Adventures Unlimited is a free, state-funded respite program in Illinois that provides programming and events for participants with intellectual and developmental disabilities and respite to caregivers.

Adventures Unlimited offers two-hour recreation opportunities and events focusing on fitness, art, media training and food preparation for adults and children as young as 4 years old.

To be eligible for Adventures Unlimited, individuals must have a documented developmental disability. They must also not be enrolled in any other Medicaid waiver program.

Hire Autism is a free program from the Organization for Autism Research to help autistic job seekers find meaningful employment opportunities and connect with autism-friendly employers.

The site features include a searchable jobs board and resource library, profile and job board navigation tutorials, personalized job alerts and autism- or disability-related employment events. Job seekers can request free one-on-one virtual assistance with resume and cover letter writing as well as interview preparation through Hire Autism’s volunteer mentoring program.

Hire Autism also offers the Synchrony Tech Scholarship for adults with autism pursuing technology-related courses or training to advance their careers.

For questions, please contact Hire Autism.

Formerly known as PKU News, flok provides resources, research, support and an app for individuals with an inherited metabolic disorder and the people and clinicians who care for them. These conditions include Classical Homocystinuria (HCU), Maple Syrup Urine Disease (MSUD), Phenylketonuria (PKU), Tyrosinemia and more.

The flok website includes:

• Opportunities to connect and share in person and virtually
• Annual flok Family Camps
• Food science information guided by a staff dietitian and collaborations with partner organizations and Genetic Metabolic Dietitians International
• The flok app for individuals managing an inherited disorder of protein metabolism

For questions, please contact flok at info@flok.org or (973) 619-9160.

The Superhero Project matches children facing serious illnesses, disabilities and complex medical needs with artists to create their superhero alter egos.

The nonprofit interviews kids and teens about their superhero alter egos. Artists then design the characters the children have described, creating a visual representation of their strength, courage and resilience. Families then receive an inspiring poster of their superheroes.

The Superhero Project is free and open to families around the world. For questions, please contact The Superhero Project using the online form or email hello@SHPkids.org

Ann and Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital’s Tracheostomy Care at Home page aims to help parents learn how to take care of their child’s tracheostomy (trach).  Topics include:

• The Tracheostomy
• Tracheostomy Skin Care
• How to Suction the Tracheostomy
• How to Change a Tracheostomy Tube
• Emergency Care

Please note: This information is for informational purposes only and is not intended to substitute in any way for medical education, training, treatment, advice or diagnosis by a healthcare professional.

The Pediatric Palliative Care Coalition (PPCC) offers a Caring Conversations Toolkit to help determine when and how to start a conversation about hospice or palliative care. Separate toolkits targeting the needs of families and providers are available.

Each toolkit offers a series of questions to help decide whether it is time to start a conversation about hospice or palliative care for a child with serious illness, and how to navigate the discussion.

 

SAM’s Sweet Heart Memorial Foundation is dedicated to helping Illinois families with children with complex medical diagnoses.

SAM’s Sweet Heart provides financial assistance to Boone, Ogle, Stephenson and Winnebago county families with children under the age of 18 who have a medical condition requiring lifelong treatment. Local families may apply for a grant during open application periods.

 

The Illinois Chapter of the Association of Education of Young Children (ILAEYC or Illinois AEYC) works to enrich the quality of care and education of the young child by:

• Increasing communication among parents, caregivers and professionals involved in the care and education of young children
• Providing in-service training for the early childhood community
• Hosting opportunities for community learning

ILAEYC has chapters and volunteers throughout the state.

Metropolitan Family Services provides a variety of services throughout Chicago, DuPage County, Evanston, Skokie and the southwest suburbs to help families learn, earn, heal and thrive. Metropolitan Family Services programs include:

• Early learning
• Afterschool
• Job readiness
• Counseling and mental health
• Legal assistance

For questions, please contact Metropolitan Family Services.

Nurse-Family Partnership of Sangamon County, provided by Southern Illinois University School of Medicine, serves first-time parents in Sangamon County to help improve pregnancy outcomes, child health and development, and economic self-sufficiency.

Nurse-Family Partnership (NFP) creates positive outcomes through nurse home visitors who work with families from pregnancy until the child’s 2nd birthday. Individuals may qualify for NFP of Sangamon County if they are less than 28 weeks pregnant and have financial, social or health risk factors such as:

• Loss of household income or an inability to pay for living expenses
• Chronic health condition(s) or mental health concerns
• Domestic violence
• Transportation or access to care difficulties

No proof of income is required for enrollment. Referrals can be made by providers, nurses, community services and individuals by calling (217) 545-0175, emailing  at siunfp@siumed.edu or using IRIS (integrated referral and intake system) or Touch Works “SIU Nurse-Family Partnership”