Resource Directory
Find resource information for families and children with special healthcare needs.
Some of these resources are specific for families and children enrolled in our programs. Others may be of interest to any family or child with special healthcare needs.
You can use the search box below to narrow your view. For example, you can search for support groups, respite, grant programs, a specific topic or by condition.
You can also browse by category or by region using the links on the right side of this page.
Here is a quick video showing how to use the search and display features for our resources and events.
Check back often for updates. If you don’t find what you need, please call us at (800) 322-3722 or send us an email.
Education Resources
Birth to Five Illinois is a network of action and parent councils working to improve access to high-quality, sustainable Early Childhood Education and Care (ECEC) services statewide. Birth to Five listens to families’ needs and helps them learn about and connect with local services. It also helps communities statewide build and sustain inclusive, high-quality Early Childhood services for all children and families.
Birth to Five Illinois has 39 regions throughout the state. Each region has its own Family Council and Action Council. Early Intervention (EI) and Early Childhood Special Education (ECSE) are critical parts of the ECEC system of support for children and families. Learn more about the councils, see the regional map and sign up for the Birth to Five Illinois newsletter.
Suburban Access, Inc. is an independent service coordination and advocacy agency that links children and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities to life-enhancing services, programs, experiences and personal supports to empower them to live life without limits. Suburban Access offers a variety of programs to help people with intellectual disabilities overcome barriers and advance their independence, learning and community connections.
Suburban Access has locations in Homewood and Hillside. It serves south and west suburban Cook County. For more information, call (708) 799-9190.
The non-profit iCan Dream Center in Tinley Park connects youth with intellectual disabilities, autism and various learning difficulties in suburban Chicago to holistic, innovative special education services. The center offers a welcoming education setting where neurodiverse youth have access to the skills, resources and opportunities necessary to thrive beyond their labels. iCan Dream Center programs include:
- Training
- Transition to adulthood support
- After-school recreational therapeutic programming for youth
- Once a month, cost-free Saturday Experiences for young adults
- Counseling
- Parent support group and more
For questions, please contact the iCan Dream Center at info@icandreamcenter.com or (708) 798-4200.
Family Resources
Special Father’s Network is a dad-to-dad mentoring program for fathers raising children with special needs.
The program connects new fathers of children with special abilities with another father (a Mentor Father) who has experienced a similar situation. The program matches Mentor Fathers as closely as possible based on the child’s special needs, gender, ethnicity, socioeconomic group and relationship to the child e.g., .father, stepfather, grandfather).
The Special Father’s Network is available through the 21st Century Dads Foundation, which raises awareness and resources for greater father involvement and seeks to inspire dads to be present, caring and nurturing.
For questions, please use the 21st Century Dads Contact form or email info@21stCenturyDads.org.
The Illinois Respite Coalition (IRC) is a not-for-profit organization of caregivers and respite providers dedicated to supporting families and ensuring access to quality respite services for the residents of Illinois. The IRC assists caregivers by connecting them to resources in their area, providing training on respite topics and having funding available for emergency respite. The IRC helps caregivers of individuals across the lifespan with any disability.
The Emergency Respite Care Program offers funding and resources to support caregivers who are not receiving any respite services and have an urgent need for respite care in the absence of any other funding source. Emergency respite care may be for an unplanned or planned event for reasons including:
- Caregiver illness (physical, mental or emotional)
- Caregiver hospitalization or doctor appointments
- Work-related situation or loss of employment
- Reduction of stress level
- Funeral or wake
The website gives examples of qualifying circumstances and information on how to apply. For more information, contact:
- The Illinois Respite Coalition at (866) ILL-RESP (455-7377), ext. 101, or email ilrespitecoalition@gmail.com.
- Spanish-speaking callers may call (866) 866-ILL-RESP (455-7377), ext. 103, or email ilrespitecoalition@gmail.com.
Almost Home Kids provides a bridge from hospital to home through an innovative community-based care system for children with medical complexities up to age 22. It responds to the needs of families, trains caregivers, offers respite care, advocates for accessibility and inclusion and educates healthcare professionals.
Almost Home Kids offers transitional, respite and respite transportation care. It has locations in Chicago, Naperville and Peoria.