Advocacy | Illinois Guardianship and Advocacy Commission
401 Main Street, Suite 620, Peoria, IL 61602
Eligibility
The Commission serves Illinois residents with disabilities (including mental health conditions) or special education needs—along with their families, caregivers, and service providers—when legal advocacy, guardianship, rights protection, or investigation is required.
Hours
Main Office Hours: Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
After hours support also available via 866-503-9078
Website
https://gac.illinois.govLanguages
English with accommodations for other languages
Application process
Please call.
Fees
None
Service area
Christian County, IL
Henry County, IL
Lake County, IL
Lee County, IL
Cumberland County, IL
Cook County, IL
Massac County, IL
Jefferson County, IL
Essex, IL
Ford County, IL
Putnam County, IL
Clark County, IL
Aroma Park, IL
Whiteside County, IL
Armington, IL
Dekalb County, IL
Johnson County, IL
Macoupin County, IL
Braidwood, IL
Calhoun County, IL
Morton, IL
Homer Glen, IL
Mcdonough County, IL
Moultrie County, IL
Saline County, IL
Bond County, IL
Manteno, IL
Elwood, IL
Randolph County, IL
Jackson County, IL
Tremont, IL
Douglas County, IL
Dupage County, IL
Hancock County, IL
Brown County, IL
Carroll County, IL
Fulton County, IL
Creve Coeur, IL
Reddick, IL
Edgar County, IL
Ogle County, IL
Hopedale, IL
Wilmington, IL
Adams County, IL
Green Valley, IL
Knox County, IL
Lawrence County, IL
Bolingbrook, IL
Frankfort, IL
Livingston County, IL
Menard County, IL
Monroe County, IL
Union Hill, IL
Bradley, IL
Mackinaw, IL
Deer Creek, IL
Shorewood, IL
Manhattan, IL
Saint Anne, IL
Kane County, IL
Kendall County, IL
Grant Park, IL
Kankakee, IL
Grundy County, IL
Pulaski County, IL
New Lenox, IL
Edwards County, IL
Pike County, IL
Mokena, IL
Romeoville, IL
Clinton County, IL
Dewitt County, IL
Vermilion County, IL
Cass County, IL
Piatt County, IL
Delavan, IL
Bureau County, IL
Herscher, IL
Coles County, IL
Peoria County, IL
Woodford County, IL
Alexander County, IL
Iroquois County, IL
Minier, IL
Henderson County, IL
Crest Hill, IL
La Salle County, IL
Bourbonnais, IL
Bonfield, IL
Monee, IL
Marshall County, IL
Boone County, IL
Rock Island County, IL
Winnebago County, IL
Shelby County, IL
Momence, IL
Marion County, IL
Williamson County, IL
Mason County, IL
Sangamon County, IL
Peotone, IL
Crete, IL
61611, IL
Jo Daviess County, IL
Pope County, IL
Saint Clair County, IL
Scott County, IL
Pekin, IL
Gallatin County, IL
Macon County, IL
Union County, IL
Hopkins Park, IL
White County, IL
Washington, IL
Crawford County, IL
Logan County, IL
Schuyler County, IL
Washington County, IL
South Pekin, IL
Richland County, IL
Hamilton County, IL
Jasper County, IL
Buckingham, IL
Effingham County, IL
Hardin County, IL
Beecher, IL
Franklin County, IL
Mercer County, IL
Perry County, IL
Stark County, IL
Stephenson County, IL
Jersey County, IL
Madison County, IL
Groveland, IL
Greene County, IL
Mchenry County, IL
Mclean County, IL
Montgomery County, IL
Plainfield, IL
Naperville, IL
Joliet, IL
Morgan County, IL
Champaign County, IL
Channahon, IL
Fayette County, IL
Wabash County, IL
Clay County, IL
Warren County, IL
Wayne County, IL
Lockport, IL
The Illinois Guardianship and Advocacy Commission fulfills four core roles:
1. Office of State Guardian (OSG) Substituted Decision-Maker:
*Provides guardianship for individuals with a disability who would not have a guardian otherwise (court finds no family or other individuals willing or able to help)
*Provides Information & Referral assistance related to guardianship inquiries through its toll-free intake line
*Offers training on guardianship and guardianship alternatives
2. Legal Advocacy Service (LAS)--Legal Assistance for Persons with Disabilities:
*Acts as legal advocate for those with mental health conditions to protect their mental health rights
*Handles appeals of civil mental health court cases
*Educates the public on mental health rights
*Assists with advanced directives (Living Will, Mental Health Treatment Preference Declaration, Power of Attorney for Health Care, and Practitioner Orders for Life-Sustaining Treatment (POLST)
3. Human Rights Authority (HRA)--Citizens Helping Citizens:
Assists those whose human rights have been violated in treatment/assisted-living facilities and other settings
*Investigates the complaints of disability rights violations that involve-
-A person with a disability (any age, any type of disability)
-Disability rights protected by law, regulations, or policies
-A disability service provider
Anyone can file a complaint by contacting the Commission or filing an online complaint
4. Special Education Initiative: A Collaboration of LAS and HRA:
*Created to help families navigate special education through training, advocacy, and legal support
Last Assured
11/25/2025
What's Here
Providing organization
Illinois Guardianship and Advocacy Commission
The Illinois Guardianship and Advocacy Commission fulfills four core roles:
1. Office of State Guardian (OSG) Substituted Decision-Maker:
*Provides guardianship for individuals with a disability who would not have a guardian otherwise (court finds no family or other individuals willing or able to help)
*Provides Information & Referral assistance related to guardianship inquiries through its toll-free intake line
*Offers training on guardianship and guardianship alternatives
2. Legal Advocacy Service (LAS)--Legal Assistance for Persons with Disabilities:
*Acts as legal advocate for those with mental health conditions to protect their mental health rights
*Handles appeals of civil mental health court cases
*Educates the public on mental health rights
*Assists with advanced directives (Living Will, Mental Health Treatment Preference Declaration, Power of Attorney for Health Care, and Practitioner Orders for Life-Sustaining Treatment (POLST)
3. Human Rights Authority (HRA)--Citizens Helping Citizens:
Assists those whose human rights have been violated in treatment/assisted-living facilities and other settings
*Investigates the complaints of disability rights violations that involve-
-A person with a disability (any age, any type of disability)
-Disability rights protected by law, regulations, or policies
-A disability service provider
Anyone can file a complaint by contacting the Commission or filing an online complaint
4. Special Education Initiative: A Collaboration of LAS and HRA:
*Created to help families navigate special education through training, advocacy, and legal support