Olney Resources
Magic Wheelchair is a nonprofit organization that builds costumes for children and youth in wheelchairs at no cost to families.
To be eligible for a Magic Wheelchair costume, a child must be between the ages of 5 and 17 and primarily use a wheelchair for mobility.
Safe2Help Illinois offers students a safe, confidential way to share information that might help prevent suicides, bullying, school violence or other threats to school safety. The program is focused on getting students to “Seek Help Before Harm.”
Recognizing that not all students may feel safe talking to their parents, teachers, coaches or mentors, students can use a free app, text/phone, website (Safe2HelpIllinois.com) and other social media platforms to confidentially report school safety issues and seek help before harming themselves or others.
The Safe2Help website provides guidance, tips and multi-media materials for children, teens, parents and educators on topics including:
- The role and actions of a trusted adult
- Ways to get help
- Encouraging others
- Helping someone online
- Suicide prevention
Well-Child Visits and Recommended Vaccinations During COVID-19 Pandemic and Beyond
Well-child visits and recommended vaccinations are essential and help make sure children stay healthy.
Families have been doing their part by staying at home as much as possible to help stop the spread of COVID-19. Unfortunately, many children have missed check-ups and recommended childhood vaccinations. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has created a website with information for families and those who care for children to help them catch up on missed vaccinations.
The site includes fact sheets, posters, social media templates, and sample newsletter articles to encourage caregivers to get back on track with childhood vaccinations in:
igrow is the Illinois symbol for quality evidence-based home visiting services to expectant parents and families with new babies and young children.
igrow home visiting provides family support and coaching to young parents who may be inexperienced and often do not have family support. Trained professionals are matched with families based on each family’s needs.
Digital Safety Resources from the Illinois Attorney General
Digital safety encompasses a wide variety of issues related to the use of computers, tablets, cell phones, games, apps and social media. The Illinois Attorney General’s “Stay Connected, Stay Informed website” provides resources for children, teenagers, parents and educators seeking information about digital safety.
Kids, teens, parents and teachers coping with cyberbullying and internet safety issues may also contact an Internet Safety Specialist at:
Grupo SALTO (Sociedad de Autismo Latina Trabajando con Optimismo) aims to provide support in Spanish for Latino families who have children who are differently abled, with a focus on autism.
Grupo SALTO provides culturally and linguistically appropriate training, education and services.
Bullying and Youth with Disabilities and Special Health Needs
Children with disabilities — such as physical, developmental, intellectual, emotional, and sensory disabilities — are at an increased risk of being bullied. Any number of factors — physical vulnerability, social skill challenges, or intolerant environments — may increase the risk.
StopBullying.Gov provides information on risk factors, strategies to create a safe environment and other resources at www.stopbullying.gov/bullying/special-needs.
For parents and teachers who wish to learn more about autism to better support children and families in the autism community, the Illinois Early Learning Project (IEL) provides “What is Autism?”
This question-and-answer style document includes information about the prevalence and defining characteristics of autism, community- and school-based supports and links to additional resources.
Future Financial Planning for People With Disabilities Video Series – ABLE and Special Needs Trusts
The Arc’s Center for Future Planning provides a series of videos to help you save money and protect public benefits. Video topics include ABLE accounts and special needs trusts. Each video overs:
- The benefits of each resource
- How they work
- What they can pay for
- How to get started
The Pediatric Palliative Care Coalition (PPCC) and Courageous Parents Network (CPN) provide resources to help parents, caregivers and medical professionals focus on giving special attention to siblings who are living and sharing their lives with a brother or sister with medical complexities.
Their Sibling Support Toolkit provides videos, activities, podcasts, a guided pathway and other resources to support parents and siblings as they navigate the ups, downs, setbacks and joys that make up their day-to-day lives.