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.

People with disabilities are individuals with families, jobs, hobbies, likes and dislikes, and problems and joys. While the disability is an integral part of who they are, it alone does not define them.

RespectAbility offers tips and resources to educate the public about etiquette and interacting with people with disabilities. Featured information includes:

• A disability sensitivity training video from the D. C. Office of Disability Rights
• The United Spinal Association’s Disability Etiquette booklet   (Spanish)  (Chinese)

The Illinois Department of Human Services’ Division of Rehabilitation Services (IDHS/DRS) is dedicated to empowering people with disabilities in becoming full participants in our society.

With “People First: A Guide to Interacting with People With Disabilities,” IDHS/DRS provides general etiquette tips and information on people-first language to foster respect and inclusion for people with disabilities.

The Patient Advocate Foundation (PAF) provides valuable information and understanding to patients navigating the healthcare system.

PAF’s Education Resource Library offers information on a wide variety of individual health and health insurance-related topics as well as understanding Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI).

Many of PAF’s resources are also available in Spanish.

PAF is also available by phone Monday – Friday, 7:30 a.m. – 4 p.m., at (800) 532-5274.