - Access Living CIL (Center for Independent Living) in Chicago hosted a Newsy event "Sex, Love, and Life: Navigating Womanhood and Disabilities. The evening contained a panel discussion, interspersed with viewing the clips from the series. The 4 clips they showed were about Sex, Love and Dating; Sexual Assault and Abuse; Pregnancy; and Motherhood. The videos presented a more holistic view of women with disabilities and sexuality.
The panelists included Sorel Estrada Volpe, a disability activist who as a non-profit called Frill-Ability, Inc.; Candace Coleman, the Racial Justice Community Organizer at Access Living; another woman whose name I didn't get and Justin Cooper, a black filmmaker and disability activity who produced a documentary called The Wheelchair Chronicles.
Advocate Cathy Saunders and BTS Co-Director Linda Sandman were interviewed in the development of the series.
Although the series isn't available online yet, check out the trailer at
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=InLUqQ8FNLY.
October 2, 2018 - Arc of Illinois Living with Autism Conference
Linda Sandman, Co-Director at Blue Tower Solutions, Inc. spoke at the Arc of Illinois Living with Autism Conference this week (October 2nd). Her topic was “Promoting Healthy Relationships Through the Transition into Adulthood: Supporting the Parents’ Role”. Linda says, “It was a welcoming and inspiring conference! Many thanks to the Arc of Illinois and The Autism Program (TAP) for sponsoring it.”
While at the Conference, Linda learned about several impressive self-advocates with autism. One is named Jeremy Sicile-Kira. His mother, Chantal Sicile-Kira spoke at the conference and shared about Jeremy’s journey to becoming a successful artist. Jeremy has synesthesia and is able to translate the emotions of people he has met into incredible portraits. It is definitely worth your time to check out his website: https://www.jeremysvision.com/.
The second self-advocate, Kerry Magro, is an accomplished speaker with an amazing resume. He has undertaken a very cool project to assemble short videos by self-advocates around the world speaking about their passions and what makes them unique in the world. You can find these videos on the Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/ASpecialCommunity/.
Trauma-Informed Person-Centered Planning: A Guide for People with Disabilities and the Professionals and Family Members Who Provide Supports
Blue Tower Solutions, Inc. is thrilled to share a new resource responding to the fact that people with intellectual and developmental disabilities experience high rates of trauma in their lives. We hope to start a conversation about how to incorporate trauma-informed care into the person-centered planning process. The Trauma-Informed Person-Centered Planning Guide can be found at file:///G:/Not%20For%20Profit%20Information/Trauma%20Informed%20Person%20Centered%20Planning%20Guide%20-%20Final%209.13.18.pdf.
Please share with others and join the conversation. Let us know what you can do to join the movement to be more trauma responsive.
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Blue Tower Solutions Co-directors are engaged in high impact work across Illinois and the country. Following are some examples of this work:
Members of the Illinois Imagines State Planning Team and Public Policy Committee. Illinois Imagines is a federally funded project in Illinois to create collaborations between disability service providers, rape crisis centers and self-advocates in order to strengthen the response of the service delivery system and reduce sexual violence against women with disabilities.
Proud & Included. A Blue Tower Solutions Co-director served as Project Consultant and Self-Advocacy training leader for Proud & Included. This project was funded by the Illinois Council on Developmental Disabilities in order to provide outreach and build community for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities in Cook County who identify as LGBTQ.
Illinois Family Violence Coordinating Council (IFVCC) Responding to Victims with Disabilities Committee Chairperson. The IVFCC Responding to Victims with Disabilities Committee is currently updating and enhancing protocols for Law Enforcement and Prosecutors to assist them when working with victims of crime who are older adults or people with disabilities. In addition to this work BTS members served on the IFVCC steering committee and the domestic violence protocol revision work groups. The protocols, “Responding to Victims with Disabilities and Older Adults Who Experience Sexual Assault, Domestic Violence, Abuse, Neglect or Exploitation”, provide guidance for law enforcement personnel and prosecutors on best practices when a a person with a disability or who is an older adult is a victim of sexual assault. With over one hundred pages of resources including information about trauma informed response, communication techniques and more, the revised protocols give prosecutors and law enforcement tools they need to do the best job possible with these populations.
