Financial Assistance and Grant Programs Resources
Department of Financial and Professional Regulation: License Lookup
The Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation aims to ensure that competent professionals are licensed to provide services to the public. You can use its License Lookup for many professions, including physicians, nurses and therapists.
DHS List of Community Service Agencies Serving Immigrants in Illinois
The Illinois Department of Human Services (DHS) provides a statewide list of community service agencies serving immigrants. The list includes:
- The agency name and contact information
- Their geographic service areas
- Citizenship, case management and other services provided
- Languages available
The Arc of Illinois Family-to-Family Health Information Center and Family Voices of Illinois provide this fact sheet on possible options for help with the cost of diapers for children, youth and adults with disabilities.
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 Belongs™ is a diverse, disability-led nonprofit focusing on accessibility, inclusion, belonging and empowering people with disabilities. They provide a wide range of resources including training, webinars, networking and fully-accessible leadership and internship opportunities for people with disabilities.
Disability Belongs also provides:
- A variety of toolkits, including a toolkit with steps for making virtual and in-person events accessible.
- A paid, fully accessible National Leadership Program for people with disabilities in the fall and spring.
- A five-month, Disability Belongs™ Virtual Entertainment Lab for creatives with disabilities in development and production, and careers as writers, cinematographers, animators and other roles.
Disability EmpowHer Network is a non-profit run by and for girls and women with disabilities that connects, motivates, and guides girls and women to learn and develop to their highest potential and have the confidence to lead. The group, based in Rochester, NY, focuses on building skills and community by connecting girls with disabilities with successful women with disabilities to serve as mentors and role models.
Resources and programs include:
- A stories blog
- EmpowHer Camp (a year-long program)
- Letter from a role model
- Get a Mentor
- EmpowHer Expressions, a public speaking and career coaching program
Disability Information and Access Line
The Disability Information and Access Line (DIAL) helps people with disabilities connect to local community resources that support independent living. Dial provides information on essential services such as transportation, housing support, disability rights, and more.
The hotline’s trained staff are available to:
- Help find local vaccination locations
- Set up a vaccination appointment
- Connect with local COVID testing options
- Connect callers to local services, such as accessible transportation, housing support, disability rights and other independent living resources
Call, text or videophone DIAL Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. at (888) 677-1199.
You can also email the hotline at DIAL@n4a.org or start an online chat with an information specialist.
You can also connect to an agent in American Sign Language.
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
Disaster Preparedness for Children and Youth with Special Healthcare Needs
The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) provides information on how families of children with special healthcare needs can prepare for potential emergencies and disasters in their area and identify what each child would need to safely prepare for and cope with the disaster.
AAP provides emergency preparedness information and resources, including:
- Tips for helping children cope and adjust after a disaster
- Links to organizations like the Cincinnati Children’s Hospital offering booklets, checklists and other resources you can print or download
- Videos on preparing for an emergency or potential disaster
Discovery Center Museum in Rockford
The Discovery Center Museum is a fully accessible, nationally recognized children’s museum in Rockford, featuring over 300 hands-on exhibits. It follows the Smithsonian Institute’s accessibility guidelines, providing ramps, accessible restrooms, an elevator, and ample space around exhibits. An adult changing table and wheelchairs are also available. Guests can explore ways to make bubbles, a calm space, a giant soft brick playland, and a multi-sensory space to discover the science of optics and light.
To learn more, contact information@discoverycentermuseum.org or call (815) 963-6769.