Resource Directory /

Chicago Home Care Resources

  • Diverse Learners Recovery Fund

    The Diverse Learners Recovery Fund is a lottery-style grant program for Chicago families with children with disabilities offered through the Chicago Mayor’s Office for People with Disabilities and Ada S. McKinley Community Services, Inc. The fund will provide one-time grants of $500 to up to 8,000 eligible K-12 students through a lottery. Families must submit an application and complete the verification process to participate. The deadline to apply is Oct. 30, 2024.

    The Diverse Learners Recovery Fund program will select recipients through three lottery drawings on the following dates:

    • July 1, 2024
    • Sept. 16, 2024
    • On or after Nov. 30, 2024

    The program will notify selected applicants by email. Verified applications that are not chosen will be included in the next drawing.

    Submitting an eligible application does not guarantee you will receive the funds.

  • Fun4theDisabled

    Fun4theDisabled is a community created by, for and about people with disabilities to help everyone live their best lives. Fun4theDisabled  creates video and content highlighting opportunities for people with disabilities in the community, connecting them with organizations, programs and events that provide accessibility in inclusive and fun ways. You can find all videos on the Fun4theDisabled YouTube channel.

    Fun4theDisabled also offers video tours of Chicago-area sites, including the National Museum of Mexican Art, Navy Pier, Lincoln Park Zoo and more.

  • UIC College of Dentistry Inclusive Care Clinic in Chicago

    The Inclusive Care Clinic (ICC) from the University of Illinois Chicago’s College of Dentistry offers comprehensive, preventative and integrated (multidisciplinary) dental treatment for patients 15 years or older with a wide range of physical and developmental disabilities. The ICC serves individuals with autism, physical disabilities, intellectual and developmental disabilities, and behavioral and other conditions.

    The clinic includes:

    • A sensory room
    • A wheelchair lift
    • Private treatment rooms
    • Noise-cancelling headphones
    • Personal entertainment tablets
    • Weighted blankets

  • Jill’s House Weekend Adventures

    Jill’s House House Weekend Adventures (JHWA) and Covenant Harbor in Lake Geneva, Wis., provide a two-day camping experience for kids and teens ages 6 to 17 with intellectual disabilities in the Chicagoland area. The program designs activities around campers’ needs. These activities include playing games, having cookouts, enjoying nature and making new friends.

    The camp cannot support certain health and behavioral conditions. Please visit JHWA’s website for the specific eligibility requirements and intake application process.

  • The Center for Chronic Illness

    The Center for Chronic Illness (CCI) is a nonprofit organization offering support and education to promote well-being and decrease isolation for people affected by chronic illness. CCI offers adults and teens living with chronic illness a variety of support groups and programs focusing on emotional well-being, health education and community. ​CCI provides:

  • Creative Healing for Youth in Pain

    Creative Healing for Youth in Pain (CHYP) is a nonprofit organization serving youth between the ages of 13 and 24 who are experiencing pain, feelings of isolation and loneliness. CHYP provides educational resources, peer connection and exposure to creative healing experiences to help bridge the gap between common healthcare barriers such as cost, geographic location and long wait times for appointments. Resources are available for both youth and their parents.

    CHYP resources include:

    • Information on the science of pain
    • Strategies for breaking the pain cycle
    • On-demand webinars for youth and parents
    • Monthly open Zoom meetings for youth (ages 13 to 24)
    • Small group and Zoom meetings for parents
    • Summer camp

  • After 22 Transition Program for Adults With Disabilities

    After 22 is Richard J. Daley College’s comprehensive transition program for adults with disabilities ages 18 and older. The After 22 Pilot Program connects adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities to career training, educational opportunities and jobs. This program also teaches students life skills, provides them with coaches and mentors, and allows them to experience social and extracurricular activities.

    Students who complete this program will earn a Career Advancement Certificate from the college (not an academic degree).

    To enroll in After 22, students must have been ensured a free public education under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), have a documented intellectual disability, have a high school diploma or GED, and be 18 or older.

  • Adolescent Suicide Postvention Resources Hub

    The Adolescent Suicide Postvention Resources Hub provides articles, books and other comprehensive resources to support adolescents and their communities as they navigate the grieving process and find a path towards healing. Resources are available for individuals, communities and school districts.

    “Postvention” is a term to describe best practices after a suicide. The Adolescent Suicide Postvention Resources Hub offers information on topics including:

    • Communicating and understanding postvention
    • Parent resources and support groups
    • 24/7 support

  • The Center on Youth Voice, Youth Choice

    The Center on Youth Voice, Youth Choice is a national resource center for youth with disabilities. Youth Voice, Youth Choice provides self-advocates, their families and supporters with advocacy, teaching tools for alternatives to guardianship, plain language resources and more. It offers:

    • Videos and youth stories
    • Alternatives to guardianship tools with stories and resources to help make tough decisions
    • A plain language series featuring a wide variety of important topics
    • The Youth Ambassador Curriculum for building leadership and advocacy skills