Transition Tools
These tools will help you prepare for the transition to adulthood.
The transition to adulthood is a significant and exciting time in a person’s life. For youth with special healthcare needs and their families, this journey is no less rewarding but requires careful planning and knowledge of valuable resources to assist in the transition. We’re here to provide this support and help you and your family prepare for what lies ahead.
We have developed a set of checklists and materials to help youth and their families learn and practice new skills and gain greater confidence and independence. You can search for these resources by category or region on the right side of this page.
We’ve also compiled some of our most popular checklists and materials into one convenient packet for ease of reference:
We also have a booklet that includes information and resources that can be useful in planning for government benefits and health insurance:
- Guide to Adult Benefits, Services and Resources in English
- Guide to Adult Benefits, Services and Resources in Spanish
If you are interested in receiving a printed copy of the toolkit or the Guide to Adult Benefits, Services and Resources, please click here.
We are eager to partner with you to make the journey to adulthood as successful as possible.
Healthcare Resources
Mental Health Resources for LGBTQI Individuals
The lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, questioning, intersexed (LGBTQI) community represents a wide diversity of thought, perspective, understanding and experience. For individuals identifying as LGBTQI, it’s important to recognize how your experience of sexual orientation and gender identity relates to your mental health.
The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) provides a variety of resources as well as important things to consider when seeking an LGBTQI-competent mental health care professional.
OutCare aims to be a comprehensive resource for LGBTQ+ healthcare, offering provider and healthcare resource directories.
OutCare’s provider directory provides a list of providers who understand LGBTQ+ needs.
GLMA is a national organization committed to ensuring health equity for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer (LGBTQ) and all sexual and gender minority (SGM) individuals.
GLMA provides resources for patients, including a provider directory.
independence Resources
The Illinois Life Span (ILS) Program is a program of The Arc of Illinois that provides statewide resources and information, focused on developmental disability services and supports.
Its website includes a resource locator that can help you find resources in your county and statewide.
You can call ILS at (800) 588-7002.
The Ray Graham Association provides individuals with disabilities and their families in DuPage County and the surrounding area with recreational, residential, family support, employment and life skills services.
Their website also includes links to advocacy and legislative resources.
Financial Planning for Parents of Children With Disabilities
The PACER Center offers “A Financial Resource for Parents of Children With Disabilities” to help you plan for your child’s financial future and overall well-being. This resource helps walk you through getting organized, life and disability insurance and various aspects of planning for you and your child.
work Resources
IllinoisJobLink.com
IllinoisJobLink.com is a robust, dynamic and comprehensive, web-based workforce development system for job seekers, employers, training providers and workforce professionals with realtime
data. For job seekers, it features job matching, resume creation and career management tools and resources.See the IllinoisJobLink.com brochure for more information.
McHenry County Workforce Network Young Adult Internship Program
The McHenry County Workforce Network Young Adult Internship Program provides opportunities for young adults up to age 24, including paid internships, training, certification and more.
Paid internships at local companies throughout McHenry County including positions in retail, offices, public works departments, not-for-profit organizations and many more.
Classroom training including resume development, interview preparation, career exploration, job search training, etc.
The Job Accommodation Network (JAN) provides free consulting services for all employees, regardless of the condition. Services include one-on-one consultation about all aspects of job accommodations, including the accommodation process, accommodation ideas, product vendors, referral to other resources and Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA) compliance assistance.