Enjoy inclusive egg hunts, time with the Easter Bunny and lots of family fun at sites across Illinois

Wondering where the Easter Bunny will hop next?

Check out our Special Events page to find sensory-friendly Easter Bunny visits and egg hunt options for individuals with disabilities of all ages.

The Bunny Cares program offers Easter Bunny visits in a calmer, quieter environment that supports visitors’ sensory, physical and developmental needs. Autism Speaks and Cherry Hill Programs have teamed up to provide these special Bunny Cares photo opportunities.

Bunny Cares events are scheduled at several malls in Illinois on Sunday, April 6.

Click on the locations below to learn more and book your free sensory bunny visit (be sure to search the event schedule for “Bunny Cares,” “Caring Bunny” or “Sensory Bunny” for each location):

• Fox Valley
• Gurnee Mills
• Hawthorn
• Northwoods Mall (IL)
• Orland Square Mall
• Woodfield Mall

Photos will be available to buy at each event. Reservations are limited. Visit the Bunny Cares website for more details and a complete list of sites.

There are more “eggs-cellent” opportunities to meet the Easter Bunny and hunt for eggs throughout Illinois.

If you’re located in the west and northwest suburbs, check out Kidlist for Easter egg hunts and more.

We’ve also highlighted a variety of egg hunts and bunny visits happening in communities across the state. These events include:

• Bunny Hop Breakfast for People with Disabilities and Their Families in Schaumburg on April 5 from 9 to 10:30 a.m.
• Sensory-Friendly Easter Bunny Event in Springfield on April 5 from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.
• The Dr. Patchett Extra Special Eggstravaganza in Carterville on April 5 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
• Inclusive “Easter Egg Hunt Miracle Mile” Event in Rockford on April 6 from 2 to 4 p.m.
• Sensory Egg Hunt for Children With Disabilities in Champaign on April 12 from 1 to 3:15 p.m.

Our Special Events page has more opportunities for finding colorful eggs, having fun and celebrating spring.

Many of the events are free. You can use the contact and registration information provided with each event listing to learn more.

Please note that the Division of Specialized Care for Children (DSCC) does not sponsor or organize these events. We are sharing the details to help families find inclusive events in their communities.

Check out our summer camp list to explore opportunities and find the right fit for your camper

Does your child want to make new friends? Develop new skills? Meet others with their condition or become more independent?

Head to our 2025 summer camp list. You’ll find accessible day, overnight and family camps across Illinois and beyond.

These programs welcome campers with a wide range of needs, abilities and many of our Core Program’s eligible medical conditions. The camps also cater to a wide range of interests, including:

• Learning to program and other computer skills
• Building independence and self-advocacy skills
• Exploring the great outdoors
• Cooking, art, drama and more

If you’re looking for the perfect camp opportunity, there are several ways to search on our website:

• Use the search box and filter option on our Events page to search for camps and other related keywords and locations
• View our 2025 summer camp list
• Use our Events Calendar view

Our list continues to grow, so check back often!

PLEASE NOTE: we share these opportunities for information purposes only. The Division of Specialized Care for Children (DSCC) does not manage or coordinate these camp opportunities or programs. If you have questions about a specific camp, please use the contact number or website we list for each program.

If you know of any summer camp opportunities we should add, please send us the details at dscc@uic.edu.

Here’s to a fantastic summer filled with smiles and new experiences!

Build your leadership skills and improve the quality of life for people with disabilities through this free training program for graduate students, self-advocates and family members.

The University of Illinois Chicago’s (UIC) Leadership and Education in Neurodevelopmental and related Disabilities Program (IL LEND) training program is now accepting applications for the 2025-26 school year.

IL LEND is housed in the Department of Disability and Human Development at UIC. It is part of LEND’s nationwide network providing interdisciplinary training to improve the health and well-being of individuals with disabilities.

LEND focuses on providing individuals with the skills necessary to create positive change on all levels, from the individual to systems.

