Resource Directory /

Education Resources

  • School Help for Homeless Children with Disabilities: Information for Parents

    The National Center for Homeless Education at SERVE (Supporting the Education of Children and Youth Experiencing Homelessness) provides this information for families experiencing homelessness who have children with special needs.

    This brief discusses common concerns and offers resources for additional assistance.

  • Sertoma Organization for People Affected by Hearing Loss

    Sertoma provides information and support to people at risk of or affected by hearing loss. National and local chapters across the United States support hearing health through a variety of programs and activities. Sertoma services include annual scholarships, access to amplified hearing devices, teen and college-level service programs, the “Adopt-an-Agency” program and more.

    Sertoma offers two scholarship programs:

    • The Scholarship for the Hard of Hearing or Deaf is open to students with clinically significant bilateral hearing loss. Graduating high school students or undergraduate students pursuing four-year college degrees in any discipline are eligible for the scholarship.
    • The Communicative Disorders Scholarship is for graduate students pursuing advanced degrees in audiology or speech-language pathology from institutions in the United States. The program awards these scholarships in the spring to help offset the cost of tuition, books and fees incurred during the following school year.

    See Sertoma’s website for eligibility requirements. The program accepts applications between Nov. 1 and March 31 each year.

  • Sertoma Star Services in Illinois

    Sertoma Star Services (SRS) is a not-for-profit community organization dedicated to challenging the limits and changing the lives of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities and mental illness in the Chicagoland and Northwest Indiana areas. Services include vocational, educational, therapeutic, recreational and residential programs.

    Sertoma Star Services programs include:

    • Special recreation services for children, teens and adults
    • Community living and home-based services
    • Life skills enrichment program for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities
    • Janitorial and e-recycling vocational training and long-term job opportunities for adults

    For more information, contact Deanna Wetzel at intake@sertomastar.org or (708) 300-8527.

  • Special Education and Inclusion in Early Care and Education

    The Illinois Early Learning (IEL) Project provides this Special Education and Inclusion in Early Care and Education resource list for early childhood special education and inclusive childcare for children ages 3 to 5 years old. The resources include tip sheets on choosing child care for infants and toddlers, choosing a preschool, inclusion in preschool classrooms and special education assessment for preschool-aged children.

    If you have questions, please contact IEL online or call (877) 275-3227. EIL will try to reply to inquiries within one week.

  • Special Education Assessment Tip Sheet and Resource List

    Family members and early care and education providers are adults who notice when the children in their care may have disabilities or developmental delays and would benefit from special education services.

    The Illinois Early Learning (IEL) Project’s Special Education Assessment tip sheet series is a helpful tool for learning more about the steps in that process. The IEL also provides an Assessment for Special Education resource list.

    For questions, please contact IEL online or call (877) 275-3227.

  • Special Needs Resource Project

    The Special Needs Resource Project provides information and ideas for parents of children with chronic health issues and disabilities. topics include education, housing design, accessibility and remodeling, ramps, transition to adulthood and more.

  • Storyline Online

    Storyline Online features famous people reading books aloud to kids – no login needed.

  • Suburban Access

    Suburban Access, Inc. is an independent service coordination and advocacy agency that links children and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities to life-enhancing services, programs, experiences and personal supports to empower them to live life without limits. Suburban Access offers a variety of programs to help people with intellectual disabilities overcome barriers and advance their independence, learning and community connections.

    Suburban Access has locations in Homewood and Hillside. It serves south and west suburban Cook County. For more information, call (708) 799-9190.

  • SUPE: Substance Use Prevention Education

    SUPE: Substance Use Prevention Education provides free resources to help individuals of all ages and backgrounds learn about the dangers of drugs and how to help those who may be affected by substance use. Educational materials are available in English and Spanish and include engaging videos targeting kids, teens, parents, teachers, employers and more.

    SUPE offers up-to-date, easy-to-understand information on topics such as:

    • Edibles and vaping education and prevention for kids
    • Tips for talking to grandchildren about substance use
    • The link between bullying and substance use
    • Do’s and don’ts for teachers speaking to students about drugs

  • Supporting Children With Limited Verbal Skills Tip Sheet

    This Supporting Children With Limited Verbal Skills tip sheet from the Illinois Early Learning Project provides strategies that are helpful to all children but are particularly helpful for those with limited verbal skills.

    IEL offers a wide variety of one-page, easy-to-read tip sheets covering a wide range of topics for parents and teachers of young children.

    All tipsheets are available in Spanish and English. Selected tipsheets are available in Polish, Korean, Chinese, Arabic, Russian and French.