Resource Directory /

Education Resources

  • Take N.O.T.E. of Learning Differences

    Take N.O.T.E. is an initiative developed by Understood in partnership with the American Academy of Pediatrics. It aims to help parents identify the signs of learning or thinking differences in their children.

  • 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 Arc@School Special Education Initiative

    Through The Arc@School initiative, The Arc provides training and resources to help families and others navigate the special education system.

    Arc@School offers information on the supports, services and rights for students with disabilities. It also includes information on advocating for students with disabilities during the COVID-19 pandemic as well as a nationwide directory of special education advocacy resources.

    Arc@School materials are also available in Spanish.

  • The Autism Program of Illinois (TAP)

    The Autism Program of Illinois (TAP) Service Network is a collaboration of five universities and 10 organizations that together operate 20 centers across the state to provide services to children, families, educators, childcare providers, and medical professionals.

    Illinois residents can participate in TAP’s Advocating for Supports to Improve Service Transitions (ASSIST) Training Program. The training features twelve modules focused on helping families advocate for adult services on behalf of their child or young adult on the autism spectrum. Each module features an expert-led presentation and time for discussion.

    Topics  include:

    • Guardianship and alternatives to guardianship
    • Medicaid waiver services
    • Social Security benefits
    • Health insurance
    • Special needs trusts
    • Post-secondary education and employment

  • The Center for Enriched Living

    Offers exciting social enrichment and educational programs for people of all ages and with varying levels of ability.

    280 Saunders Road
    Riverwoods, IL 60015
    (847) 948-7001
    info@CenterForEnrichedLiving.org

  • The Guthrie-Koch Scholarship for Individuals with Certain Metabolic Disorders

    The Guthrie-Koch Scholarship from flok is for individuals with one of several metabolic disorders. The scholarship is for students demonstrating character, academic achievement and engagement with their community, and who are pursuing post-secondary educational or vocational opportunities. Students from any country can apply. Scholarship applications open by mid-December each year. Applications are due in mid-March.

    To be eligible for the scholarship, applicants must have one of these metabolic disorders:

    • Classical HCU
    • Maple Syrup Urine Disease (MSUD)
    • An Organic Acidemia
    • Phenylketonuria (PKU)
    • Tyrosinemia
    • Urea Cycle Disorder (UCD)

  • The Laurent Clerc National Deaf Education Center at Gallaudet University

    The Laurent Clerc National Deaf Education Center at Gallaudet University is a federally funded center providing elementary and secondary education programs for deaf and hard-of-hearing students. The Clerc Center Online Community provides best-practice videos, research, toolkits and resources for families of deaf and hard-of-hearing children and the professionals who work with them.

    Clerc Center resources include:

    • The Language First Parent Guide, a step-by-step roadmap for parents with children who are deaf and hard of hearing
    • Family-focused activities such as American Sign Language (ASL) classes, bilingual storybooks and more

  • 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.

  • The Parent Advocacy App for Families of Deaf or Hard-of-Hearing Children

    The Parent Advocacy app is a free application for families of children who are deaf or hard of hearing attending Individualized Education Program meetings, 504 Plan meetings and more.

    The app aims to help you understand your child’s rights and prepare to work with the school in the best interest of your child.

  • The Penguin Project

    The Penguin Project provides a supportive environment for children with a wide range of disabilities to explore the performing arts. The program encourages children and young adults ages 10 to 24 to discover their creative talents, build self-confidence and make new friends by rehearsing and performing a modified version of a well-known Broadway musical. The young artists work side-by-side with age-level “peer mentors” through four months of rehearsals and the final performance.

    The project has several chapters in Illinois. Visit The Penguin Project website for more details.