The IL LEND fellowship program brings together trainees from diverse backgrounds. The interdisciplinary leadership training includes 15 disciplines (see the IL LEND brochure for a complete list). Classroom and hands-on learning experiences focus on seven key areas:

• Leadership
• Public health
• Interdisciplinary clinical training and practice
• Cultural competence
• Family-centered care
• Emerging issues
• Research

Sessions take place over two semesters starting August 2025 and ending May 2026.

The training will focus on serving individuals with disabilities and their families through coordinated, culturally competent and family-centered care. It will also focus on gaining a deeper understanding of public health services and policy systems change.

Training will include:

• An individually tailored mentorship
• Weekly didactic (classroom) sessions
• Research or leadership projects
• Community outreach
• Policy and advocacy training
• Clinical training with a focus on Autism

There is no cost to participate in the fellowship program. Eligible trainees can receive a stipend.

This program is open to graduate students, adults with developmental disabilities, and parents and/or siblings of individuals with developmental disabilities. All trainees complete 300-plus hours of leadership and discipline-specific classroom (didactic), clinical and community training.

IL LEND trainees from the Chicago metropolitan area meet in person at UIC for their LEND training. Trainees can also join remotely through training sites at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and Southern Illinois University Carbondale.

The program gives priority to the following applicants:

• Family members
• Self-advocates
• Graduate students in the represented disciplines, which include nursing, social work, developmental pediatrics, disability studies and public health.

See the IL LEND graduate program brochure for more details and a complete list of study areas.

Read more about applying on the IL LEND website. You can also click on the links below to download the:

• Self-advocate application
• Family member application
• Graduate student application

The deadline to apply is March 1.

Miss Amazing is a national nonprofit program that encourages girls and women with disabilities to consider their goals, challenge themselves and take pride in who they are.

The Illinois Miss Amazing experience brings together a diverse group of participants to build friendships, build self-confidence and practice key self-advocacy skills in a fun environment.

The 2025 Illinois Miss Amazing program is accepting applications for participants through Jan. 25.

The program is also accepting application for volunteers who want to help and share in the experience.

The 2025 Illinois Miss Amazing Amplify event is on Feb. 22 at Center Stage Theater in Naperville.

Participation is open to girls and women ages 5 and older who have:

• An Individualized Education Program (IEP) or Individualized Program Plan (IPP)
• A 504 Plan
• Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
• A physician’s records proving disability

Amplify event activities will include:

• Show rehearsal
• Interviewing
• Passion presentation
• Hair, makeup and more

Are you ready to share your passion and shine?

Illinois Miss Amazing will accept applications until Jan. 25 or when all spots fill up.

Volunteers with and without disabilities can also lend a hand on and off the stage. Visit the Illinois Miss Amazing website to apply as a volunteer or learn more about volunteer options.

You can also read about our former participant, Izzy Gonzalez, an Illinois Miss Amazing alum pursuing a career in theater.

DSCC honors Meeka Hudson for her dedication to supporting Illinois children and youth with special healthcare needs and their families

Care Coordinator Meeka Hudson is the 2024 recipient of the University of Illinois Chicago’s Division of Specialized Care for Children (DSCC) Award of Merit.

The award recognizes exceptional employees for outstanding dedication and service to Illinois children with special healthcare needs and their families.

Meeka is a Care Coordinator in the Mokena Regional Office. She joined the Core Program team in 2018 and has played an invaluable role in empowering families ever since.

“Meeka is an exceptional Care Coordinator with a passion for helping her participant families navigate difficult situations and finding ways to reduce stress in their lives,” DSCC Executive Director Thomas F. Jerkovitz said.

“Her teammates praise her dedication, knowledge of resources and willingness to help. Meeka has also been instrumental in developing valuable education and networking opportunities for families based at the Mokena office.”

Meeka’s colleagues in the Mokena office nominated her for the award, noting her positive influence, expertise, compassion and creativity.

“Meeka’s dedication to her role is evident in everything she does,” Mokena Assistant Regional Manager Tami L. Peleckis said. “She is always ready to lend a hand, provide guidance, and share her expertise with her colleagues. Her positive attitude and willingness to go the extra mile make her an indispensable asset to our team.”

Program Coordinator Assistant Leslie Leske-Ely praised Meeka’s ability to break down information into manageable steps and empower families to take charge of their situations.

