Transition: Education Resources
Equip for Equality has a toll-free Special Education Helpline to help families get appropriate education services for their children. The Helpline can assist by providing:
- Someone to talk to about your questions and concerns
- Information sheets on frequently asked questions
- Sample letters and forms
- Referrals
- Other assistance as needed
Contact the Helpline at 1-866-KIDS-046 (1-866-543-7046) or specialed@equipforequality.org.
TDI for Access Communication Access Scholarship Program
TDI for Access’ annual Communication Access Scholarship Program recognizes graduating high school students who are deaf, hard of hearing, late-deafened, and deafblind (DHH). The scholarship program is open to graduating DHH high school seniors anywhere in the United States who plan to attend post-secondary school at either a technical college or university.
The scholarship recognizes students for their passion and capacity to lead and serve as well as their commitment to making a significant impact on accessible communication technologies. The application window is from March to May every year.
The Odyssey Project at University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
The Odyssey Project offers free University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign courses in the humanities to income-eligible adults in east-central Illinois. Odyssey students can earn up to eight transferable college credits in an environment designed to support non-traditional students, especially those whose education has been interrupted for whatever reason.
The courses include free textbooks and course materials, access to computers, bus fare to and from class and more.
Visit the Odyssey Project website for more details and program fact sheets in Spanish, French and Simplified Chinese.
Think College provides resources, technical assistance and training related to college options for students with intellectual disabilities. It also manages a national listing of college programs for students with intellectual disabilities in the United States.
See the Think College fact sheet in English or Spanish for more details. Think College resources also include:
- Learning modules for families on exploring college options, how to pay for college and more
- The “Student Corner” and Emerging Advocates Student Group
- A searchable list of colleges nationwide and what they offer
- Recursos para Familias (Family resources in Spanish)
Valley Education for Employment System (VALEES)
Valley Education for Employment System (VALEES) provides career and technical education (CTE) courses and oversees a variety of state and federal education improvement grants for schools in DeKalb, LaSalle, Lee, Kane and Kendall counties. Students with disabilities and other special populations in the VALEES region can earn industry credentials and education benefits, participate in skill-building workshops and competitions, and connect with business and industry. Parents, guardians, educators and professionals can visit the VALEES website for resources and programs for special populations.
Will-Grundy Transition Planning Committee
The Will-Grundy Transition Planning Committee strives to connect families to community-based services and providers for students and adults with disabilities. Made up of schools, agencies and not-for-profit organizations, the group is working together to improve vocational transition from education to jobs for all learners but particularly for individuals with disabilities.
The Will-Grundy Transition Planning Committee provides:
- Educational events
- A resource directory covering Will, Grundy and Kendall counties
- Recorded videos on a variety of topics
- Information about community resources and service providers grouped by type (advocacy, assistive technology, etc.)