Special Connections of Grundy County promotes inclusion, self-determination and learning for people with disabilities in Grundy County. Programs include a wide range of Special Olympics athletics, arts and crafts, movies, games, picnics, parties, dances and family support throughout the year.

The Goodwill Career Center offers free, one-on-one guidance to help you gain employment and reach your career goals. In-person and online resources are available to learn about training programs, how to fill out job applications, prep for interviews or get trained in new skills. Services may vary by location.

Find a Goodwill Career Center near you using their locator tool.

Family Voices’ “My Language, My Care” is a free online, plain language course to help increase awareness, understanding and use of language access rights and services for families whose preferred language is not English. The course is available in English, Spanish, Chinese and American Sign Language.

Family Voices’ My Language, My Care course will provide:

• An understanding of their rights under the law
• Information about interpreter confidentiality
• Tools to advocate for high-quality language access services in the healthcare setting
• A certificate of completion after finishing all six modules of the training course
• Access to a free toolkit with information from the course in English, Spanish and Chinese

The Social Security Administration (SSA) offers toolkits for people with sickle cell disease and professionals navigating the disability application and evaluation process. The toolkits provide detailed information, examples of the types of medical evidence required for individuals with sickle cell disease, and tips to help with the disability application and evaluation process:

• Sickle Cell Disease and the Social Security Disability Evaluation Process for Adults
• Sickle Cell Disease and the Social Security Disability Evaluation Process for Children
• Sickle  Cell Disease: A Guide for Health Professionals on Providing Medical Evidence for Social Security Disability Claims

The “Family Economic Mobility: Taking Charge of Your Future” toolkit offers families help to set financial goals and create action plans for tracking progress. The toolkit includes a series of videos and an online resource guide with links to agencies and support programs.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ (HHS) Administration for Children and Families provides the toolkit.

 

Early CHOICES’ Least Restrictive Environment (LRE) Inclusion Toolkit aims to help families of children with disabilities navigate the early childhood system to ensure their child is included in the LRE. Whether you’re just beginning your journey or looking for specific support, this toolkit will empower you to champion inclusion for your child.

The LRE Inclusion Toolkit includes:

• Evidence for the benefits of inclusion
• Federal guidance for inclusion
• Resources with links and guidance to help you understand and use the tools effectively
• Bolded keywords throughout the document that you can easily find in the “Glossary” at the end of the toolkit
• QR codes for each of the embedded links

Medicaid will pay for transportation to and from appointments that Medicaid covers. For example, Medicaid will pay the cost for a trip to see a specialist.

This tip sheet from the Division of Specialized Care for Children (DSCC) explains how to use Transdev to submit prior approvals for transportation.

Transdev Transportation Prior Approval Tip Sheet in English

Transdev Transportation Prior Approval Tip Sheet in Spanish 

EngineerGirl focuses on diversity of thought and the many opportunities engineering represents for girls and women. The EngineerGirl website includes inspiration, information about women engineers and their achievements, “Try This” design challenges, a writing contest, summer study programs for high school students and more. EngineerGirl offers girls interested in problem-solving and engineering.

Visit its website for information about engineering scholarships and the EngineeringGirl annual writing contest.

Bridgeway provides a wide range of programs for people with developmental and intellectual disabilities in west-central and northern Illinois. Bridgeway offers a variety of person-centered programs that focus on greater choice, achieving independence and community participation. Bridgeway programs include:

• Day services
• Adult learning services
• School-based counseling
• Community living and supports
• Employment programs
• Substance use assessments and programs for youth and adults

Aspire partners with people with disabilities to explore new possibilities in living, learning and working. Programs focus on furthering diversity, inclusion, and life and career skills for adults with developmental disabilities throughout Chicagoland and surrounding suburbs, southeast Wisconsin and virtually. Aspire services and programs include:

• Community homes
• Independent living support
• Life enrichment
• Virtual life coaching
• Job training and support