“She provides positive and innovating contributions to our office. Her ideas help in improving our office morale and family engagement,” Bilingual Care Coordinator Ana Lule said. “Meeka consistently goes above and beyond to ensure that families receive the support and resources they need. She approaches every case with empathy and a genuine desire to make a positive impact.”

Mokena Regional Manager Deanna Deleshe has worked with Meeka since she started at DSCC. When Meeka’s participant families wanted a space to network with other families in their same situation, Meeka saw a need and shared an idea with Deanna.

“Meeka was the inspiration behind our pilot of the Mokena Family Networking and Education Group called the Mokena Connection,” Deanna said. “Meeka also, along with other team members, was the inspiration behind all of our in-person office events (for participant families). We do our Winter Wonderland, our Spring Fling, our Summer Extravaganza and our Trunk or Treat.”

Meeka said she is “deeply honored and incredibly grateful to receive the 2024 Award of Merit.”

“This recognition is not just a personal achievement, but a reflection of the support, encouragement and inspiration I’ve received from the Mokena Regional Office Team,” Meeka continued. “I am truly fortunate to work alongside such talented, dedicated individuals.”

Meeka thanked DSCC’s leadership and added a special thank you to her managers Deanna and Tami, whose belief in her has made all the difference.

“This award is a testament to the teamwork, hard work, and passion that we put into everything we do,” she said.

Learn more about Meeka and her exceptional service to families in this video below:

DSCC staff nominated a total of 13 of their colleagues for this year’s Merit Award. As the winner, Meeka will receive a Merit Award memento, a $2,500 award and recognition from the Executive Director.

Congratulations to the rest of our 2024 DSCC Award of Merit Nominees:

• Daniel “Dan” Beagles, Training and Development Specialist, Mokena Regional Office (RO)
• Becky Helmink, Program Coordinator Assistant, Olney RO
• Andrea Hoskinson, Assistant Director Operations-Finance, Accounting and Procurement, Central Administrative Office (CAO)
• Amanda Kaufman, Care Coordinator, Home Care (HC) Region 3
• Cristina Lazala, Bilingual Program Coordinator Assistant, HC Region 2
• Cathleen “Cathy” Morrissey, Program Coordinator Assistant, Mokena RO
• Patricia Perez, Assistant Director of Operations-Research and Practice Initiatives, Chicago RO
• Yariela “Yari” Ramirez Beccue, Program Services Specialist, CAO
• Mary Ratermann, HC enrollment Specialist, St. Clair RO
• Adell Scott, Manager of HC Quality Improvement, St. Clair RO
• Paige Town, Assistant Regional Manager, Rockford RO
• Imani Wornum, Care Coordinator, HC Region 5

Learn more about all of the 2024 nominees in this recap video of the Award of Merit luncheon on Oct. 29 in Springfield:

Experience the magic of the season with Santa visits, light displays and other fun events happening throughout Illinois.

The holiday season is a time for joy, connection and celebration. For individuals with sensory sensitivities and other disabilities, traditional festivities can sometimes feel overwhelming.

We’ve gathered a list of inclusive and sensory-friendly holiday events happening throughout Illinois to help families celebrate the season.

There are light displays, sensitive Santa opportunities, parades and more going on throughout Illinois.

Our Special Events page includes a roundup of opportunities designed specifically for youth with disabilities and special healthcare needs.

We hope this collection of events will help spark ideas to create your own holiday magic:

