Chicago Resources
National Library Service for the Blind and Print Disabled (NLS)
The National Library Service for the Blind and Print Disabled (NLS ) is a free braille and talking book library service for people with temporary or permanent low vision, blindness, or a physical or perceptual disability that prevents them from reading or holding the printed page. Through a national network of cooperating libraries, NLS offers books the way you want them: in braille or audio, mailed to your door for free or instantly downloadable.
NLS works to ensure that all may read by providing eligible individuals access to reading material regardless of age, economic circumstances or technical expertise.
PACER’s National Bullying Prevention Center
PACER’s National Bullying Prevention Center provides resources and information regarding the bullying and harassment of students with disabilities.
PACER’s National Parent Center on Transition and Employment
Information and resources for families of youth with disabilities on transition planning, civil rights, work-based learning, higher education and more.
The Sibling Leadership Network provides siblings of individuals with disabilities the information, support and tools to advocate with their brothers and sisters. Their website offers ways to get involved, policy and advocacy information, and family-specific resources including resources for teenage/young adult siblings, resources for adult siblings and resources for parents and family members.
The Danny Did Foundation works toward its mission to prevent deaths caused by seizures with these main goals in mind: advancing public awareness of Sudden Unexpected Death in Epilepsy (SUDEP), enhancing the SUDEP communication model between medical professionals and families afflicted by seizures, and the mainstreaming of seizure detection and prediction devices that may assist in preventing seizure-related deaths.
The Danny Did Foundation’s grant program does provide financial assistance for purchasing seizure detection and seizure prediction devices to qualifying individuals.
This series of videos created by the Illinois Emergency Management Agency and the Illinois Deaf and Hard of Hearing Commission provide vital information and preparedness messages in American Sign Language (ASL).
Topics include:
Emergency Preparedness Tips for Those with Access and Functional Needs
A guidebook from the Illinois Emergency Management Agency that provides preparedness tips for people with visual, cognitive or mobility impairments; people who are deaf or hard of hearing; those who utilize service animals or life support systems; and senior citizens.
Resources for Voters With Disabilities
The U.S. Election Assistance Commission created this comprehensive list of resources for voters with disabilities, which includes links to voting accessibility laws and regulations and the latest best practices and research pertaining to voters with disabilities.
The commission also created a tip sheet to help voters with disabilities vote privately and independently.
Transition QuickGuide: Take Charge of Planning and Managing Your Own Health and Career Goals
The Transition QuickGuide checklist provides information and resources about health insurance coverage, self-care, health care transition, decision-making and career planning and management.
Bounce Children’s Foundation is a Chicago area non-profit that aims to transform the lives of chronically ill children, and their families, shifting all from surviving to thriving. The foundation serves children from birth to 18 years of age.
Bounce’s free programs aim to build the resilience needed to cope with the ongoing, unexpected setbacks that define chronic illness. Programs include family adventures, education to strengthen vital coping skills, donated tickets to high demand events, themed care packages for household families, access to resources, peer support and more.