Resource Directory

Education Resources

• Little Friends

  Little Friends provides programs and supports to empower children and adults with autism and developmental disabilities and their families to live, learn, work and thrive in their communities. Little Friends serves individuals and families throughout ten counties and more than 50 school districts across Illinois. Programs include:

  • Schools, educational and vocational training programs
  • Respite family services
  • Community-based residential living
  • The Center for Autism
  • Inklude Studio
  • The Fun Club

• Wabash Area Development, Inc. (WADI) in Enfield

  Wabash Area Development, Inc. (WADI) is a Community Action Agency serving Edwards, Gallatin, Hamilton, Wabash, Wayne, White and Saline counties. WADI provides emergency help for homeless and low-income families and individuals. It also offers education, housing, homeless prevention and job training programs to empower people to become more self-sufficient. WADI services and programs include:

  • Energy assistance
  • Emergency transitional housing
  • Head Start/Early Head Start
  • Rental housing support
  • Work experience,  on-the-job training and employment assistance
  • Education scholarship opportunities

• National PTA Special Education Toolkit for Parents and Caregivers

  National PTA promotes family-school partnerships and building community at the local, state and national levels. Its website offers a variety of family-focused resources, including a Special Education toolkit, Parents’ Guide to Student Success, College and Career Readiness resources and more.

   

Family Resources

• Special Father's Network

  Special Father’s Network is a dad-to-dad mentoring program for fathers raising children with special needs.

  The program connects new fathers with special needs children to 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.

• Illinois Respite Coalition

  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
  • Work-related situation
  • Reduction of stress level

  The website gives examples of qualifying circumstances and information on how to apply. See the emergency care flyer for more details. (The flyer is also available in Spanish.)

  For more information, contact:

  • The Illinois Respite Coalition at (866) ILL-RESP (455-7377), ext. 101, or email irc.programassistant@gmail.com.
  • Spanish-speaking callers may call (866) 866-ILL-RESP (455-7377), ext. 103, or email cnava@illinoisrespitecoalition.org

• Almost Home Kids

  Almost Home Kids provides a bridge from hospital to home through an innovative community-based care system for children with medical complexities. 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.

Medical/Health Resources

• Get Covered Illinois - The Official Health Marketplace

  If you are looking for health insurance for yourself or your family, or if you own a small business or lead a nonprofit organization this website is the official site in Illinois for signing up for health insurance.

• Healing Hurt People Chicago

  Healing Hurt People Chicago (HHPC) is a hospital-based, youth advocacy program for violence recovery. HHPC services begin in the hospital and include crisis intervention, mental health care, medical advocacy, team support support and patient advocacy. The program also connects participants to supports and a community where they can continue to grow, thrive and break the cycle of violence once they leave the hospital.

  HHPC programs and resources for individuals, families and loved ones recovering from trauma also include:

  • Information about trauma and the SELF (Safety, Emotion, Loss, and Future) model
  • Stories of healing
  • Strategies for coping
  • Resources for families
  • Resources for providers

• The Kids Equipment Network

  The Kids Equipment Network (TKEN) is a non-profit organization connecting children with disabilities with new and gently-used durable, adaptive equipment at no cost. Illinois families with children from birth to 21 can fill out an application to request equipment. TKEN then seeks equipment matching the child’s needs. The family is invited to a fitting clinic when the equipment becomes available.

  Volunteers provide free monthly clinics for custom-fitting equipment in Chicago and the suburbs. Families can request items including:

  • Strollers
  • Wheelchairs
  • Bath and toilet systems
  • Crutches
  • Canes and more