• The Secret Sleigh Project coordinates volunteers to provide in-home Santa visits to children who are medically fragile nationwide. See our Secret Sleigh event listing for more details on how to request a visit.
• Autism Speaks and Cherry Hill Programs will provide free sensory-friendly Santa experiences at multiple shopping centers in Illinois on Dec. 8. You must sign up to attend. Photo packages will be available to buy. Visit the Santa Cares website for a complete list of Santa’s stops. Be sure to select “Santa Cares”, “Caring Santa” or “Sensitive Santa” when checking your location. (Note some event dates and times may vary. Please check your location to confirm your date and time.)
• The National Federation of the Blind is offering letters from Santa and winter celebration letters in Braille to children who are blind or have low vision. The program is for children 10 years old and younger. Please complete the letter request form by Dec. 16. Letters are available in English or Spanish. If you have any questions, call (410) 659-9314, ext. 2236, or email education@nfb.org.
• Enjoy a movie on the big screen with the lights up, lower sound and the freedom to get up, dance, walk, shout or sing. Visit the following sites to find more details and a theater near you:
  • AMC and the Autism Society’s Sensory Friendly Films
  • Reel Movies for Real Needs
  • Studio Movie Grill
• For families in the Chicago area, Chicago Parent magazine has a roundup of sensory-friendly Chicagoland events as a list of free holiday activities for Chicagoland families. Activities include:
  
  • Illumination: Tree Lights at Morton Arboretum
  • Special Kids Day Visit With Santa in Elmhurst
  • Holiday Express at Blackberry Farm
  • Sensory-Friendly Performance of A Christmas Carol at the Goodman Theatre.
• In central Illinois, enjoy time with Santa at the sensory-friendly “Meet and Greet with Santa” in Springfield or the “Sensory Hour Sweets with Santa” at the Allerton Mansion in Monticello. The Illinois Times family event calendar and Chambanamoms.com website also provide lists of events, parades, light displays and more in and around the Springfield and Champaign-Urbana areas.
• Southern Illinois residents can find many fun seasonal activities on SI Families’ event calendar. It’s packed with ideas including the:
  • Very Merry Marion Parade
  • Christmas Open House with Santa at the Benton Public Library
  • Lights Fantastic Parade in Carbondale
• St. Louis events include Breakfast with Signing Santa and Milk & Cookies with Santa in St. Louis – Chesterfield.
• The animals at zoos throughout Illinois are celebrating the season, too! Check out Sensory Night at St. Louis Zoo Wild Lights, ZooLights at Lincoln Park Zoo or contact your local zoo to find out what’s happening and when.

Be sure to check our Special Events page often as we add more holiday activities to the list. If you know of a good sensory-friendly event to share, please email us at dscc@uic.edu.

Happy Holidays!

Please note, the University of Illinois Chicago’s Division of Specialized Care for Children (DSCC) is not involved in the organizing or scheduling of these holiday events. If you have questions about a specific event, please contact the event sponsor or organizer.

The 2024 Illinois Statewide Transition Conference is happening on Nov. 7-8 in Springfield

Luz Diaz said she struggled emotionally before attending the Illinois Statewide Transition Conference.

She felt isolated and unsure of the future for her daughter, Ariana, now 20. Ariana has cerebral palsy and quadriplegia along with hearing loss and developmental delays.

The knowledge she gained and the connections she made with other families during the 2023 conference immediately lifted her spirits. Luz now feels more hopeful for what lies ahead.

“Before I came here, I was depressed. I felt so lonely. Now that I’ve seen everything here, my thoughts have changed. I don’t feel lonely. I feel like I belong, and I feel like this is my family,” she said. “Now I feel like I’m not alone.”

The Diaz family were among 370 people who attended the 2023 transition conference in person in Bloomington-Normal.

The conference, titled “Stepping Stones of Transition,” returns for 2024 at the Crowne Plaza in Springfield, Ill., on Nov. 7-8. This year’s event is in person only.

The conference highlights opportunities and resources available for youth and young adults with disabilities and complex medical needs as they transition to adulthood. It’s a “one-stop shop” for gaining valuable resources, making connections and learning alongside individuals who are on the same journey.

The “Stepping Stones of Transition” conference is for youth, parents, caregivers, vocational specialists, healthcare providers, educators and others who work with youth and young adults with disabilities.

Youth and young adults can visit vendors, attend workshops and learn how to plan for their future, including:

• What happens after I leave high school?
• How do I sort through the maze of resources?
• What steps can I take now to prepare for upcoming changes?
• What skills are important for me to develop?

Highlights for 2024 will include learning about supported decision-making from keynote speaker and self-advocate Derek Heard along with Allison Cohen Hall from the Center on Youth Voice, Youth Choice.
You can also attend sessions on:

• Self-determination
• Advocacy
• Employment
• Future planning
• Post-secondary education
• Health care

The Division of Specialized Care for Children (DSCC) helps sponsor the transition conference and serves on its steering committee. We also can pay for the conference-related expenses for our participant families to attend.

