The Illinois Department of Human Services (IDHS) Find Food website offers a list of advocacy, education, and social support services, as well as links to food pantries and soup kitchens throughout Illinois. IDHS Find Food resources include:

• The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP)
• Family Community Resource Center (FCRC) Lobby Resources
• Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program – SNAP
• Women, Infants, and Children (WIC)

You can contact the IDHS Helpline at:

• 1 (800) 843-6154
• 1(866) 324-5553 TTY

The Early Years Project is a free online toolkit from the Illinois Early Hearing Detection and Intervention Program featuring easy-to-follow videos, activities and resources. Parents, caregivers, and educators can use these materials to help foster sensory development in young children, from birth to 6 years old.

The Early Years Project toolkit aims to supplement home visiting and early education programs. It includes information on developmental milestones, activities, resources and more in four areas:

• Hearing
• Vision
• Communication
• Language

Helping Hand is a nonprofit organization empowering children and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities across Chicagoland through person-centered education, therapy, residential and employment programs.

Helping Hand programs and services, include:

• An outpatient clinic
• School
• Community day services
• Residential living services
• Employment program

For more information, call (708) 352-3580 or email info@helpinghand-il.org.

Best Buddies in Illinois offers one-to-one friendship, integrated employment and leadership development programs for individuals with and without intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD).

Best Buddies offers chapters throughout Illinois. Programs and opportunities include:

• Best Buddies Friendship program, which offers social mentoring while improving the quality of life and level of inclusion
• Best Buddies Jobs program, which helps secure jobs for people with IDD.
• Best Buddies Leadership Development programs, which educate and empower people with IDD to be leaders, public speakers and advocates

For contact information, visit the Best Buddies in Illinois staff directory page.

The Caregiver Action Network’s Families, Addiction & Mental Health Network (FAM) is committed to helping and supporting caregivers, families, and patients navigate specialized supports and resources.

FAM recognizes the diversity and specialized support caregivers need to navigate substance use disorders and mental health care. FAM can connect caregivers with tailored tools and news to help navigate the complex mental healthcare landscape and advocate for their loved ones, and take care of their own health. FAM also provides educational articles, webinars, training, and other resources with lessons from fellow caregivers, healthcare professionals, social workers and others.

For more information, fill out the Contact form on FAM’s website.

Streator Unlimited Inc.’s Illinois Epilepsy Support and Resources provides services to anyone of any age with epilepsy or a seizure disorder who resides in its service area of central and northwest Illinois. Its services include:

• Peer support and support groups
• Caregiver support
• Help to navigate insurance and benefits
• Medical service support
• Access to counseling
• Vocational support
• Help to coordinate transportation

For more details, email epilepsy@streatorunlimited.org or call (815) 673-5574.

Friends of Man is a non-profit that uses 100% of donations for charitable assistance. The charity receives applications requesting mobility equipment, prosthetics, home modifications, medical equipment, hearing aids, basic needs and much more from referring professionals. Referring professionals include caseworkers, case managers, healthcare workers, social workers, school counselors, teachers and clergy who apply on behalf of their patients and clients.

In addition to the assistance listed above, Friends of Man can provide assistance nationwide for adaptive equipment, assistive technology, lift chairs, mobility equipment, orthopedic braces and shoes, stairlifts, vehicle adaptations and wheelchair ramps.

More details are on the Friends of Man Eligibility page.

Parents of Extraordinary Children (PEXC) is a nonprofit that aims to inform, empower, support and help advocate for families of children and young adults with disabilities within the southeast side of Chicago.

With the help of volunteers and representatives from city-wide organizations, PEXC provides opportunities for Individualized Education Program (IEP) training, learning to navigate the special education process, understanding terminology, initiating the process of evaluation,  the transition to adulthood and more.

PEXC has a Sensory Space and Resource Center and offers an “All Inclusive Support Group” on a monthly basis for families.

For more information, call (312) 600-5479 or email admin@pexc10thward.com.

New Lenox Transportation Service provides safe, affordable and reliable transportation for all New Lenox Township residents. Transportation is provided within the New Lenox Township and Village, Monday through Friday, from 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Rides are also available to the Mokena, Frankfort and Joliet areas for medical and physical therapy appointments or employment for New Lenox Township residents ages 22 years and older with disabilities. You must make reservations by telephone.

Transportation office hours are 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. To schedule a ride, please call transportation services manager Debbie Cunningham at (815) 485-6431.

The League of Chicago Theatres works with Chicago-area theaters to make live theater performances accessible to everyone. The league provides a calendar of upcoming performances based on specific access requirements and disabilities.

The calendar includes touch tours, American Sign Language (ASL)-interpreted, audio-described, open-captioned, sensory-friendly and Spanish subtitled performances.  Sensory-friendly performances are relaxed and sensory-friendly theatre experiences aimed to be more accessible for individuals on the autism spectrum or others with cognitive/developmental disabilities.

For more information, contact the League of Chicago Theatres at (312) 554-9800 or info@chicagoplays.com.