St. Clair Resources
The Funeral Service Foundation’s “Youth and Funerals” page provides free ebooks, printed booklets and webinars to help families discuss death and funerals with youth. The information can help families understand the role funerals play in the lives of children and youth, and how including youth in remembering loved ones can be healing and empowering.
Materials in English and Spanish include:
- Age-appropriate language and advice on discussing death and funerals with youth
- Suggestions for preparing and involving youth in remembering or memorializing a loved one
Pediatric Tracheostomy Tube Emergency Management Video
In this video, nurses from Ann and Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago describe and demonstrate emergency management for pediatric patients with tracheostomy (trach) tubes. The video covers:
- Prevention and assessment of emergency situations
- How to manage a mucous plug
- How to replace a trach tube that has become dislodged
- What to do if the trach tube is difficult to replace
- When to provide manual ventilation using bag to trach tube, bag and mask to mouth, and mouth to mouth
Sibling Grief and Bereavement Toolkit for Children and Teens
The Pediatric Palliative Care Coalition’s (PPCC) Sibling Grief and Bereavement Toolkit aims to address the needs and concerns of children and teens who have experienced the death of their sibling with medical complexities. The toolkit provides information to help adults understand how children and teens may process their grief and how to provide comfort to help them heal.
The toolkit can help with:
- The many feelings siblings might experience
- Therapeutic activities families can do together
- More resources for encouraging and guiding conversations
DSCC’s IMPACT Guide for Participants and Families
The Division of Specialized Care for Children (DSCC) has created an IMPACT Guide for Participants and Families. The guide provides helpful information for our participants and families using the Illinois Medicaid Program Advanced Cloud Technology (IMPACT) system. It includes:
- Contacts for assistance
- A list of helpful terms
- Information on All Kids/Medicaid transportation benefits
- How to enroll in IMPACT (as a Private Transportation Provider)
- Information on pre-approval and submitting a claim
For more information, visit the IMPACT Information and Resources page on our website.
Exercise Tips and Tools for Children
These tips sheets provide resources for helping children with disabilities of all ages and abilities exercise and stay active.
Illinois Disability Benefits 101
Illinois Disability Benefits 101 is a free, user-friendly, Illinois-specific website that helps work through the myths and confusion of Social Security benefits, health care, employment and more. It is a one-stop shop for information, resources, and tools to motivate and support employment and community inclusion for individuals with disabilities, their families and professionals.
Warm Neighbors, Cool Friends Energy Assistance Foundation Program
Warm Neighbors Cool Friends (WNCF) Energy Assistance Foundation provides year-round help with energy bills and making homes more energy efficient for income-qualified families. The program helps low-to-moderate-income individuals and families who don’t qualify for federal assistance. Visit the WNCF website to learn about:
- Income and eligibility guidelines
- Program coverage areas
- Help for weatherizing your home
- Energy bill payment programs
Swann Special Care Center is a non-profit organization located in Champaign that offers residential and educational programs for people with severe and profound intellectual disabilities. Its programs serve residents from throughout Illinois and include residential nursing care, adult day training and an accredited year-round school. Swann Special Care Center also offers:
- Restorative and long-term habilitation
- Palliative and end-of-life care
- Evaluation on an individual and ongoing basis
- Physical, occupational and speech therapies
RCADD Back-to-School Resources / Recursos para el regreso a clases
The Resource Center for Autism & Developmental Delays’ (RCADD) Virtual Resource Room offers back-to-school resources for parents/caregivers and their children with autism and/or neurodiversity. Resources in English and Spanish to help with a new school year include:
- Tip sheets- Hojas de consejos
- Schedules and routines materials- Horarios & rutinas
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Social stories- Historias sociales
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Visual supports – Apoyos visuales
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Structured activities- Actividades estructuradas
Illinois Special Education Information for Parents/Guardians
The Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) has developed guides and resources specifically for parents of students with disabilities to help them navigate the educational system and know how to best work with district and school personnel. Visit ISBE’s Special Education – Parents/Guardians page for more information.