Education Resources
BIrth to Five Region 26 serves Fulton, Hancock, McDonough and Schuyler counties. Birth to Five is a network of local councils that listen to families to identify community needs, build sustainable services, and help families connect to the help they need. Region 26 resources and information include:
- Fulton, Hancock, McDonough and Schuyler County Mental and Behavioral Health Resources Guide
- NAMI’s West Central Illinois Behavioral Health Resource Guide
- The Region 26 newsletter
- The Royal Guide, a comprehensive list of resources for individuals and children who are on the spectrum
Boyton Street Community Center
Boyton Street Community Center in Marion provides children and their families opportunities for fun, learning, development and building self-esteem. The Center collaborates with local social service agencies to provide a variety of programs and services year-round. Programs at the Boyton Street Community Center include:
- Nutritious meals built around keeping kids fit and healthy
- An after-school program for children and youth in K-12
- Summer art, recreation, reading and tutoring programs
- Special events
For more information or to learn how to enroll in a program, contact the Boyton Street Community Center at (618) 997-1113.
Bridgeway provides a wide range of programs for people with developmental and intellectual disabilities in west-central and northern Illinois. Bridgeway offers a variety of person-centered programs that focus on greater choice, achieving independence and community participation. Bridgeway programs include:
- Day services
- Adult learning services
- School-based counseling
- Community living and supports
- Employment programs
- Substance use assessments and programs for youth and adults
C.E.F.S. Economic Opportunity Corporation
C.E.F.S. Economic Opportunity Corporation (C.E.F.S.) is a non-profit that serves residents in the Illinois counties of Christian, Clay, Effingham, Fayette, Montgomery, Moultrie and Shelby.
C.E.F.S. aims to help economically and socially disadvantaged people become more self-sufficient. Its support and services include:
- Summer youth program and college scholarships
- Housing programs
- Employment and training services
- Education services
- Food and utility assistance
For more information, visit the C.E.F.S. website.
You can also call (217) 342-2193 or email cefs@cefseoc.org. Translation services are available.
Children in Therapy and You (C.I.T.Y.) of Support is an online and in-person community that supports all families navigating the needs of their child in therapy, regardless of diagnosis, age, therapeutic needs or overall situation. Information, resources and events are available online.
C.I.T.Y. of Support includes members from all across Chicagoland. Local leaders help coordinate on-site events and opportunities within specific geographic regions. C.I.T.Y. programs include:
- In-person and online events and classes
- Celebrations and inclusive playgroups
- NICU welcome kits
- GENERO-C.I.T.Y. Toy Shop
- Sensory-friendly photo shoots
C.I.T.Y. of Support also sponsored the creation of the Accessibility Support Collection at the Arlington Heights Memorial Library. Children in therapy and their caregivers may borrow therapeutic toys/tools/print materials from the library to explore at home.
Candor Health Education is a nonprofit organization that provides students, their trusted adults and communities programs and resources on puberty, sex education and substance abuse prevention.
Candor Health Education also offers in-person and virtual presentations with age-appropriate, science-based information to help students make informed decisions and understand how these things can impact their health.
For more information, call (630) 325-1900 or email info@candorhealthed.org.
CEDA: Community and Economic Development Association of Cook County
CEDA: Community and Economic Development Association of Cook County offers a variety of services to families and individuals in need.
Its programs include:
- Utility bill assistance with gas, electric, water and furnace repair
- Home weatherization providing long-term home repair solutions to reduce energy costs and make homes more energy efficient
- Housing services including housing information counseling, education and advice for homebuyers, homeowners, renters and the homeless
- Services for women, infants and children including food, education and support for pregnant, breastfeeding and postpartum women, infants and children under age 5
- Suburban Cook County student scholarship program
Center for Accessibility and Neurodiversity at Illinois Valley Community College in Oglesby
The Center for Accessibility and Neurodiversity (CAN) at Illinois Valley Community College in Oglesby provides a wide range of supports and services to empower diverse learners. CAN services include:
- Accommodations
- Resources and study skills support
- Success coaching
CAN is on the Oglesby Campus in room C-211. It is open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. You can also make an appointment by contacting Tina Hardy at (815) 224-0284 or tina_hardy@ivcc.edu.
Center for Parent Information and Resources (formerly NICHCY)
The Center for Parent Information and Resources (CPIR) is a central “hub” for the network of Parent Centers serving families of children with disabilities nationwide. Materials on CPIR’s website are user-centered and created for and by Parent Centers across the country to support and provide services to the families they serve. Resources include parent guides, training materials, information on special education and transition planning, webinars and more. CPIR also provides information in Spanish to help parents understand specific disabilities, the special education process, and where to find help.
CPIR also offers:
- A family-friendly resource library
- A monthly e-newsletter featuring new resources, upcoming events, and materials to share
- Native American resources
- The Office of Special Education Program (OSEP)’s Glossary of Common Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) Terms in Spanish and in Korean
- An events calendar
- A Parent Center locator tool
For questions, please visit CPIR’s contact page.
The Chicago Hearing Society (CHS) provides a wide range of programs to support families and connect people who are deaf, deafblind, or hard of hearing. Its services include:
- Hearing evaluations and assistive technologies
- Free American Sign Language (ASL) family classes in English and Spanish
- ASL in-person and online youth classes
- ASL Adult in-person and virtual classes
- Community outreach and youth programs
- Interpreter services and captioning
For more information, call CHS:
- Main Number: (773) 248-9121
- Videophone: (773) 904-0154