Resource Directory /

General Resources

  • Able Flight Aviation Scholarships for People with Disabilities

    Able Flight is a nonprofit organization offering scholarship opportunities for flight and aviation career training for people ages 18 and up with physical disabilities. Past recipients have included wheelchair users, wounded veterans, and people with a variety of congenital birth defects or who have lost limbs. You can learn more about eligibility requirements, application deadlines, what scholarships will cover and more by reading Able Flight’s frequently asked questions.

    Able Flight also offers three different scholarships programs:

    • The Full Flight Training Scholarship for people who wish to earn a Sport Pilot certificate.
    • The Return to Flight Scholarship for someone who becomes disabled after already having earned a pilot’s license.
    • The Career Training Scholarship allows an individual to earn an FAA-issued Repairman Certificate (Light Sport Aircraft) with Maintenance Rating, an FAA Dispatcher License, or for training to qualify for a career in the use of drones for commercial purposes. This scholarship can pay for academic expenses for an aviation career with committee approval.

  • ABLE National Resource Center

    ABLE Accounts, which are tax-advantaged savings accounts for individuals with disabilities and their families, were created as a result of the passage of the Stephen Beck Jr. Achieving a Better Life Experience Act of 2014 or better known as the ABLE Act

    The ABLE (Achieving a Better Life Experience Act) National Resource Center provides information and best practices related to tax-advantaged ABLE savings accounts and federal and state-related ABLE programs and activities.

  • Access Living

    Access Living is the Center for Independent Living (CIL) that serves the city of Chicago.  All of its programs and services revolve around one central belief: that people with disabilities have the right to live the lives they choose for themselves in an accessible, integrated world.

    Its five core services include:

    • Advocacy
    • Independent living skills
    • Transition support
    • Peer support
    • Information and referral

  • Accessible Chef

    Accessible Chef is a collection of free visual recipes and other resources to help teach cooking skills to individuals with disabilities at home or in a special education classroom.

  • Accessible Festivals

    Accessible Festivals is dedicated to making live music and recreational events fully accessible for people of all abilities. Partnering with festivals and friends in the industry, Accessible Festivals provides free tickets, a calendar of events and a variety of programs that encourage accessibility and inclusion.

    It also offers the Dan Grover Memorial Ticket Grant Program for individuals impacted by newly acquired, temporary or lifelong disabilities to apply for free access to their favorite events like concerts, festivals, and conventions.

  • Accessible Travel Information from Enjoy Illinois

    Enjoy Illinois offers inspiration and accessibility information for travelers with disabilities, including independent and assisted wheelchair users and people with hidden disabilities. The website features information on attractions throughout Illinois, transportation options and video tours of Chicago museums, landmarks and the #AccessibleChicago docuseries from Fun4theDisabled.

  • Achieving Independence and Mobility Center for Independent Living (AIM-CIL)

    Achieving Independence and Mobility Center for Independent Living (AIM-CIL) provides training, peer support, information and referrals, community development and advocacy services to help individuals with disabilities participate in all aspects of family, social and community life. AIM-CIL serves residents with disabilities and their families in DuPage, Kane and Kendall counties. 

    Other AIM-CIL programs include:

    • Assistive Technology Program – Individuals/families can apply to receive up to $500 for an authorized device(s). Only one device per person/per household.
    • Educational Scholarship Program – Students can get up to $1,000 for college or trade school registration/application/lab fees, books and/or class tuition. Only one scholarship per student/household. Please refer AIM-CIL’s website for specific requirements and deadline dates.

  • ADA National Network

    The ADA National Network provides information, guidance and training on the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).

  • Adaptive Adventures Recreation Opportunities

    Adaptive Adventures focuses on providing children, adults and veterans with physical disabilities the opportunity to achieve greater independence in outdoor sports while experiencing camaraderie and the benefits of recreation and adventure. Their ongoing programs, camps and clinics include cycling, climbing, kayaking, paddle boarding, dragon boat racing, skiing, snowboarding, waterskiing, wakeboarding and rafting.

    Adaptive Adventures travels the country to provide direct program services. Programming is offered to participants and their families free of charge or significantly subsidized. Adaptive Adventures believes cost should never be a barrier to someone’s participation in quality outdoor adaptive sports opportunities.

    Visit the Adaptive Adventures website for information about programs and events in Illinois.

  • Administration for Community Living (ACL)

    The Administration for Community Living helps people of all ages with disabilities and older adults live where they choose, with the people they choose, and with the ability to participate fully in their communities. ACL provides information, online tools, and resources to help you access disability networks and services such as transportation, housing, and more.

    Administration for Community Living resources include: