Able Flight is a nonprofit organization offering scholarship opportunities for flight and aviation career training for people ages 18 and up with physical disabilities. Past recipients have included wheelchair users, wounded veterans, and people with a variety of congenital birth defects or who have lost limbs. You can learn more about eligibility requirements, application deadlines, what scholarships will cover and more by reading Able Flight’s frequently asked questions.

Able Flight also offers three different scholarships programs:

• The Full Flight Training Scholarship for people who wish to earn a Sport Pilot certificate.
• The Return to Flight Scholarship for someone who becomes disabled after already having earned a pilot’s license.
• The Career Training Scholarship allows an individual to earn an FAA-issued Repairman Certificate (Light Sport Aircraft) with Maintenance Rating, an FAA Dispatcher License, or for training to qualify for a career in the use of drones for commercial purposes. This scholarship can pay for academic expenses for an aviation career with committee approval.

KEEN (Kids Enjoy Exercise Now) Chicago offers youth with disabilities and volunteer coaches free, non-competitive, one-on-one programs providing physical activity, fun and support for the overall health and well-being of all participants. Programs are open to all youth ages 5 to 21 with physical or developmental disabilities. Indoor and outdoor recreational activities are available year-round. Registration for programs takes place quarterly.

KEEN Chicago programs are age appropriate and tailored to each athlete’s needs. Athletes can choose from a wide variety of camps, programs and day trips, including sports, yoga, swimming, dance and more. Fill out the New Athletes Enrollment Form online to learn more about becoming a KEEN Chicago athlete.

Summer Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) or SUN Bucks is a nutrition program from the U.S. Department of Agriculture to help families buy food for their school-aged children during the summer. Illinois families will receive a one-time benefit of $120 for each eligible child to purchase groceries for their household. The Illinois Department of Human Services (IDHS) will provide EBT benefits at the end of August or beginning of September 2024.

See the Summer EBT/SUN Bucks Fact Sheet in English or la EBT de verano/SUN Bucks Fact Sheet in Spanish to learn more.

Your school can help you with basic questions about Summer EBT. Households should visit the IDHS Summer EBT webpage for more information.

The Illinois State Board of Education also partners with the Illinois Hunger Coalition and No Kid Hungry to operate the Summer Food Service Program hotline and text service. To find summer meal sites:

• Call (800) 359-2163
• Text “FOOD” or “COMIDA” to 304-304
• View the USDA Summer Meals for Kids Site Finder or  Summer Meals Find Food Map to find nearby meal sites open to all children and youth ages 18 and younger

The Childhood Tracheostomy Alliance is a non-profit created by families and healthcare providers working together to transform the care and quality of life of children with tracheostomy and ventilator dependence and their families. The Alliance is focused on educating communities, improving access to in-home support and supplies, helping with out-of-pocket medical expenses, and providing a network of support from both caregivers and healthcare professionals. The Childhood Tracheostomy Alliance website includes:

• Frequently asked questions and terms about tracheostomy and mechanical ventilation
• Annual caregiver grants
• A list of resources by state

The PKU Organization of Illinois awards the Andrew Craig Memorial Scholarship annually to qualified individuals with phenylketonuria (PKU) or allied disorders. Eligible applicants may receive scholarships of up to $2,000. The scholarship applicant requirements include:

• Having PKU or an Allied Disorder diagnosis
• Currently residing in Illinois
• Enrolling to attend an accredited college, university or vocational school for the fall semester of the current calendar year

A student may receive more than one scholarship during their secondary education but not in consecutive years.

BRIC Foundation (Break, Reinvent, Impact and Change) is a non-profit company focused on increasing representation in entertainment, gaming, media and tech. BRIC works with leaders across these industries, and government and education partners to create inclusive opportunities for women and underrepresented people to be successful. BRIC Foundation’s student programming includes:

• Summer Internships
• Creative academies
• BRIC Student Communities providing virtual Art Jams and industry speakers

The Conversation Project is an initiative of the Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI) to help people talk about their wishes for care through the end of life so others can understand and respect those wishes. The project offers free tools, videos and other resources to help make difficult conversations with loved ones easier. Resources are available in English, Spanish, Chinese and Audio (English). Guide topics include:

• A conversation starter guide
• Talking to your health team
• What matters to me workbook for people with serious illness
• How to start talking with a child who is living with a serious illness about the health care that is right for them
• Encouraging conversations in your community

211 DuPage provides information and access to trained local specialists who listen and help connect people with a wide range of resources that meet all their underlying needs, not just the one that prompted the call, text or email. 211 DuPage can help connect people with programs and services, including:

• Emergency counseling
• Disaster assistance
• Food, health care and insurance assistance
• Stable housing and utilities payment assistance
• Employment services
• Childcare and family services
• Veteran services and more

The Diverse Learners Recovery Fund is a lottery-style grant program for Chicago families with children with disabilities offered through the Chicago Mayor’s Office for People with Disabilities and Ada S. McKinley Community Services, Inc. The fund will provide one-time grants of $500 to up to 8,000 eligible K-12 students through a lottery. Families must submit an application and complete the verification process to participate. The deadline to apply is Oct. 30, 2024.

The Diverse Learners Recovery Fund program will select recipients through three lottery drawings on the following dates:

• July 1, 2024
• Sept. 16, 2024
• On or after Nov. 30, 2024

The program will notify selected applicants by email. Verified applications that are not chosen will be included in the next drawing.

Submitting an eligible application does not guarantee you will receive the funds.

Fun4theDisabled is a community created by, for and about people with disabilities to help everyone live their best lives. Fun4theDisabled  creates video and content highlighting opportunities for people with disabilities in the community, connecting them with organizations, programs and events that provide accessibility in inclusive and fun ways. You can find all videos on the Fun4theDisabled YouTube channel.

Fun4theDisabled also offers video tours of Chicago-area sites, including the National Museum of Mexican Art, Navy Pier, Lincoln Park Zoo and more.