Swann Center in Champaign

Swann Special Care Center is a non-profit organization located in Champaign that offers residential and educational programs for people with severe and profound intellectual disabilities.  Its programs serve residents from throughout Illinois and include residential nursing care, adult day training and an accredited year-round school. Swann Special Care Center also offers:

  • Restorative and long-term habilitation
  • Palliative and end-of-life care
  • Evaluation on an individual and ongoing basis
  • Physical, occupational and speech therapies

RCADD Back-to-School Resources / Recursos para el regreso a clases

The Resource Center for Autism & Developmental Delays’ (RCADD) Virtual Resource Room offers back-to-school resources for parents/caregivers and their children with autism and/or neurodiversity. Resources in English and Spanish to help with a new school year include:

  • Tip sheets- Hojas de consejos
  • Schedules and routines materials- Horarios & rutinas
  • Social stories- Historias sociales
  • Visual supports – Apoyos visuales
  • Structured activities- Actividades estructuradas

Diaper Bank of Chicago

The non-profit Diaper Bank of Chicago provides diapers in sizes newborn through large-sized Underjams, ensuring all kids that need protection are covered. It partners with other nonprofits and social service agencies to distribute diapers. The diaper bank only accepts requests for diapers through an agency partner or social service agency.

The Diaper Bank of Chicago’s doula also offers parenting resources for agency partners on topics that include:

  • Breastfeeding
  • Bonding
  • Infant massage
  • Stress reduction techniques

Housing Opportunities for Women (HOW)

Housing Opportunities for Women (HOW) empowers individuals and families in the Chicagoland area to break the cycle of poverty and homelessness. HOW aims to provide individuals experiencing homelessness with housing as quickly as possible along with individualized support services to help them build success and self-sufficiency. Its services and programs include:

  • Permanent supportive housing for people with disabilities
  • Employment and life skills
  • Children and youth after-school enrichment activities and Saturday teen programs
  • Advocacy for individuals/families involved with the Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS)
  • Housing and support for Families in Transition (FIT)

Special Needs Mom Squad

The Special Needs Mom Squad is a non-profit organization based in Lombard. It aims to provide a safe and supportive community where moms of children with special needs can connect, access resources and find emotional and mental support.

The organization helps moms and families through:

  • Sensory-friendly events throughout the year
  • A safe space where moms can share their stories and feel heard
  • Information and resources for understanding their child’s condition

Illinois Special Education Information for Parents/Guardians

The Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) has developed guides and resources specifically for parents of students with disabilities to help them navigate the educational system and know how to best work with district and school personnel. Visit ISBE’s Special Education – Parents/Guardians page for more information.

Illinois Student Records Keeper: For Parents of Students Who Receive Special Education Services

The Illinois Student Records Keeper booklet from the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) is for parents to use to keep important information about their child and their special education and related services. It is a companion to A Parent’s Guide – Educational Rights and Responsibilities: Understanding Special Education in Illinois.​​​​​​​

Records play an important role as you plan your child’s education. Dates, people, meetings and reports are important throughout your child’s educational career. ISBE developed the records keeper to help parents prepare for Individualized Education Program (IEP) and transition meetings; get ready for evaluations and reevaluations; and keep track of paperwork and other materials.

Special Education Assessment Tip Sheet and Resource List

Family members and early care and education providers are adults who notice when the children in their care may have disabilities or developmental delays and would benefit from special education services.

The Illinois Early Learning Project’s Special Education Assessment tip sheet series is a helpful tool for learning more about the steps in that process. The IEL also provides an Assessment for Special Education resource list.

“Camp Free to Be” Day Camp in Peoria

The Heart of Illinois Special Recreation Association’s (HISRA) “Camp Free to Be” is for children with multiple and/or severe disabilities ages 4 to 21.  This day camp runs Monday through Friday, providing eight weeks of fun and exciting activities.

Camp Free to Be matches campers with staff members to ensure their success and can also accommodate a 1:1 ratio. A typical camp day runs from 8:30 am. to 4 p.m. Registration usually opens in February and closes on May 1.

The Heart of Illinois Special Recreation Association (HISRA) is a cooperative extension of the Chilicothe, Morton, Peoria and Washington park districts to provide quality recreation programming and inclusion services.

Artists Breaking Limits & Expectations (A.B.L.E.)

Artists Breaking Limits & Expectations (A.B.L.E.) creates theatre and film projects for, with and by individuals with Down syndrome and other intellectual and developmental disabilities in Chicago. A.B.L.E. offers in-person and online ensembles, specialized workshops and outreach programming for individuals ages 13 and up.

A.B.L.E. is a non-profit organization focusing on building participant confidence and skills, changing society’s beliefs about disability, and creating more inclusive communities. Their programs are financially accessible. No one will be turned away because of their ability to pay.