Lake County Gazette

State Rep. Chris Bos (R-Lake Zurich) is trying to make access to higher education easier for those with mental disabilities. 

Last week Bos spoke about House Bill 3359.

Bos said the bill allows students who need the extra help of a personal assistant due to their disability to bring that helper into a public college or university classroom. The idea came after he learned of two local students who wanted to take a photography class, but the college would not allow the personal assistants for the students' mental disabilities to attend unless they paid tuition. 

"All they were looking for was a chair," Bos said. "A chair to sit in that classroom next to their students so that these students could get the assistance with the aides that the families already arranged."

Families arrange and pay for the assistants to help their child or loved one with mental disabilities attend school and, while the bill does not require the universities to pay for or provide a support person for mentally disabled students, Bos wants the students to be given the same opportunities to learn as their peers. 

"This came in as a constituent call," Bos explained. "[...] It was a mom who was desperately trying to get some assistance for her kids."

The representative said that the call was first fielded by Sen. Dan McConchie's (R-Lake Zurich) office and the bill passed the Senate last year, but did not make it to the House due to COVID-19. 

"This is a bill I needed to champion over on the House side," Bos said, "so I picked it up and we got it through committee. The highlight of my year was getting to call that mom."

Bos said the mother wept tears of joy when she heard that the bill had been revitalized and passed in the House.

"She was so excited that her kids will finally get the support that they've so desperately wanted in their community colleges," Bos said.