
| Nicole's Corner |

| Introducing NICOLE’S Illinois Advocate For The disABLED "The Assistive Technology Protection Act" Has Passed! On Friday, July 29,2005. Governor Rod Blagojevich signed the SB-101 bill. This takes Illinois off the list of the last eight states that don’t have protection for people with disabilities in their state. Public Act 094-0378 The Assistive Technology Protection Act will go into effect on January 1, 2006. Thank you Governor Rod Blagojevich. To all who helped thanks for all your support and dedication. Nicole V. Santiago 8/6/05 |
| Click on the IBM Button to go to their Project ABLE web page for jobs for the disABLED |
| Class of 2006 I am graduating on June 7 2006 I am going to been 21 years old on June 16, 2006 |
| Nicole's Graduation Picture |



| Graduation Picture 2 |


| Graduation Picture 3 |
| About Nicole Hi, my name is Nicole Vera Santiago. I would like to tell you a little about myself. My date of birth is 06/16/85. I was 2 pounds 7 ounces. My mom was only 27 weeks, went she had me. I spent three months in the hospital. I was diagnosed with Cerebral Palsy/spastic quad., when I was 2 yrs. old. This was the start of many surgeries for me. The first surgery was in the year 1992. The second surgery was in 1994, followed by a third in 1997. This surgery took ten hours, it was very serious, and it could have killed me. The fourth was eye surgery in 2000. The fifth surgery in 2003. The sixth surgery was in 2004. Through all this, I managed to graduate from Hanson Elementary School in 2000. I attended Jackie Vaugh High school for two years. Thank you, Nicole Vera Santiago 07/23/05 |

| Nicole's Wisdom The importance of this Bill being passed is very necessary. On December 18, 2003, my power wheelchair broke while I was in it. I could have been seriously injured. The wheelchair than needed to be fixed. Unbelievably it took over 3 months. I was than given a manual chair which I can not maneuver on my own. I had to constantly rely on others to get me around. It was also very uncomfortable and it made my back hurt. It shouldn't have taken over 3 month. PLEASE help pass this BILL. Thank you, Nicole Vera Santiago 07/23/05 |


| Serving as a catalyst and clearinghouse for ideas and solutions ! |
| To help protect people with disabilities. Please, GIVE ! |

