Early CHOICES is an inclusion initiative of the Illinois State Board of Education. It promotes increasing high-quality inclusive early care and education for each and every child from birth to age 5. Its goal is to increase the number of children with disabilities receiving specialized services in regular early care and education settings.

Early CHOICES provides planning tools for families to help them think of inclusive options and prepare for the transition from Early Intervention into early childhood services.

Illinois Unidos provides a collection of resources developed for and focusing on Latinx families to address:

• Frequently asked questions regarding vaccinations and mitigation measures
• Accessing health, economic and mental health community services
• The devastating economic impact of COVID-19

Illinois Unidos is a consortium of more than 150 Latino elected and appointed officials, health professionals and representatives of community-based organizations.

Hands & Voices is a nationwide, parent-driven organization supporting families with children who are deaf or hard of hearing without a bias around communication modes or methodology.

Hands & Voices working in partnership with the St. Petersburg Early Intervention Institute provides a Russian translation of materials aimed at improving services and child outcomes.

Empowering people. Inspiring capabilities. ( EP!C ) serves individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities and their families. EP!C helps individuals with disabilities at all levels achieve their goals and live their lives to the fullest by providing a range of programs and services including:

• Educational services
• Community living services
• Employment services
• Harvest horticulture program
• EP!Casso art program

EP!C provides services to individuals in central and some southern Illinois communities.

The Arc’s Virtual Program Library is a free hub full of on-demand activities that people with disabilities, and their families and service providers can do at home.

Topics include arts, community and life skills, health and wellness, virtual clubs, and more. Service providers can also find and share resources to facilitate or deliver live, remote programming for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

FoodFinder’s free website and app display an interactive food assistance map, helping users find their nearest food pantry or other free food programs anywhere in the United States.

• Website: https://foodfinder.us/
• App: “FoodFinder – Fighting Hunger”
• Email: info@foodfinder.us

Disability Belongs™ is a diverse, disability-led nonprofit focusing on accessibility, inclusion, belonging and empowering people with disabilities. They provide a wide range of resources including training, webinars, networking and fully-accessible leadership and internship opportunities for people with disabilities.

Disability Belongs also provides:

• A variety of toolkits, including a toolkit with steps for making virtual and in-person events accessible.
• A paid, fully accessible National Leadership Program for people with disabilities in the fall and spring.
• A five-month, Disability Belongs™ Virtual Entertainment Lab for creatives with disabilities in development and production, and careers as writers, cinematographers, animators and other roles.

Disability Belongs™ Virtual Education & Students with Disabilities Resource Guide offers a wide range of information for supporting student success. This toolkit includes:

• Virtual resource guides
• Homeschool programs
• Information on legal rights
• Special education resources
• Mental health resources and more

Hosted by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and VaccineFinder from Boston Children’s Hospital, Vaccines.gov provides information and help with:

• Finding recommended vaccines for respiratory viruses, including COVID-19, the flu and RSV
• Making an appointment
• Answering frequently asked questions about the vaccines

Vax for All provides vaccine information and other helpful tips for parents and caregivers of a child with autism and other disabilities. Resources on the website include:

• Stories, videos and other kid-friendly disability resources
• How vaccines work – explanations for children and adults
• A vaccine appointment scheduling tool
• Information about in-home vaccine appointments for children in Illinois

Parents may text HELLO to (260) VAX-4ALL / (260) 829-425 to find information or chat.

Para obtener información sobre cómo vacunar a su hijo, envíe un mensaje de texto con HOLA al (260) 829-4255.