Diverse Abilities – YMCA provides a wide variety of programs to ensure that everyone, regardless of ability, age, or background, can thrive. Diverse Abilities offers individuals with Down syndrome, cerebral palsy, and other special needs the opportunity to participate in a wide range of classes and activities tailored to their needs and comfort levels.

Diverse Abilities-YMCA programs include:

• SNAP (Special Needs Aquatics Program)
• Gymnastics
• Saturday Strikers providing a safe and welcoming environment for building skills and learning how to navigate the everyday world
• Sports

If you have any questions, please email diverseabilities@springfieldymca.org.

The St. Louis Dental Center offers comprehensive special care dentistry for patients with intellectual, physical, and emotional disabilities, as well as other special healthcare needs. It is a partnership of A.T. Still University (ATSU) and Affinia Healthcare.

The center’s special care suites include a wheelchair lift. The center accepts Medicaid and most dental insurance plans. Discounts are available to uninsured patients.

If you have any questions or need more information, please visit St. Louis Dental Center’s Contact Us page online.

The Adolescent Suicide Postvention Resources Hub provides articles, books and other comprehensive resources to support adolescents and their communities as they navigate the grieving process and find a path towards healing. Resources are available for individuals, communities and school districts.

“Postvention” is a term to describe best practices after a suicide. The Adolescent Suicide Postvention Resources Hub offers information on topics including:

• Communicating and understanding postvention
• Parent resources and support groups
• 24/7 support

The Center on Youth Voice, Youth Choice is a national resource center for youth with disabilities. Youth Voice, Youth Choice provides self-advocates, their families and supporters with advocacy, teaching tools for alternatives to guardianship, plain language resources and more. It offers:

• Videos and youth stories
• Alternatives to guardianship tools with stories and resources to help make tough decisions
• A plain language series featuring a wide variety of important topics
• The Youth Ambassador Curriculum for building leadership and advocacy skills

For questions, please contact the Center on Youth Voice, Youth Choice by calling (617) 287 -4300 or emailing youthvoice@umb.edu.

Normal Moments supports Chicagoland families with critically ill/medically complex children up to age 17 by providing help with many household and outdoor tasks. The organization matches volunteers based on the families’ needs, volunteer location and interests. Support includes:

• In-home help with necessary chores such as house cleaning, laundry, pet care and other errands
• Outdoor services such as lawn maintenance and snow removal
• Annual holiday programs

Please note: Normal Moments volunteers may not provide care for dependents. A responsible adult over 18 must be in the house while a volunteer is present with children.

For questions, please fill out the online form on the Normal Moments’ Contact Us page or call (630) 888-8111.

Touch of Nature Outdoor Education Center (TON) in the Shawnee National Forest in southern Illinois offers a diverse range of camps, retreats, programs and activities for children and adults of all abilities. Touch of Nature Outdoor Education Center programs include:

• Camp BETA for children with type 1 diabetes.
• Camp Little Giant for individuals with disabilities
• Community events
• Outdoor education, training and more

For questions, please contact TON by phone (618) 453-1122 or email at ton@siu.edu.

QuestBridge is a nonprofit that connects high-achieving students from low-income backgrounds to scholarships, financial aid and other learning opportunities to help them attend top colleges nationwide. QuestBridge also provides a Student Resource Center featuring a student workbook, checklists and tips for preparing, applying and paying for college. Its programs include:

• The College Prep Scholars Program helps high school juniors become strong applicants to top colleges.
• Quest for Excellence Awards provide high school juniors opportunities to receive scholarships, laptops and funding for partner college visits.
• The National College Match is the next step for high school seniors. College Match participants can apply for free to colleges and be considered for early admission and a full four-year scholarship.
• The QuestBridge Regular Decision program provides finalists who do not match an opportunity to be considered for admission and financial aid through a partnering college.

Visit the QuestBridge website for up-to-date program information, application deadlines, and details on other programs.

If you have any questions, please visit QuestBridge’s Contact Us page to find a detailed list of who to contact.

Ladder Up provides free programs to eligible Chicagoland residents to help them move up the economic ladder. Individuals can receive guidance in financial education, tax help and preparation, and turning the dream of college into reality. Ladder Up programs and services include:

• Tax help and resolving tax disputes
• Planning for college workshops and financial aid tools
• Money basics and financial education workshops

For questions, please call Ladder Up at (312) 409-1555 or email info@goladderup.org.

The Guthrie-Koch Scholarship from flok is for individuals with one of several metabolic disorders. The scholarship is for students who demonstrate character, academic achievement, and engagement with their community, and who are pursuing post-secondary educational or vocational opportunities. Students from any country can apply. Scholarship applications open by mid-December each year. Applications are due in mid-March.

To be eligible for the scholarship, applicants must have one of these metabolic disorders:

• Classical HCU
• Maple Syrup Urine Disease (MSUD)
• An Organic Acidemia
• Phenylketonuria (PKU)
• Tyrosinemia
• Urea Cycle Disorder (UCD)

For questions, please contact flok at (973) 619-9160 or email info@flok.org.

The Illinois Center for Autism (ICA) is a nonprofit, community-based mental health treatment and educational agency serving people with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). ICA offers a variety of programs designed to support families and help individuals from age 3 through adulthood achieve their highest level of independence at home, school and in the community.

ICA provides education, advocacy, social skills, life skills, vocational training, and resources to children ages 3 to 22 in its Special Education Program, individuals 22 and older in its Adult Services Program, and their families in its Client Family Support Services Programs.

ICA provides services primarily in Madison, St. Clair, Bond, Clinton, Washington, Monroe, Fayette, Marion, and Macoupin. Other counties may also be included in the service area, depending on where students and families live.

For questions, please call ICA at (618) 398-7500 or email info@illinoiscenterforautism.org.