DSCC paid the conference-related expenses for 25 DSCC participant families to attend the 2023 conference that took place in Bloomington-Normal.

“An Amazing Opportunity to Learn and Connect”

DSCC participant Vera Lynn Lindquist, 18, attended the transition conference both in 2022 and 2023. She has autism, attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, anxiety disorder from childhood, tinnitus and hearing loss.

Vera enjoyed exploring the transition conference’s booths and sharing about the goals she has worked on.

“I know a lot more about autism awareness and speaking up and speaking out…” Vera said. “I’ve self-advocated at school. I reached out to my teacher on my laptop, I emailed him. I was behind on a lesson and let him know. He came and helped (me). It made all my teachers very happy.”

Vera attended the conference both years with her grandmother and legal guardian, Cheryl Calcese.

“We’ve used many of the independence and decision-making strategies we learned about,” Cheryl said. “Vera got a debit card. She has a money limit on it when she goes out for pizza and other group social events. She has an app on her phone to figure out the tax and tip. She adjusts everything according to her budget. She’s doing well with that and hasn’t gone over her budget once!”

The transition conference also gave Vera an opportunity to build her self-esteem and self-advocacy skills.

“She feels very comfortable at this conference, and it shows. She’s visiting with vendors and participating in sessions. Here her independence is shining. It’s very cool,” Cheryl said.

Cheryl also gained more resources and knowledge for herself.

“It’s always an amazing opportunity to learn and connect,” she said. “Thanks to the conference, I understand more about legal guardianship for adults and where to go for the paperwork for free or low-cost.”

Cheryl also learned more about the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).

“Vera and other students with disabilities had to miss their school homecoming,” she said. “In one of the sessions, I learned that the ADA covers social events. I connected with an organization that can help me make sure these students won’t miss their prom.”

Ariana’s mom, Luz, said she is grateful to everyone who organizes the conference so she can help give Ariana the best quality of life as she grows into adulthood.

Ariana’s father, Edgar, said he felt like the world was closing in on him before he attended the conference. By the end of last year’s event, he said he felt motivated after learning how conference speakers with disabilities advocated for themselves to have greater independence and a better quality of life.

Register and See the 2024 Schedule

The general public and professionals can visit the Statewide Transition Conference website to register and see more details.

For DSCC families, the conference schedule and more details are available:

• In English at: https://go.uic.edu/DSCC2024TransitionConferenceInfo
• In Spanish at: https://go.uic.edu/DSCC2024TransitionConferenceInfoSp

DSCC participants can register online:

• DSCC Transition Conference Sign-Up in English
• DSCC Transition Conference Sign-Up in Spanish

The deadline to register is Oct. 18. Please note that space is limited. Registration may close earlier if all spaces are filled.

Need financial help to attend?

If you are a DSCC participant family, we may be able to fund the conference-related expenses for your child and family, caregivers, nurse and/or personal attendant. These expenses include the cost of the hotel and transportation.

The Illinois Statewide Transition Conference Steering Committee has also set up a scholarship program to help youth with disabilities and their families attend the conference. The scholarship is open to:

• Individuals with disabilities
• Immediate family members of a person with a disability
• Guardians for a person with a disability

The amount of scholarship money available depends on each person’s needs.

Please fill out this scholarship form to apply. (The scholarship form is also available in Spanish.)

The deadline to apply for the conference scholarship is Oct. 18.

For more details or help with registration, please contact DSCC Title V Transition Specialist Claire Cook at (800) 322-3722, ext. 21812, or clairer3@uic.edu.

Eligible Chicago families who have children with disabilities in grades K-12 can apply for a chance to receive a one-time grant through Oct. 30

If you live in Chicago and have at least one child with disabilities enrolled in a public or private k-12 school, you may be eligible for a one-time grant.

The Chicago Mayor’s Office for People with Disabilities and Ada S. McKinley Community Services has launched the Diverse Learners Recovery Fund for students with disabilities.

