Chicago Resources
Vaccine Appointment Call Center
The Illinois Department of Public Health has launched the Vaccine Appointment Call Center to help people who do not have access to or who have difficulty navigating online services in making appointments to receive the COVID-19 vaccine.
The toll-free Vaccine Appointment Call Center phone number is (833) 621-1284 and can take TTY calls.
The call center is open seven days a week from 6 a.m. to midnight. The call center has English and Spanish-speaking call agents with the availability for translation into other languages.
Call agents will help individuals who do have access to online services navigate the various registration sites. However, if the individual does not have access to online services or is unable to navigate the site, the agent will make an appointment on their behalf.
Bilingual Parents Video Library
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.
V-Safe After Vaccination Health Checker
As more Illinois residents become eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine, the Illinois Department of Public Health is encouraging those who receive a COVID-19 vaccination to use the V-safe After Vaccination Health Checker.
V-safe is a smartphone-based tool from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) that uses text messaging and web surveys to provide personalized health check-ins after you receive a COVID-19 vaccine. Through v-safe, you can quickly tell CDC if you have any side effects after getting the COVID-19 vaccine. Depending on your answers, someone from CDC may call to check on you and get more information. V-safe will also remind you to get your second COVID-19 vaccine dose if you need one.
“Social Story” About Getting a Vaccine
The Center for Dignity in Health Care for People with Disabilities at the Univesity of Cincinnati UCEDD provides this two-page “social story” about getting a vaccine.
Vaccine Considerations for People with Disabilities
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 vaccine.
What to Expect During and After Your COVID-19 Vaccine
UIC’s Division of Specialized Care for Children put together this helpful fact sheet to help you know what to expect before and after you receive your COVID-19 vaccine.
COVID-19 Vaccine Frequently Asked Questions
All Illinoisans age 5 and up are eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine. UIC’s Division of Specialized Care for Children (DSCC) put together this frequently-asked-questions handout to help our participant families make informed decisions about receiving the vaccine.
Rare Caregiver Respite Program
The National Organization for Rare Disorders’ (NORD) Respite Program is for caregivers (parent, spouse, family member or significant other) of a child or adult diagnosed with a rare disorder.
The Respite Program provides financial assistance to enable the caregiver a break to attend a conference, event or simply have an afternoon or evening away from caregiving. Financial assistance will be granted up to $500 annually for those who qualify. Awards may be spread throughout the year or in a single-use.
For more information about this program, contact NORD at (203) 616-4328 or email CaregiverRespite@rarediseases.org.
Reading a Student’s IEP – Special Education Under the IDEA
Equip for Equality provides this guide to help understand the purpose of an individualized education program (IEP), how to read one, rules to know, special education rights, Individuals With Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) requirements and more.
Entry Point for Suburban Cook County
Entry Point’s purpose is to ensure all people experiencing homelessness or who are at-risk of homelessness have fair and equal access to housing in suburban Cook County.
Individuals and families experiencing homelessness or who are at-risk of homelessness can access Entry Point throughout the region. Trained Entry Point staff at access locations work with households to understand their strengths and needs using a standardized assessment. Entry Point uses HUD homeless assistance eligibility guidelines and uniform prioritization policies to refer people to the right programs based on their preferences and levels of need.
Entry Point also helps suburban Cook County make the best matches between homeless assistance resources and the people who need them most.