Friends of Man is a non-profit that uses 100% of donations for charitable assistance. The charity receives applications requesting mobility equipment, prosthetics, home modifications, medical equipment, hearing aids, basic needs and much more from referring professionals. Referring professionals include caseworkers, case managers, healthcare workers, social workers, school counselors, teachers and clergy who apply on behalf of their patients and clients.

In addition to the assistance listed above, Friends of Man can provide assistance nationwide for adaptive equipment, assistive technology, lift chairs, mobility equipment, orthopedic braces and shoes, stairlifts, vehicle adaptations and wheelchair ramps.

More details are on the Friends of Man Eligibility page.

Parents of Extraordinary Children (PEXC) is a nonprofit that aims to inform, empower, support and help advocate for families of children and young adults with disabilities within the southeast side of Chicago.

With the help of volunteers and representatives from city-wide organizations, PEXC provides opportunities for Individualized Education Program (IEP) training, learning to navigate the special education process, understanding terminology, initiating the process of evaluation,  the transition to adulthood and more.

PEXC has a Sensory Space and Resource Center and offers an “All Inclusive Support Group” on a monthly basis for families.

For more information, call (312) 600-5479 or email admin@pexc10thward.com.

New Lenox Transportation Service provides safe, affordable and reliable transportation for all New Lenox Township residents. Transportation is provided within the New Lenox Township and Village, Monday through Friday, from 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Rides are also available to the Mokena, Frankfort and Joliet areas for medical and physical therapy appointments or employment for New Lenox Township residents ages 22 years and older with disabilities. You must make reservations by telephone.

Transportation office hours are 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. To schedule a ride, please call transportation services manager Debbie Cunningham at (815) 485-6431.

The League of Chicago Theatres works with Chicago-area theaters to make live theater performances accessible to everyone. The league provides a calendar of upcoming performances based on specific access requirements and disabilities.

The calendar includes touch tours, American Sign Language (ASL)-interpreted, audio-described, open-captioned, sensory-friendly and Spanish subtitled performances.  Sensory-friendly performances are relaxed and sensory-friendly theatre experiences aimed to be more accessible for individuals on the autism spectrum or others with cognitive/developmental disabilities.

For more information, contact the League of Chicago Theatres at (312) 554-9800 or info@chicagoplays.com.

West40 serves 38 school districts and three co-ops in West Cook County. West40 provides a wide range of in-school advocacy,  student-centered programs and links to community resources to help students and the people surrounding them succeed.

West40 offers:

• A community resource page with links to help with food, mental health needs, special education and more
• The Heart 2 Heart Program for students in grades K-12 in the Alternative Learning Opportunities Program (ALOP)
• Family engagement, immigration and other networking and support resources

Call (708) 449-4284 or use the West40 Contact Us form for more information.

North West Housing Partnership (NWHP) programs cover a broad area of the suburban northwest, west and Chicagoland area. It offers a variety of housing and handyman programs for seniors 60 years and older and people with disabilities, 18 or over, in need of simple repairs in the communities of:

• Arlington Heights
• Buffalo Grove
• Mount Prospect
• Palatine
• Rolling Meadows
• Des Plaines
• All of Palatine and Wheeling Townships
• Oak Park Township (including Oak Park and River Forest).

NWHP also offers:

• Housing workshops and seminars
• Handyman and CAPABLE (Community Aging in Place Advancing Better Living for Elders) programs for people with disabilities ages 18 and up
• The Home Repair Accessibility Program (HRAP) in Cook, Kane and DuPage counties, funded by the Illinois Housing Development Authority (IHDA), to help homeowners address home accessibility issues that affect the health or safety of their families

Find Help Southern Illinois connects people to area programs and services, including:

• Food and basic needs, such as food pantries, baby supplies, clothing and home goods
• Housing and shelter options
• Healthcare services, including medical, dental and vision care and transportation to health care
• Addition and recovery support
• Mental well-being services
• Financial assistance for child care, transportation, medical supplies and more
• Use the search filter to find the help you need in your community—sort by “closest” to receive the local information first
• Education and employment programs
• Legal assistance

The resource hub is an initiative of Southern Illinois Healthcare, Healthy Southern Illinois Delta Network and the Southern Illinois Coalition for Children and Families. The hub also receives support from the McKinney Vento Program for the Homeless Region V, Carbondale Elementary School District 95, Herrin Community Unit School District 4 Family Outreach Program, and the Carbondale Community Cabinet for Children and Youth with funding provided by Birth to Five Illinois.

OSF Healthcare Children’s Hospital of Illinois’  OSF Autism Pathways provides tools, information and resources to help individuals of all ages navigate their autism journey. The OSF Autism Pathways team can help answer questions about treatment options and other concerns. It can also help connect individuals to autism services and supports.

OSF Autism Pathways’ services and resources include:

• General autism information and resources
• Autism diagnostic services
• Behavioral health, crisis and respite care supports
• Daily living skills development and transition to adulthood planning
• Employment and job coaching
• Family supports and financial planning
• Social and recreational opportunities
• Therapeutic interventions

To refer yourself or your child, please call (844) 910-0770 or (309) 624-4830. You can also fill out the OSF Autism Pathways online form.

The “Independent Living, Here We Come Toolkit” is for young people and adults with disabilities who want to learn to live on their own or take care of themselves with less help. It serves as a guide for family members, caregivers, teachers and others helping anyone with disabilities navigate and build greater independence.

The toolkit is divided into 13 skill areas. You can complete one section at a time or download the entire “Independent Living, Here We Come Toolkit.”

Families Helping Families of Greater New Orleans and the Louisiana Parent Training and Information Center created this toolkit.

The National Alliance on Mental Illness West Central Illinois (NAMI WCI) advocates for better lives for individuals who have a mental illness, and to erase stigmas associated with mental health, support and treatment. Headquartered in Mt. Sterling, NAMI WCI serves residents in Adams, Brown, Cass, Greene, Hancock, McDonough, Morgan, Pike, Schuyler and Scott counties.

NAMI WCI supports anyone concerned about mental illnesses and the treatment of mental illness. Its resources include:

• A Behavioral Health Resource Guide containing local information and help
• An up-to-date calendar of events and support groups
• NAMI’s National Helpline Resource Directory

For more information, email NAMI_WCI@namillinois.org.