Welcome to the WSANA.ORG website!

    West Suburban Access News Association also known as WSANA is glad you are visiting our web site. During 2009  33,726 persons  visited the website. In 2010 7,009 persons have visited the web site. Since the web site  began in September of 2003. 186,806 persons have visited the website. We expect by the end of the summer of 2010 to have our 200,000th visitor to our web site. Over 617 pieces of information are on the website, if you did not find the information you were seeking in the over 108 categories of the web site, feel free to e-mail us at info@wsana.org or call us at 708-383-6258.

 With the ability to categorize and multi-categorize items as they are added to the website it makes it easy for you the visitors to find the information you are seeking.

Some of our recently added features are: we are able to allow comments to be sent to us as you read the information posted on the website. We also are able to  reply to your comment.  These comments will usually be put on the website for everyone to see.
Be sure to keep checking back and see what new information has been added to the category you look at. 

Join WSANA’s new autism and special education e-mail list, be notified when new articles on either autism or special education are added to www.wsana.org. Just send us your name and e-maill address, please put e-mail list in subject line. To contact us please see our contact page or feel free to send a message to info@wsana.org.

Read about individuals with disabilities who want to work for the Federal Government and how Schedule A  will help them to get hired.

Check out our Equal Oppertunity Employment and individuals with disabilities categoryfor more information. Be sure to look at our ADA Questions   and Answers from the Illinois ADA Project of which WSANA is a member. Visit ada-illinois.org for more information. 

We invite you to visit About WSANA and wsana.org to see our 2009 year end report.We also invite you to go to About WSANA and www.wsana.org 

 WSANA’s Executive Director was honored at Progress Center for Independent Living’s 2009 Award Dinner by being presented with the Advocate Of The Year Award.

 WSANA just conducted a Police Roll Call Training  which began in January of 2010 for 7 weeks for the Village of Oak Park, Illinois concerning individuals with disabilities including Autism and Seizures for first responders. This free training is available to any community wishing it.

 Please note that comments which are shown in the comments section do not always show WSANA’s views but rather show the general public’s views

All  information posted on this web site is  correct and up-to-date information available to us.
We hope this web site helps to keep you informed of current actions benefiting individuals with disabilities.

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THE MISSION OF WSANA

The mission of WSANA is to advocate for and provide local and national information for persons with disabilities  seeking to live independently and be a part of the community in which they live.
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ABOUT WSANA

WSANA was founded in 2001 by Joel Sheffel. WSANA became a non-profit organization in 2001. Joel Sheffel having recently left a nursing home after 18 months as a resident was apalled by the lack of information for individuals with disabilities that persons with disabilities need to allow them to live independently as well as the problems those leaving an institution face when trying to reintergrate into the community.

WSANA began its work in 2001 by sending out via mail monthly newsletters to its members. In 2003 WSANA created www.wsana.org, the web site of WSANA. Because of the increased use of the web site, the web site was renovated in 2009 and many new features were added.

Since Mr. Sheffel started advocating for individuals with disabilities he has been awarded many awards  including the 2009 Advocate of the Year Award  from Progress Center for Independent Living and has  led WSANA to many achievements.

WSANA was able to work with Senator Don Harmon and see Public Acts 96-0477 & 96-0650 become law in August of 2009.These two public Acts will be of great assistance to individuals with disabilities.

  In April of 2008 WSANA was honored by the passage of H.R. 1196, which was introduced by State Representative Deborah Graham and co-sponsored by State Representative Karen Yarbrough when we welcomed our 100,000th visitor, it also noted the many actions of WSANA for individuals with disabilities. This means that since April of 2008 and through 2009   www.wsana.org  saw  179,805 persons visit the web site. . The web site has been improved several times in 2009. During 2009 WSANA was able to exhibit at several events during the summer and winter of 2009 as part of our outreach and education efforts to  individuals with disabilities.  WSANA  was a part of the Village of Oak Park issuing a Proclamation in regards to the celebration of the 19th anniversary of the signing of the ADA. WSANA also worked with the Oak Park Library and made suggestions to their ADA Display.

Mr. Sheffel, the Executive Director of WSANA, in November of 2009 was awarded the Advocate of the Year Award by Progress Center for Independent Living.

WSANA has established a working relationship with local and state legislators and appointed officials as well as other organizations which advocate for individuals with disabilities.WSANA will attempt to see that by July of 2010, the 20th anniversary of the signing of the ADA that all persons with disaabilities living in Oak Park and other western suburbs will be treated with the upmost respect and that all state,and federal laws concerning them are fully obeyed. 

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