The Autism Collective is a collaboration of Easterseals Central Illinois and OSF HealthCare Children’s Hospital of Illinois. The collective is working to end the isolation felt by those living with autism by uniting experts and connecting families.

The collective coordinates early identification, diagnosis, therapy, services and support. Its care coordination services are available throughout Illinois (outside of Chicago).

JCFS Chicago’s Respite Program provides support to families caring for children and youth with special needs.

Its program “takes a supportive, nurturing and therapeutic approach, combined with fun, social and recreational activities, while providing a well-deserved break for parents.”

For more information, visit the JCFS website, email ask@jcfs.org or call toll-free at (855) ASK-JCFS (275-5237).

It’s easy to view self-care as a low priority when your child is diagnosed with a serious illness. Your role as a parent and parenting partner has unexpectedly changed. The child has urgent and complex medical needs; you must manage appointments and service providers, and learn new information about the disease and medical treatment—all while tending to the needs of other family members, work and/or other responsibilities.

The Courageous Parents Network provides this guide to help parents make time and find ways to take care of themselves.

PCs for People is a national nonprofit social enterprise working to get low-cost, quality computers and internet into the homes of individuals, families, and nonprofits with low income. By recycling and refurbishing computers, PCs for People provides a valuable service to businesses, families, and the planet by keeping computers out of landfills and repurposing them to advance digital inclusion.

To be eligible, residents must be below 200 percent of the poverty level or enrolled in income-based government assistance programs, such as free or reduced school lunch, Medicaid or SNAP.

Visit www.pcsforpeople.org/illinois/ or call (618) 215-3787 for more information.

The McHenry County Workforce Network Young Adult Internship Program provides opportunities for young adults up to age 24, including paid internships, training, certification and more.

Paid internships at local companies throughout McHenry County including positions in retail, offices, public works departments, not-for-profit organizations and many more.

Classroom training including resume development, interview preparation, career exploration, job search training, etc.

Apraxia Kids is a nonprofit that strengthens the support systems in the lives of children with apraxia of speech. Its website provides resource guides and information about conferences, webinars, support groups and more.

The American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) is committed to ensuring that all people with speech, language and hearing disorders receive services to help them communicate effectively.

The ASHA website provides resources to help you understand communication and communication disorders.

The Illinois Resource Center has put together a library of videos for bilingual parents with videos in French, Tagalog, Urdu, Arabic, Polish, Spanish and English.

Each video showcases subjects and information relevant to parents, caretakers and community members, such as the role of Bilingual Parent Advisory Committees, financial aid for college, tenant rights, multilingual student rights and more.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) provides this information on what people with disabilities and their care providers need to know about the COVID-19, flu and respiratory virus vaccines.

 

The Menard County Housing Authority provides the Housing Choice Voucher Program, Project-Based Vouchers, Tenant Protection Vouchers, and Emergency Housing Vouchers in Alexander, Bond, Casey, Clinton, Coles, Crawford, Douglas, Fayette, Jackson, Jasper, Livingston, Macoupin, Massac, Menard, Monroe, Moultrie, Perry, Pulaski, Randolph, Scott and Wabash counties.

The website also includes resources for Menard County residents for help with food, utilities, employment, education, and other programs and services.

For more information and to apply, visit www.menardcha.org. You can also call (217) 632-7723.