Signed By Stories aims to raise mental health awareness, advocacy, education and support for individuals who are deaf, hard of hearing, deaf-blind, late-deafened and deaf-disabled through storytelling.

Signed By Stories is working to create a community where deaf and hard-of-hearing people can:

• Join together and share their mental health stories
• Receive validation for their experiences
• Learn how to better support their own and the larger community’s mental health needs
• Have a platform where both deaf and hearing people have the knowledge, tools and feel empowered to take action to improve the current state of mental health care for deaf people

Get help finding food, nutrition programs, job training, and accessing programs at over 700 food pantries, soup kitchens, shelters, and other community partners in the Chicagoland area.

Visit the Greater Chicago Food Depository website for more information.

Synapse House provides a range of programs for individuals affected by brain injury, stroke and other neurological conditions. Located in Downers Grove, Synapse House programs and services include:

• The Clubhouse day program
• Employment programs
• KNZ NeuroFitness Gym
• Community integration  therapeutic activities
• Community support services
• Family support

For more information or to set up a tour, please contact Deborah Giesler at deborah@synapsehouse.org or call (877) 932-1120.

Community Alternatives Unlimited (CAU) provides a wide range of services for people of all ages with intellectual and developmental disabilities, as well as programs to help economically challenged families with health and wellness during pregnancy and birth.

CAU provides residents of the city of Chicago (north side), several northern suburbs and Lake County with services and programs that include:

• Interview for Prioritization of Urgency of Need for Services (PUNS)
• Pre-Admission Screening (PAS) and determinations for eligibility for services
• Individual services and supports
• Connecting new mothers to appropriate medical care, eligible public benefits, support services and community resources
• Information and referral regarding prenatal care, checkups and immunizations, breastfeeding, infant development, family planning and parenting

For questions, visit Contact CAU or call (773) 867-4000.

STRIVE for Independence offers driver evaluations and training for all ages, disabilities and medical conditions for the Chicagoland area. STRIVE for Independence serves clients with a wide variety of driver rehabilitation needs. Their team of specialists includes occupational therapists, certified driver rehabilitation specialists, and state of Illinois-certified driving instructors (CDI) for adults and teenagers.

Visit the STRIVE for Independence website for more details.

GiGi’s Playhouse: Down Syndrome Achievement Centers provide free, nationwide on-site and virtual educational, therapeutic-based and career development programs for individuals with Down syndrome, their families and the community. Programs are available for individuals of all ages focusing on speech and language, social skills, cooking and fitness.

GiGi’s Playhouse Illinois locations include:

• Chicago
• Deerfield
• Fox Valley
• Hoffman Estates
• McHenry County
• Quad Cities
• Rockford
• Tinley Park

For questions, visit GiGi’s Playhouse website, call (847) 885-6149 or email info@gigisplayhouse.org.

GiGi’s Virtual Playhouse offers opportunities to build relationships and community connections and access free programming and resources tailored for individuals with Down syndrome. The playhouse serves individuals with Down syndrome of all ages, expecting moms and dads, caregivers, siblings, parents, grandparents, doctors, educators, volunteers and more.

GiGi’s Virtual Playhouse provides a variety of programs focused on therapeutic needs, educational needs, career development and global acceptance. You can log in to the virtual playhouse to access on-demand programs for all ages, resources for supporting a loved one with Down syndrome and communities of other parents, self-advocates and volunteers.

For questions, visit the GiGi’s Playhouse website.

Lake Forest Open Lands Association in Lake County has partnered with Access Ability Wisconsin (AAW) to become the first host location in Illinois for an AAW all-terrain outdoor wheelchair and trailer for use at their preserves and in the community. The outdoor wheelchair is free to use at a Lake Forest Open Lands’ preserve or the AAW trailer can be used to tow it to another site. Reservations and a deposit (refundable) are required.

Lake Forest Open Lands has nearly 900 acres of open space. Visit the outdoor wheelchair reservation page for more details.

Luella’s Lodge provides resources, retreats, support groups and non-traditional holistic therapies for families grieving the death of a child.

The non-profit includes a secluded log cabin on 10 acres in Oakwood, Ill., offering a private lake, hiking and biking trails, and other amenities to help families connect with one another through grief and healing.

For questions, visit Luella’s Lodge website.

The Penguin Project provides a supportive environment for children with a wide range of disabilities to explore the performing arts. The program encourages children and young adults ages 10 to 24 to discover their creative talents, build self-confidence and make new friends by rehearsing and performing a modified version of a well-known Broadway musical. The young artists work side-by-side with age-level “peer mentors” through four months of rehearsals and the final performance.

The project has several chapters in Illinois. Visit The Penguin Project website for more details.