Chicagoland Disabled People of Color Coalition (Chicagoland DPOCC), the Institute on Disability and Human Development and Counting on Chicago Coalition came together to create a helpful tool for those who want to learn more about the 2020 U.S. Census and how it affects disability communities throughout the country, including people with disabilities who live in Chicago.

Census 101: #IAmCounted is a packet where you can find out what the census means, how the census can help communities (including the disability community), ways to complete the census and more.

If you would like to get the packet in a different language, email chicagolandpocc@gmail.com.

Lake County Center for Independent Living (LCCIL) is a non-residential, cross-disability organization governed and staffed by a majority of people with disabilities. The center advocates for a fully accessible society that is inclusive of everyone. LCCIL serves Lake and McHenry counties.

LCCIL offers transition services to adults who want to live independently in their homes in the community and youth who seek a fully productive, independent life as they transition into adulthood. Programs include community transition services, pre-employment transition services and youth transition services.

The Illinois Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics (ICAAP) encourages families to maintain routine pediatric appointments during the COVID-19 pandemic and reach out to pediatricians for questions and support during this difficult time. In-person, routine well-child visits are still recommended for all children at this time, especially children under two who need to maintain their vaccination schedules.

ICAAP provides this helpful infographic on well-visits and immunization for families.

Project Mobility is a nonprofit organization that offers recreational events using specialized bicycles for people with disabilities. Its professional staff works with families, rehabilitative professionals and organizations to promote better health, independence, and most of all the freedom of mobility for people with physical disabilities.

Project Mobility also does an Adaptive Bike Giveaway.

Parents and caregivers of children with medical complexity often focus solely on their child’s health and wellbeing. But what happens when the parent/caregiver gets sick?

It’s a crucial question that families must consider. Advance preparations can help parents/caregivers reduce stress, lighten their mental load and protect the child’s health and safety during a family illness and other emergencies.

Pediatric doctors from Ann and Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago provide advice on how to start these conversations with your pediatrician during the pandemic and beyond.

“Educational Rights and Responsibilities: Understanding Special Education in Illinois” is a guide for parents, teachers, administrators and others to learn about the educational rights of children who receive special education and related services due to disabilities that affect their ability to achieve academically.

Special education laws and procedures are complicated and can be difficult to understand. This guide from the Illinois State Board of Education will clarify some of the procedures of special education. It contains information about many of the most common topics related to the broad special education landscape, from identification and evaluation to transition planning and complaint procedures

The DuPage Health Coalition (DHC) and several Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHC) are providing a variety of health and financial support services to uninsured and low-income residents in the county.

COVID-19 testing, telemedicine and opioid use disorder treatment services are among the services available at these FQHCs located throughout DuPage County.

Click on the health coalition flyer, which is in English and Spanish, for more information.

A list of food pantries and hours of operation in the Chicago south suburbs.

The Stanford Health Literacy Lab in collaboration with families and providers developed the COVID-19 Preparedness Tool for Families and Caregivers to help families of children with special healthcare needs with rpreparing for and responding to COVID-19 in a variety of settings.

The user-friendly tool, also available in Spanish, provides tips for home, healthcare settings, schools and work. It also offers advice for coping with family stress.

Community Partners for Affordable Housing has information on emergency rent and utility assistance programs to help Lake County, Illinois households whose incomes have decreased due to COVID-19. Their website outlines the different programs and provides eligibility guidelines.

If you need help submitting your application, accessing computer equipment, are unsure which program may be better for you or have other questions, please contact Emergency Assistance Coordinator, Toni Martinez, at tmartinez@cpahousing.org or (847) 263-7478 ext 30.