Enjoy Illinois offers inspiration and accessibility information for travelers with disabilities, including independent and assisted wheelchair users and people with hidden disabilities. The website features information on attractions throughout Illinois, transportation options and video tours of Chicago museums, landmarks and the #AccessibleChicago docuseries from Fun4theDisabled.

The Inclusive Care Clinic (ICC) from the University of Illinois Chicago’s College of Dentistry offers comprehensive, preventative and integrated (multidisciplinary) dental treatment for patients 15 years or older with a wide range of physical and developmental disabilities. The ICC serves individuals with autism, physical disabilities, intellectual and developmental disabilities, and behavioral and other conditions.

The clinic includes:

• A sensory room
• A wheelchair lift
• Private treatment rooms
• Noise-cancelling headphones
• Personal entertainment tablets
• Weighted blankets

The Salvation Army St. Clair County provides a variety of programs and services to help individuals and families remove barriers, build job skills, find childcare and remain in their homes. It offers:

• After-school programs where youth and teens have a safe place to complete homework, learn new skills and relax with friends
• Pathway to Hope program that helps families identify barriers and address them by connecting with community support organizations and more
• Homelessness prevention services
• Emergency help with rent/mortgage, utility bills and other needs to keep families in their homes

Project Strong and Unified Network (Project SUN) is a family-driven, youth-guided and community-based system of care in Kankakee County. Project SUN provides resources, training and community education about children’s behavioral health and other child and family wellness topics. Its services include:

• Helping families navigate their children’s mental, emotional and behavioral health systems of care through trained staff and volunteer Community Navigators
• Supporting families on their journey by training peer parent mentors and companions and offering appreciation events for caregivers
• Assisting parents and youth to gain the skills necessary to actively participate in their care planning and delivery
• Offering professional development training for mental, emotional and behavioral health service providers
• Providing community education with a focus on children and their families

Jill’s House House Weekend Adventures (JHWA) and Covenant Harbor in Lake Geneva, Wis., provide a two-day camping experience for kids and teens ages 6 to 17 with intellectual disabilities in the Chicagoland area. The program designs activities around campers’ needs. These activities include playing games, having cookouts, enjoying nature and making new friends.

The camp cannot support certain health and behavioral conditions. Please visit JHWA’s website for the specific eligibility requirements and intake application process.

Endeavor Health (formerly Northwest Community Healthcare) Mobile Dental Clinic offers family dental care for residents without access to a dentist due to financial barriers in Elk Grove, Palatine, Schaumburg or Wheeling Townships. Individuals must meet income guidelines and not have private dental insurance.

The clinic does not accept walk-ins. It may charge a copay for adult visits. Children’s services are free. To be eligible for services, patients must:

• Reside in Elk Grove, Palatine, Schaumburg or Wheeling Townships
• Undergone screening by their township before making an appointment
• Have an income at or below 200 percent of the federal poverty level or be on General Assistance or Medicaid

See the Mobile Dental Clinic flyer in English and Spanish for enrollment details and a contact number for each township.

The Center for Chronic Illness (CCI) is a nonprofit organization offering support and education to promote well-being and decrease isolation for people affected by chronic illness. CCI offers adults and teens living with chronic illness a variety of support groups and programs focusing on emotional well-being, health education and community. ​CCI provides:

• Chronic illness support groups for adults and teens
• Supporting loved ones and parenting children with health challenges support groups
• BIPOC & LGBTQIA+ support groups
• Health education programs
• Resources
• Events

Decatur Family YMCA provides swim lessons and aquatics programming for individuals with diverse abilities to ensure participants of all needs and skill levels are able to learn water safety and enjoy the pool. These lessons are tailored towards the skills of each participant. Instructors communicate with parents even more than usual to ensure that each swimmer is working towards an agreed upon goal.

Diverse Abilities – YMCA of Cass and Clay Counties provides programs to ensure that everyone, regardless of ability, age or background, can thrive. Diverse Abilities offers an opportunity for individuals with Down syndrome, cerebral palsy and other special needs to participate in a wide range of classes and activities based on their needs and comfort level. Its programs include:

• Art
• Fitness
• Monthly social hours
• Swimming

Creative Healing for Youth in Pain (CHYP) is a nonprofit organization serving youth between the ages of 13 and 24 who are experiencing pain, feelings of isolation and loneliness. CHYP provides educational resources, peer connection and exposure to creative healing experiences to help bridge the gap between common healthcare barriers such as cost, geographic location and long wait times for appointments. Resources are available for both youth and their parents.

CHYP resources include:

• Information on the science of pain
• Strategies for breaking the pain cycle
• On-demand webinars for youth and parents
• Monthly open Zoom meetings for youth (ages 13 to 24)
• Small group and Zoom meetings for parents
• Summer camp