Education Resources
Child & Family Connections of McHenry County
Child & Family Connections (CFC) is the system point of entry for Illinois Early Intervention Services within McHenry County for children under 36 months of age. Early Intervention services are designed to meet an infant’s or toddler’s needs if they are experiencing issues related to the following areas of development: physical, cognitive, communication, social-emotional and adaptive.
Referrals to CFC can be made by a family member, doctor, day care provider or anyone concerned about the development of a child who is under 36 months. For more information, visit the CFC’s frequently asked questions page.
College Scholarships for Students with Disabilities
Information from College Scholarships.org about college scholarships available to students with disabilities.
Community Child Care Connection
Community Child Care Connection (CCCC) provides support and resources to families and childcare providers to help ensure quality, affordable childcare and education options in Christian, Logan, Macoupin, Mason, Menard, Montgomery, Morgan, Sangamon, and Scott counties. CCCC helps families explore childcare and education options and what to look for when choosing care. It also offers programs to help pay for care and find local education and childcare providers. CCCC also provides professional development and regional training opportunities for child care providers.
CCCC is one of 16 community-based organizations that make up the Child Care Resource and Referral (CCR&R) System, which provides services and supports to families, providers and communities across Illinois.
For help or questions, call (217) 525-2805 or email info@4childcare.org.
Community Foundation of Northern Illinois
The Community Foundation of Northern Illinois (CFNIL) provides scholarships, including scholarships for students with intellectual and developmental disabilities, and grants to charitable organizations in Boone, Ogle, Stephenson, and Winnebago counties. Visit CFNIL’s scholarship opportunities page to learn more.
Cued Speech Program for Families of Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing Children
Cue College’s Cue Family Program provides a free, online Cued Speech class to families of deaf and hard-of-hearing children.
Cued Speech combines a small number of simple hand cues with the natural mouth movements of speech to make the sounds or “phonemes” of spoken language clear through vision alone.
The Cue Family Program includes free access for one year to the online Cue College course, “CS100 – Introduction to Cued American English – Self Study”, for parents, guardians, additional family members and caregivers of a child with hearing loss or other communication challenges.
DayOne PACT is a not-for-profit agency that provides service case management, trust and guardianship services for people with disabilities in Illinois through its Life Management Services program. The agency also functions as the Child and Family Connections agency for DuPage, Kane and Kendall Counties. This service works with families with children who are eligible for services through the Illinois Early Intervention system.
DayOne PACT aims to help individuals with disabilities of all ages live supported, productive and meaningful lives.
- The St. Charles location serves Kendall and Kane counties. Call (630) 879-2277 (telephone and “Crisis After Hours” with 24-hour accessibility) or (888) 356-0491 (toll-free)
- The Lisle location serves DuPage County. Call (630) 960-9700 (telephone and “Crisis After Hours” with 24-hour accessibility) or (888) 356-0491 (toll-free)
Dean Ritter Foundation Scholarship for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing
The Dean Ritter Foundation Scholarship for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing awards scholarships ranging from $500 to $5,000 annually to graduating high school seniors throughout Illinois who have severe to profound hearing impairments. Individuals with financial needs will receive special consideration, but the program does not make scholarship decisions solely on a financial basis. Application deadlines and the number and amount of scholarships vary each year.
Students must be continuing their education at an accredited university or technical school to receive tuition scholarships. They must also:
- Be an Illinois resident
- Be a senior in high school in good standing
- Have significant (severe to profound) hearing loss in one or both ears
For any questions regarding scholarships, please email deanrittertrust@gmail.com.
Digital Literacy Training for People with Disabilities and Their Families
The Arc and AT&T offer digital skills training nationwide to people with disabilities and their families. The safe and accessible digital skills trainings aim to help people with different learning styles gain the skills they need to apply for jobs, be socially connected and more.
You can access online courses anytime on AT&T’s website.
The Arc of Illinois also offers in-person workshops. For more information, visit The Arc of Illinois website or email becca@thearcofil.org.
Disability Resource Center in Joliet
The Disability Resource Center provides advocacy, peer support groups, S.K.I.L.L.S. independent living classes, visual impairment services, seminars, workshops and more for people with disabilities in Will and Grundy counties.
Programs also include:
- Deaf and hard of hearing services
- Information and referral (I&R) for accessible housing, where to buy assistive devices, how to secure a sign language interpreter and more
- Assistive technology for children up to age 23
- Personal assistance program and information
DSCC’s Education Skills Checklist
The Division of Specialized Care for Children’s (DSCC) education skills checklist can help youth and their families identify the skills and abilities they have met as well as those areas where they may need more focus. Some of these activities may not apply to everyone.