After 22 is Richard J. Daley College’s comprehensive transition program for adults with disabilities ages 18 and older. The After 22 Pilot Program connects adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities to career training, educational opportunities and jobs. This program also teaches students life skills, provides them with coaches and mentors, and allows them to experience social and extracurricular activities.

Students who complete this program will earn a Career Advancement Certificate from the college (not an academic degree).

To enroll in After 22, students must have been ensured a free public education under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), have a documented intellectual disability, have a high school diploma or GED, and be 18 or older.

Diverse Abilities – YMCA provides a wide variety of 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 wide range of classes and activities based on their needs and comfort level.

Diverse Abilities-YMCA programs include:

• SNAP (Special Needs Aquatics Program)
• Gymnastics
• Saturday Strikers providing friends, developing new skills, and learning to navigate the everyday world in a safe and welcoming environment.
• Sports

The St. Louis Dental Center offers comprehensive special care dentistry for patients with intellectual, physical and emotional disabilities and other special healthcare needs. It is a partnership of A.T. Still University (ATSU) and Affinia Healthcare.

The center’s special care suites include a wheelchair lift. The center accepts Medicaid and most dental insurance plans. Discounts are available to uninsured patients.

The Adolescent Suicide Postvention Resources Hub provides articles, books and other comprehensive resources to support adolescents and their communities as they navigate the grieving process and find a path towards healing. Resources are available for individuals, communities and school districts.

“Postvention” is a term to describe best practices after a suicide. The Adolescent Suicide Postvention Resources Hub offers information on topics including:

• Communicating and understanding postvention
• Parent resources and support groups
• 24/7 support

The Center on Youth Voice, Youth Choice is a national resource center for youth with disabilities. Youth Voice, Youth Choice provides self-advocates, their families and supporters with advocacy, teaching tools for alternatives to guardianship, plain language resources and more. It offers:

• Videos and youth stories
• Alternatives to guardianship tools with stories and resources to help make tough decisions
• A plain language series featuring a wide variety of important topics
• The Youth Ambassador Curriculum for building leadership and advocacy skills

Normal Moments supports Chicagoland families with critically ill/medically complex children up to age 17 by providing help with many household and outdoor tasks.  The organization matches volunteers based on the families’ needs, volunteer location and interests. Support includes:

• In-home help with necessary chores such as house cleaning, laundry, pet care and other errands
• Outdoor services such as lawn maintenance and snow removal
• Annual holiday programs

Note that Normal Moments volunteers may not provide care for dependents. A responsible adult over 18 must be in the house while a volunteer is in the house with children.

Touch of Nature Outdoor Education Center in the Shawnee National Forest in southern Illinois offers a diverse range of camps, retreats, programs and activities for children and adults of all abilities. Touch of Nature Outdoor Education Center programs include:

• Camp Little Giant summer day camps for children, teens and adults meeting the Essential Eligibility Criteria (EEC)
• Camp BETA for children with type 1 diabetes.
• Retreats
• Outdoor education
• Training and workshops

QuestBridge is a nonprofit that connects high-achieving students from low-income backgrounds to scholarships, financial aid and other learning opportunities to help them attend top colleges nationwide. QuestBridge also provides a Student Resource Center featuring a student workbook, checklists and tips for preparing, applying and paying for college. Its programs include:

• The College Prep Scholars Program helps high school juniors become strong applicants to top colleges.
• Quest for Excellence Awards provide high school juniors opportunities to receive scholarships, laptops and funding for partner college visits.
• The National College Match is the next step for high school seniors. College Match participants can apply for free to colleges and be considered for early admission and a full four-year scholarship.
• The QuestBridge Regular Decision program provides finalists who do not match an opportunity to be considered for admission and financial aid through a partnering college.

Visit the QuestBridge website for up-to-date program information, application deadlines and information about other programs.

Ladder Up provides free programs to eligible Chicagoland residents to help 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:

• The Tax Assistance Program
• The Legal Tax Clinic
• Financial aid for college workshops
• Financial education workshops
• Tax tips for self-employed/small business owners

The Guthrie-Koch Scholarship from flok is for individuals with one of several metabolic disorders. The scholarship is for students demonstrating 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)