Peoria Resources
COVID-19 Social Stories and Story Books for Children and People with Disabilities
Pathfinders for Autism has put together a list of social stories, books, printable resources and videos to help children and individuals with disabilities learn about the coronavirus, wearing a mask, social distancing and hand-washing.
Eviction Help for Illinois Residents
Eviction Help Illinois is a non-profit organization providing free legal aid, mediation services, and connections to other resources including rental assistance to increase housing stability.
Renter and Homeowner Resources from the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPD) offers a variety of resources for homeowners and renters during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Available resources include information about relief programs, tenant rights, assistance for landlords, mortgage assistance, rent assistance, utility assistance and more.
The Immigration Project provides individual attorney consultations and evaluations in Spanish and English on immigration issues in central and southern Illinois. Immigration attorneys and specialists travel to meet with clients in seven regional locations throughout downstate Illinois. They also have offices in Normal and Champaign.
The Immigration Project has a Facebook page and may be reached at (309) 829-8703 or info@immigrationproject.org.
Tazewell County Public Health COVID-19 Resources for Residents
Tazewell County Health Department has put together a list of local, state and national resources for residents, businesses and students throughout the region. The list includes organizations to turn to for help with food, shelter, clothing, rental or utility assistance, physical or mental health services, transportation assistance, meal delivery, or child care needs due to COVID-19.
FAQ on New Special Education Laws for Students Who Turn 22
In July 2021, House Bill 40 and House Bill 2748 became law, allowing Illinois special education students to continue attending school through the end of the school year in which they turn 22. The package also allows special needs students who recently turned 22 and were impacted by COVID-19 to remain eligible for educational services up to the end of the regular 2021-22 school year.
The Illinois State Board of Education has put together a frequently-asked-questions document on the new laws (Public Act 102-0172 and Public Act 102-0173).
A press release summarizing the legislation is also available on Illinois.gov.
Central Illinois Sled Hockey Association
The Central Illinois Sled Hockey Association (CISHA) is a volunteer, non-profit organization offering recreational and competitive sled hockey for youth and adult players with physical disabilities throughout the central Illinois region.
Families do not pay to participate. CISHA provides sleds, hockey equipment, team jerseys and ice time.
IDPH & ISBE Joint Guidance for COVID-19 Prevention in Schools
The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) and Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) have fully adopted CDC guidelines and have provided guidance for the school year in a joint summary Operational Guidance for K-12 Schools and Early Care and Education Programs to Support Safe In-Person Learning and related CDC FAQ.
Site information also includes school and youth data metrics, a decision tree and post-vaccination considerations for school employees.
U.S. Department of Education “Return to School Roadmap” for 2022-23 School Year
The U.S. Department of Education has released the “Return to School Roadmap,” a resource to support students, schools, educators, and communities as they prepare to return to safe, healthy in-person learning this fall and emerge from the pandemic stronger than before.
The Roadmap provides key resources and supports for students, parents, educators, and school communities to build excitement around returning to classrooms this school year and outlines how federal funding can support the safe and sustained return to in-person learning. It includes:
- A fact sheet for schools, families, and communities on the Return to School Roadmap
- A checklist that parents can use to prepare themselves and their children for a safe return to in-person learning this fall, leading with vaccinating eligible children and masking up if students are not yet vaccinated.
The Education Department also has two publications focusing on strategies and practices important for schools to use to regarding COVID and reopening safely.
Volume 1 provides families, schools and the community key health and safety measures for reopening schools. Volume 1 highlights factors that need to be addressed for specific groups of students, including students with disabilities, one of the groups hardest hit by the impact of COVID-19.
Volume 2 provides more specific practices for meeting the basic and other critical needs of students.
Early Intervention Clearinghouse Technology Loan Program
The Illinois Early Intervention Clearinghouse (EIC) technology loan program helps families in early intervention participate in live video visits or telehealth. Available technology includes:
- iPad with a data plan (you are requesting a device for live video visits that also has an internet plan)
- iPad without a data plan (you are requesting a device for live video visits and already have internet access)
- Hotspot (you have a device for live video visits but require internet access)
Quantities are limited. To apply to receive the technology, please complete a device loan request form. (The device loan request form is also available in Spanish.)
The EIC also provides tips on preparing for a live video visit.