The program aims to help families who were uniquely challenged by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The fund will provide one-time grants of $500 to up to 8,000 eligible K-12 students through a lottery. Students with autism, physical and developmental delays and other disabilities may be eligible.

Families can use these funds to pay for things such as medical expenses, supplemental education resources or other accommodations their student needs.

Parents and guardians can apply for the Diverse Learners Recovery Fund grant at www.AdaMOPD.com through Oct. 30.

Families applying for the grant must:

• Live in Chicago
• Have a student currently enrolled in a K-12 public or private school
• Have an Individualized Education Program (IEP), a 504 Plan, an Individual Support Plan (ISP), or a doctor’s note verifying a disability diagnosis covered under the Americans with Disabilities Act
• Have a household income level at or below 300 percent of the federal poverty level

Families can receive a maximum one-time payment of $500 for one student and $1,000 for two students.

The program will select recipients using a lottery system. All eligible applications will be included in the drawings on:

• July 1
• Sept. 16
• On or after Nov. 30

Submitting an eligible application does not guarantee you will receive the funds. Eligible applications that are not chosen will be included in the following drawing(s).

See the Diverse Learners Recovery Fund flyer for more information on the fund and eligibility requirements. It also has a QR code to apply.

You can also visit the Diverse Learners Recovery Fund for Students with Disabilities website. The site features tools to help with the application process, including:

• A video
• Eligibility requirements
• Frequently asked questions and a chart to help determine the federal poverty level
• A list of documents necessary to complete your application
• Contact information (phone and online)

If you’re ready to apply, be sure to set up your Diverse Learners Recovery Fund for Students with Disabilities account online.

The deadline to apply for a chance to receive a grant is Oct. 30.

The program receives funding from The Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds (SLRF) program authorized by the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA).

Todd Williams received Division of Specialized Care for Children (DSCC) support growing up and now leads the Evaluation Center at the Illinois School for the Deaf

Todd Williams has come full circle.

Todd, 53, grew up with hearing loss that wasn’t diagnosed until late in his childhood. He enrolled with the University of Illinois Chicago’s Division of Specialized Care for Children (DSCC) and a new world of access opened to him.

That access and support led him to a career that’s opening doors and opportunities for countless other Illinois families of children who are deaf or hard of hearing.

Todd is currently the Evaluation Center Director at the Illinois School for the Deaf (ISD). In this role, he helps school children with hearing impairments all over Illinois receive the right assessment, enrichment and intervention services.

Todd also speaks with parents during the annual Institute for Parents of Preschool Children Who Are Deaf or Hard of Hearing on the ISD campus in Jacksonville each June. The Institute is a partnership of DSCC, the Illinois School for the Deaf and other sponsors. It provides valuable education, resources and connections to families of young children with hearing loss in Illinois.

“My involvement with Parent Institute is just to be an advocate and tell them… ‘I’m a client of this program. So, please take advantage of the services that are out there,’” he said.

“The services don’t just come to you. You have to make an effort.”

Todd explains more about how he helps empower and inspire Institute families in the video below:

Todd says he is thankful for the support his family received when they needed it most.

He was in the sixth grade when his language arts teacher noticed something was “off” and mentioned it to his mother. 

“Sometimes you don’t know what you don’t know until you do,” Todd said. “Once my hearing was tested, they couldn’t figure out why I was functioning so well! I remember being able to read lips. Even though I might not hear the bell ring, I could see what the other kids were doing and follow along.”

Todd said his hearing loss was mild to moderate at that time, and school wasn’t a struggle.

He was then diagnosed with bilateral sensorineural hearing loss, a condition where there is damage to the tiny hair cells in the inner ear (known as stereocilia) or to the nerve pathways that lead from your inner ear to the brain.

“We don’t know what caused my hearing loss, but I was sick a lot as a young child with allergies and ear infections,” Todd said. “I must have had hearing at some point because I know what letters and other sounds should sound like, so my speech wasn’t greatly impacted.”

He attended public school during the recession of the 1980s, and money was tight for his family as they started researching how to best support his hearing loss.

