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Ottawa Daily Times - April 29,1998
The
Coalition in Springfield is sponsoring their annual Legislative
Reception at the State Capital on May 12, 1998. This will be the 14th
Annual Disabilities Rights Conference by the Coalition of Citizens with
Disabilities in Illinois and Technology Exposition in conjunction with
Illinois Assistive Technology Project. G. Patrick Riley will be
attending as both a, Pianist and as the founder and past Board President
of SRC CCDI, Inception founder and past Chairman of the Board, Retired, I.V.
C.I.L., Illinois Valley Center for Independent Living. The House is in
session and attending will be congressmen, Senators, State
Representatives and Disabled/Non-Disabled members of the State of
Illinois, CCDI. Of those attending, Senator Patrick D. Welch.
District. 38 and Representative Frank J. Mautino, District. 76
from our area will be present at the Legislative Reception.
G.
Patrick Riley of Ottawa began playing the piano at the age of 5 and
continued throughout his teen and adult life. "Music is a very
important part of my Life", stated Riley. After being
diagnosed with an Arthritic disease, (Ankylosing Spondylitis) and a
Neuro-Muscular disease (Myasthenia Gravis), he began to lose his
dexterity and muscle control. With no place to turn, and wanting to stay
active as possible, Patrick founded the Starved Rock Chapter of
Coalition of Citizens with Disabilities in Illinois, which covers
Counties, LaSalle, Putnam, Stark, Marshall and Bureau. The Coalition
began to help people with disabilities and now there are many members.
Patrick Riley began the founding process of the Illinois Valley
Center for Independent Living in 1994 by writing a Grant offered by the
Department of Education.
The Conference will be held
at the Crown Plaza hotel in Springfield Illinois. |