Education Resources
GoNoodle helps teachers and parents get kids moving with short interactive videos and activities. Desk-side movement helps kids achieve more by keeping them engaged and motivated throughout the day.
Hands & Voices Guides and Resources for Deaf/Hard of Hearing Plus
Hands & Voices provides a variety of resources specific to children who are deaf/hard of hearing plus – the combination of being deaf or hard of hearing and having additional medical complexities or other needs.
Information includes the “Connecting Families of Children who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing Plus (DHH Plus) with Resources and Support” guide, an Educational Plan Checklist for D/HH-Plus Students and presentations, articles and other guides for families of children who are D/HH plus.
Helping Hand is a nonprofit organization empowering children and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities across Chicagoland through person-centered education, therapy, residential and employment programs.
Helping Hand programs and services, include:
- An outpatient clinic
- School
- Community day services
- Residential living services
- Employment program
For more information, call (708) 352-3580 or email info@helpinghand-il.org.
Homework Tip Sheet for Families
The Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) has created a useful tip sheet with strategies to support parents and guardians who help children complete homework. The “Homework Help Strategies for Caregivers” tip sheet is available under “Family and Community Resources” on ISBE’s Family and Community Engagement webpage.
The non-profit iCan Dream Center in Tinley Park connects youth with intellectual disabilities, autism and various learning difficulties in suburban Chicago to holistic, innovative special education services. The center offers a welcoming education setting where neurodiverse youth have access to the skills, resources and opportunities necessary to thrive beyond their labels. iCan Dream Center programs include:
- Training
- Transition to adulthood support
- After-school recreational therapeutic programming for youth
- Once a month, cost-free Saturday Experiences for young adults
- Counseling
- Parent support group and more
For questions, please contact the iCan Dream Center at info@icandreamcenter.com or (708) 798-4200.
Understood.org gives parents step-by-step instructions for how to create an individualized education program (IEP) binder that sorts their child’s evaluation reports, IEP, report cards and other paperwork. The site includes an IEP binder checklist, school contact sheet, parent-school communication log and IEP goal tracker that parents can download and print.
Illinois Association of Education of Young Children (ILAEYC)
The Illinois Chapter of the Association of Education of Young Children (ILAEYC or Illinois AEYC) works to enrich the quality of care and education of the young child by:
- Increasing communication among parents, caregivers and professionals involved in the care and education of young children
- Providing in-service training for the early childhood community
- Hosting opportunities for community learning
ILAEYC has chapters and volunteers throughout the state.
Illinois Attorney General’s Division of Consumer Protection
The Illinois Attorney General’s Division of Consumer Protection responds to consumer complaints in areas including health care services and providers, home repair, identity theft and more. It also enforces related Illinois consumer fraud laws. The division also provides consumer alerts and recalls, and publications and information to help consumers understand their rights and how to protect themselves.
Consumer Protection resources also include:
- Identity theft prevention tips
- Auto buying, financing and repair tips
- Advocating for consumers around health care, medications and public health concerns
- Information on home repair and construction services
- Help for businesses and more
Illinois Cares for Kids provides parents, caregivers, teachers, and childcare providers a place to find information on statewide programs related to early learning and development, child care and family well-being in English and Spanish. The website includes information about:
- Child development and education for kids of all ages
- Healthcare coverage and emotional well-being
- Home visiting programs
- Child care subsidy programs
- Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP)
- Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF)
- Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)
- Bright Start 529 college savings plan
The Illinois Center for Autism (ICA) is a nonprofit, community-based mental health treatment and educational agency serving people with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). ICA offers a variety of programs designed to support families and help individuals from age 3 through adulthood achieve their highest level of independence at home, school and in the community.
ICA provides education, advocacy, social skills, life skills, vocational training, and resources to children ages 3 to 22 in its Special Education Program, individuals 22 and older in its Adult Services Program, and their families in its Client Family Support Services Programs.
ICA provides services primarily in Madison, St. Clair, Bond, Clinton, Washington, Monroe, Fayette, Marion, and Macoupin. Other counties may also be included in the service area, depending on where students and families live.
For questions, please call ICA at (618) 398-7500 or email info@illinoiscenterforautism.org.