Community Child Care Connection

Community Child Care Connection (CCCC) provides support and resources to families and childcare providers to help ensure quality, affordable childcare and education options in Christian, Logan, Macoupin, Mason, Menard, Montgomery, Morgan, Sangamon, and Scott counties. CCCC helps families explore childcare and education options and what to look for when choosing care. It also offers programs to help pay for care and find local education and childcare providers. CCCC also provides professional development and regional training opportunities for child care providers.

CCCC is one of 16 community-based organizations that make up the Child Care Resource and Referral (CCR&R) System, which provides services and supports to families, providers and communities across Illinois.

For help or questions, call (217) 525-2805 or email info@4childcare.org.

Team IMPACT

Team IMPACT is a nonprofit that matches children facing serious medical conditions and disabilities with local college sports teams to help them experience the power of sports, the support of mentors and the simple joy of being a kid. This nationwide, two-year therapeutic program:

  • Serves families with children ages 5 to 16 who have conditions requiring ongoing treatment and/or extended hospital stays
  • Provides trained case managers to manage matches to ensure success and address any challenges

Team IMPACT is free. Please note that participants must cover any transportation costs to/from visits with the team. Learn more on Team IMPACT’s family page.

Fill out and submit the online form to begin the enrollment process:

If you have questions, please contact Team IMPACT at (617) 801-0248 or info@teamimpact.org.

AeroAngel

AeroAngel offers free, private jet flights for medically fragile children who need to travel long distances for life-saving medical care and cannot fly commercially due to their condition. AeroAngel coordinates flights across all 50 states and can access both major and small regional airports to minimize travel time for families.

Parents, family members, friends and medical professionals can request a flight on behalf of a child in need of life-saving medical care. See AeroAngel’s Request a Flight page for frequently asked questions and eligibility details.

If you have more questions, please email Info@Aeroangel.org or call (303) 817-7355.

Exceptional Learners Collaborative

The Exceptional Learners’ Collaborative (ELC) is a special education cooperative and joint agreement between four school districts in Vernon Hills (Lake County), Ill. The ELC provides services to students with special needs, ages 3 through 22. Its website offers information and resources on transition, employment, housing, mental health, parent advocacy and empowerment, the One Community parent-to-parent support group and more.

ELC provides services and support in communities including Buffalo Grove, Kildeer, Long Grove, Lincolnshire, Riverwoods, Prairie View, Hawthorn Woods, Vernon Hills, Mundelein, Lake Zurich, Mettawa, Fox Lake, and Spring Grove.

If you have any questions, please call (224) 513-6444.

National Disability Institute

The National Disability Institute (NDI) collaborates with organizations nationwide to empower people with disabilities and their families to make informed financial decisions and build a better future. NDI offers a wide variety of webinars, tip sheets, information and resources to help people with disabilities achieve employment, financial stability and independence.

NDI resources include:

If you have questions, please email info@ndi-inc.org or call (202) 296-2040.

Adult Down Syndrome Center

Located in Park Ridge, the Adult Down Syndrome Center offers comprehensive medical and support services to Illinois residents aged 12 and older with Down syndrome. The Adult Down Syndrome Center’s website includes:

For questions, see the Adult Down Syndrome Center’s FAQ page or call (847) 318-2303.

To schedule an appointment, call (847) 318-2303 between 8:30 a.m. and 5 p.m.

The Adult Down Syndrome Center is a part of Advocate Health.

Angel Flight Central

Angel Flight Central (AFC) is a nonprofit organization that provides non-emergency flights to Midwest families who need access to specialized healthcare, camps for individuals with special needs, disaster response efforts or other compassionate reasons.

AFC coordinates flights for people in need in Missouri, Kansas, Iowa, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Illinois and Indiana. It also collaborates with other charitable aviation organizations to support passengers who live outside of its 10-state region. Visit AFC’s Frequently Asked Questions page to learn more.

Learn more about eligibility requirements and submit an Angel Flight Central Flight Request online.

For questions or more details, email request@angelflightcentral.org or call (866) 569-9464, Monday through Friday, from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Wings of Mercy

Wings of Mercy is a nonprofit organization that provides free long-distance air transportation to medical centers for individuals with serious or rare illnesses. Wings of Mercy coordinates trips with volunteer pilots for patients traveling to or from a location in Michigan, Wisconsin, Ohio, Indiana or Illinois.

Learn more about Wings of Mercy and apply for a flight.

For all questions, fill out the Wings of Mercy contact form or call (616) 396 – 1077.

UIC’s Institute on Disability and Human Development

The University of Illinois Chicago’s Institute on Disability and Human Development (IDHD) promotes community participation, health, empowerment and advocacy for people with disabilities and their families across all aspects of life. IDHD is part of the University Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities (UCEDD) network for the state of Illinois.

UIC’s IDHD supports and services include:

Sensory-Friendly Travel at Chicago’s Airports

Chicago O’Hare and Midway International airports offer videos, social stories, sensory maps, accessibility guides and other resources to help travelers with sensory sensitivities or who are neurodivergent feel more comfortable and confident throughout their journey.

Visit the sensory section of FlyChicago.com to find:

  • Short videos that show what to expect at different stages of the airport journey
  • Step-by-step guides with visuals to prepare travelers for the airport experience
  • Visual guides of O’Hare and Midway that highlight high- and low-sensory areas
  • Details about sensory bags available at information desks