The Odyssey Project offers free University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign courses in the humanities to income-eligible adults in east-central Illinois. Odyssey students can earn up to eight transferable college credits in an environment designed to support non-traditional students, especially those whose education has been interrupted for whatever reason.

The courses include free textbooks and course materials, access to computers, bus fare to and from class and more.

Visit the Odyssey Project website for more details and program fact sheets in Spanish, French and Simplified Chinese.

iCan Shine collaborates with local charities, parks and recreation departments, schools, and motivated parents to provide recreational programs for people with disabilities who want to learn to ride a bike, swim or dance.

iCan Shine programs include:

• iCan Bike and iCan Dance programs for individuals ages 8 and older that are week-long camps or after-school sessions.
• iCan Swim programs for ages 3 and up that are five-day camps.

iCan Shine’s after-school programs aim to raise awareness and promote inclusion among students. Typically-developing students serve as volunteers and participate in diversity training sessions focused on learning about different disabilities and the accompanying educational and social challenges their peer students with special needs face.

Visit their website to find programs near you.

The Illinois Department of Human Resources (IDHS) provides a listing of Illinois, federal, local and private organizations offering home modification programs to promote accessibility and help individuals with disabilities become more independent.

Rattle the Stars provides community-based suicide prevention services, information and training to the Champaign County area, including:

• Suicide prevention consultations
• Suicide intervention training
• Private training for groups and assistance developing a comprehensive suicide response plan
• Student-led school suicide prevention chapters
• Comfort dog support
• Speaking engagements and workshops

All Rattle the Stars services are free. Visit their website for program information and additional resources.

Telecommunications Relay Services (TRS) allow people who are deaf, hard of hearing, deafblind or have speech disabilities to communicate by telephone.

The Federal Communications Commission’s American Sign Language video walks you through the various TRS systems available.

Prairie State Legal Services (PSLS) offers the Legal Advice Line for victims of domestic violence or sexual assault. The Legal Advice Line is available in certain counties served by PSLS.

For a list of counties served, the hours the advice line is open and more information on the services offered, click here for their flyer in English or Spanish.

Offers emotional support from a trained advocate to help you become an empowered and stronger parent. Parent advocates can list, offer emotional support, help you problem-solve, connect you with local resources, help you explore new resources and more.

The National Parent Helpline is available Monday through Friday from 12 – 9 p.m. at (855) 427-2736 (855-4A PARENT).

Eviction Help Illinois is a non-profit organization providing free legal aid, mediation services, and connections to other resources including rental assistance to increase housing stability.

Eviction Help Illinois flyer in English

Eviction Help Illinois flyer in Spanish

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPD) offers a variety of resources for homeowners and renters. Resources include information about tenant rights, assistance for landlords, mortgage assistance, rent assistance, utility assistance and more.

The Immigration Project provides individual attorney consultations and evaluations in Spanish and English on immigration issues in central and southern Illinois. Immigration attorneys and specialists travel to meet with clients in seven regional locations throughout downstate Illinois. They also have offices in Normal and Champaign.

The Immigration Project has a Facebook page and may be reached at (309) 829-8703 or info@immigrationproject.org.