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.

The Southern Illinois University (SIU Edwardsville) School of Dental Medicine offers comprehensive dental care for patients with physical, intellectual, and emotional disabilities and other special healthcare needs. Children and adults in central and southern Illinois with special needs can receive dental care at their Special Needs Patient Care Clinic in Alton.

Dental services are available at a reduced cost. The clinic accepts Medicaid and most dental insurance plans.

For questions or to become a patient at the SIU School of Dental Medicine, please call (618) 474-7000.

Advocate Dental Center provides a wide range of dental services for adults and children with developmental disabilities through its Special Patient Dental Care Program. The program’s services include:

• Dental exams and cleanings
• X-rays
• Fillings
• Root canal treatments
• Extractions, crowns and tooth replacements
• IV sedation
• Operating room dentistry

Call (773) 871-2188 to discuss Special Patient Dental Care Program eligibility and appointment scheduling.

The University of Illinois Chicago (UIC) College of Dentistry Pediatric Dental Care provides comprehensive dental care for children, including individuals with complex oral health needs and special developmental and behavioral care needs. Pediatric Dentistry clinics provide care for children from infancy through adolescence (under age 17), including:

• Comprehensive oral health examinations, teeth cleaning, fluoride treatments, sealants, restorative procedures (fillings, crowns, etc.)
• Extractions and minor surgical procedures
• Urgent care (trauma, infection, etc.) and more

These services can be completed using inhalation sedation (Nitrous oxide), moderate sedation and general anesthesia. Read more about pediatric services.

Social stories are also available to help children with autism or sensory issues get ready for a dental visit:

• Read the visit to the dentist story in English.
• Read mi historia de la visita al dentista en español.

For questions, please contact UIC College of Dentistry Pediatric Dental Care at (312) 996-7532 or dentpediatrics@uic.edu.

St. Bernard Hospital and Health Care Center in Chicago provides dental care for children and adults with special needs. The Dental Center provides:

• Two operating rooms specifically for oral rehabilitation
• Dentists and surgeons trained to provide complex care, including careful and various levels of sedation
• Services from routine exams and cleanings to advanced orthodontics, crowns, urgent root canals and more
• Help with insurance and payment options

Please contact St. Bernard’s Dental Center at Dental@stbh.org or call (773) 962-3976 for more information.

Shady Oaks Camp is a non-profit, non-denominational, volunteer-driven organization serving children and adults with a wide range of disabilities. The summer camp provides fun activities, field trips and learning for individuals ages 5 and older. Campers must have an active Shady Oaks membership to attend camp.

See the Shady Oaks’ FAQ page for more information. For other questions, please contact soc16300@sbcglobal.net or (708) 301-0816.

Northlands Association for Special Recreation (NASR) is a cooperative partnership between the Belvidere, Freeport and Rockford Park Districts. NASR programs are open to individuals with disability-related needs including physical, mental and developmental disabilities, mental illness, behavior disorders and visual or hearing impairments.

Healing Horse Stables in Sidney, Ill., is a non-profit organization offering therapeutic riding and equine-facilitated learning for individuals of all ages and abilities. Healing Horse Stables promotes learning and physical, social and emotional well-being through programs that include:

• Therapeutic riding
• Riding for relaxation
• Horsemanship programs
• Field trips

For questions, fill out the Healing Horse Stable online form or email healinghorsestables@gmail.com