Education Resources
GiGi’s Virtual Playhouse offers opportunities to build relationships and community connections and access free programming and resources tailored for individuals with Down syndrome. The playhouse serves individuals with Down syndrome of all ages, expecting moms and dads, caregivers, siblings, parents, grandparents, doctors, educators, volunteers and more.
GiGi’s Virtual Playhouse provides a variety of programs focused on therapeutic needs, educational needs, career development and global acceptance. You can log in to the virtual playhouse to access on-demand programs for all ages, resources for supporting a loved one with Down syndrome and communities of other parents, self-advocates and volunteers.
For questions, visit the GiGi’s Playhouse website.
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.
Have Dreams in Evanston and Park Ridge provides innovative programming and compassionate care for people with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and their families. It focuses on helping individuals with autism build social, communication and independence skills across the lifespan. Have Dreams’ services include free downloadable social stories and resources, counseling, support groups, after-school programs for students with autism and community-based social opportunities for neurodivergent young adults ages 22 and older.
Have Dreams also provides:
- ASD training and webinars
- Autism education flyers for kids and printable activities
- Have Dreams Academy (HDA) workforce training program in Evanston
- Counseling and employment services for neurodivergent individuals and families
Please visit Have Dreams’ Contact Us page for more information.
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.
The Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (IDD) Navigator is a statewide resource bank of services and supports for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities in Illinois. It is a free public directory designed to point you to service providers, support resources, government agencies, advocacy tools and more.
IDD Navigator provides help and resources, including:
- Finding your Independent Service Coordinator (ISC)
- IDD community acronyms
- Frequently asked questions about IDD and services in Illinois
- Resources search tool and media library
IDD Navigator resources are categorized into four regions. See the Service and Support Regions and download the map to help narrow your search.
For questions or updates, please contact The Arc of Illinois and Aspiritech, the hosts of the IDD Navigator resource bank.
In 2025, Little City developed the directory with design and development partner Magnetize and funding from a grant from The Coleman Foundation.
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.