Special Opportunities Available in Recreation (SOAR) is a community-based therapeutic recreation program for individuals with disabilities ages 4 and up. SOAR offers year-round leisure, social and recreational activities to help build skills and community connections.

Check the website for eligibility, transportation options, and the calendar of events.

The City of Bloomington and Town of Normal sponsor S.O.A.R through their Parks and Recreation departments.

The Immune Deficiency Foundation (IDF) is a nationwide organization that can assist with finding specialists, providing financial assistance and providing educational materials. Primary immune deficiency diseases are a group of relatively rare conditions caused by intrinsic or genetic defects in the immune system.

For more information, contact IDF at (410) 321-6647 or IDF@primaryimmune.org.

The Division of Specialized Care for Children’s (DSCC) Mental Health Resources tip sheet provides a listing of websites, fact sheets and videos to help youth and their families find mental health resources.

Mental Health Resources tip sheet in English

Mental Health Resources tip sheet in Spanish

The Division of Specialized Care for Children’s (DSCC) education skills checklist can help youth and their families identify the skills and abilities they have met as well as those areas where they may need more focus. Some of these activities may not apply to everyone. 

Education Skills Checklist in English

Eduation Skills Checklist in Spanish

The Division of Specialized Care for Children’s (DSCC) Work Skills Checklist is designed to help youth identify work-related skills they have and other areas where they may need more focus. Some of these activities may not apply to everyone.

DSCC’s Work Skills Checklist in English

DSCC’s Work Skills Checklist in Spanish

The Plan to Achieve Self-Support (PASS) from the Social Security Administration can help people with disabilities create a written plan of action to get a specific job or start a business.  The PASS allows you to earn more money toward a work goal without reducing your SSI benefits.

For more information, call (800) 772–1213 (TTY 1–800–325–0778).

Got Transition aims to help youth and young adults move from pediatric to adult health care. Its website includes frequently asked questions and resources for youth and young adults as well as parents and caregivers.

The site also includes an animated video “What is Health Care Transition? HCT 101” for youth, young adults and families.

Almost Home Kids provides a bridge from hospital to home through an innovative community-based care system for children with medical complexities up to age 22. It responds to the needs of families, trains caregivers, offers respite care, advocates for accessibility and inclusion and educates healthcare professionals.

Almost Home Kids offers transitional, respite and respite transportation care. It has locations in Chicago, Naperville and Peoria.

Maryville Children’s Healthcare Center provides care to children, ages newborn to 21, with complex medical needs. Services also include caregiver training to feel confident in taking care for their child when he/she transitions homem, and both transitional and respite care.

To learn more about the Maryville Children’s Healthcare Center, please call (773) 205-3606.

There are many activities that youth with specialized healthcare needs can practice doing to become more self-reliant and ready for their desired adult living arrangements. The Division of Specialized Care for Children (DSCC) created this Adult Living Arrangements/Self-Reliant Skills Checklist to help youth and their families learn about and build important skills and abilities in the areas of independence, nutrition, personal care and hygiene, and mobility/exercise. Some of these activities may not apply to everyone.

DSCC’s Adult Living Arrangements/Self-Reliant Skills Checklist in English

DSCC’s Adult Living Arrangements/Self-Reliant Skills Checklist in Spanish