“The economic situation was terrible, and probably everybody in town was getting or needed some sort of assistance,” Todd explained.

His mom attended a town meeting about available services, and a woman told her about DSCC.

“That was back when DSCC was called the Division of Services for Crippled Children,” Todd said. “Thankfully, the name has changed, inclusion is growing, and the woman impressed on my mom that DSCC could help.”

For 87 years, DSCC has partnered with Illinois families to help connect children with special healthcare needs – including hearing loss – to the services and resources necessary to reach their full potential.

Thanks to DSCC, Todd began to see audiologists and providers who could help. He also received financial support for the cost of his first hearing aid. (DSCC can provide financial assistance for some eligible medical expenses when families meet certain income guidelines.)

“Having my hearing aid was access. We would have found the money somewhere, but it would have been an incredible hardship,” Todd said. “It was no coincidence that things fell in line. With DSCC it was amazing, perfect timing. That’s the beauty of it.”

Later, when his family moved, DSCC went with them.

“No matter where you go in Illinois, DSCC is there,” Todd said. “They were there to help my family with appointments and hearing aids. I got a second hearing aid when I was a sophomore and getting closer to aging out of the program.”

Todd later started planning for college. He took a placement test at John A. Logan Community College in Carterville. While there, a gentleman saw his hearing aids and gave him contact information for the Division of Rehabilitation Services (DRS or DORS) program.

“DORS helps individuals with disabilities become independent, productive citizens. They helped me through school, and I got my master’s at no cost,” Todd said.

He attended Illinois State University and earned a bachelor’s degree in teaching deaf and hard-of-hearing students. He later earned his master’s degree in counseling as well.

Over the years, Todd has worked in education and counseling and served as a deaf/hard of hearing consultant for the state. He also progressed from being hard of hearing to deaf. Todd now has cochlear implants, which unlocked a new world of sounds for him.

He became ISD’s Evaluation Center Director in December 2020. He says he enjoys empowering families and serving as a role model for youth with hearing loss.

“I had a little kid come up to me in the dining hall who was all excited because I had two implants just like him,” Todd said. “So, there’s the role model part, too, which is important for our kids to see that adults do walk around with these (implants), and they are successful.”

Todd encourages families of young children with hearing loss to attend the Institute and learn how ISD, DSCC and other state programs can benefit their children and families.

“Don’t miss out on a chance when you can really gain the most comprehensive evaluation for your child, and the resource list will be phenomenal,” Todd said.

“You have the ability to ask questions, to get questions answered that maybe you’re not feeling comfortable with asking in another setting. That’s what we’re here for. We’re here to answer questions and become a resource for you so the programing for your child can be the best that it can be. That’s our goal.”

Programs offering free tax preparation and help filing tax returns are available to eligible individuals and families across Illinois.

People with disabilities, families with low income, taxpayers who speak limited English, and individuals over the age of 50 can receive tax help through in-person and online programs.

Many of the programs will provide help through April 15, the deadline for filing your 2023 tax return. The type of services and programs available will vary by region.

The Internal Revenue Service’s (IRS) Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) and Tax Counseling for the Elderly (TCE) programs offer free basic tax return preparation to qualified individuals.

VITA sites offer free tax help to individuals, including:

• People who genrally make $64,000 or less
• People with disabilities
• Taxpayers who speak limited English
• People 60 years of age or older

The AARP Foundation Tax-Aide Service focuses on providing in-person and online tax help to people over the age of 50 or who have low-to-moderate income. You do not need to be an AARP member to receive assistance.

The AARP Tax-Aide Site Locator can help you find a site where an IRS-certified volunteer can help you prepare and file your taxes.

Tax-Aide also offers free virtual coaching and software for state and federal returns if you prefer to do your own taxes. You must:

• Have an income between $16,000 and $79,000
• Be an active-duty military member making $79,000 or less

In the Chicagoland area, taxpayers can also access the Ladder Up Tax Assistance Program (TAP). The program provides free basic tax return preparation for:

• Families earning up to $64,000 and individuals earning up to $32,000 per year
• Full-year Illinois residents

You can also contact your local library and government offices for information about free tax preparation services in your area.