Resource Directory /

General Resources

  • Special Needs Registry – Mascoutah

    Mascoutah Emergency Medical Services (EMS), area police departments and St. Clair County coordinate the Special Needs Registry public safety program. Information in the Special Needs Registry will help first responders locate, understand, prepare for, and prioritize their response during evacuations, disasters, or other emergency situations for people with disabilities and other challenges.

    View and print the Special Needs Registry Form from the St. Clair County Emergency Management Agency. Registry forms are also available at the EMS department, Three West Main St., in Mascoutah.

    For questions, please contact Mascoutah EMS at (618) 566-2976, ext. 109.

  • Special Opportunities Available in Recreation (SOAR) in Bloomington-Normal

    SOAR is a community-based therapeutic recreation program. Leisure, social and developmental skills are emphasized to promote the highest level of recreation participation possible.

    Check the website for eligibility, transportation options, and the calendar of events.

    The City of Bloomington and Town of Normal sponsor S.O.A.R through their Parks and Recreation departments.

  • Springfield Mass Transit District and Access Sangamon

    The Springfield Mass Transit District provides free or reduced fare programs for eligible residents with disabilities and seniors. You must meet eligibility requirements and enroll to use the Benefit Access, Access Sangamon or Reduced Fare ID programs. For the latest information, visit www.smtd.org/news.

    • Benefit Access allows program members to ride any fixed-route bus free of charge. If you do not qualify for Benefit Access, you may still be eligible for a reduced fare ID. Apply for the Benefit Access program online on the Illinois Department on Aging’s website.
    • The Reduced Fare ID allows people with disabilities and seniors to ride any fixed-route bus for just under half the price of a normal fare.
    • Access Sangamon provides transportation for persons with disabilities who are unable to use the SMTD fixed-route bus service. Individuals with disabilities must apply to become eligible to use the service.

     

  • Springfield Office of Community Relations Resources

    The Springfield Office of Community Relations provides information on where to find help with homelessness, rental and utility assistance, micro-pantries and more.

    You can also contact the Springfield Office of Community Relations at (217) 789.2270 or Community.Relations@springfield.il.us

  • Springfield Park District – Camp L.E.A.P.

    The Springfield Park District’s Camp L.E.A.P. ( Leisure Education and Adaptive Programming) offers fun, educational, adaptive recreation programs for children and adults with disabilities. Camp L.E.A.P. is a weekly program. Registration deadlines are set as the Friday before the week the participant is attending. Registration for Camp L.E.A.P. summer sessions typically opens in May.

    For more information, contact Andre Hawkins at (217) 585-2941, ext. 2303, or ahawkins@springfieldparks.org.

  • Storyline Online

    Storyline Online features famous people reading books aloud to kids – no login needed.

  • STRIVE for Independence

    STRIVE for Independence offers driver evaluations and training for all ages, disabilities and medical conditions for the Chicagoland area. STRIVE for Independence serves clients with a wide variety of driver rehabilitation needs. Their team of specialists includes occupational therapists, certified driver rehabilitation specialists, and state of Illinois-certified driving instructors (CDI) for adults and teenagers.

    Visit the STRIVE for Independence website for more details.

  • Suburban Cook County Homeless Prevention Call Center

    If you need financial assistance with mortgage, rent payments, rent deposits, utility payments or other housing issues, please call the Homeless Prevention Call Center at 1-877-4-Cook-15 (1-877-426-6515).

    Listen carefully to the prompts to choose which kind of help you need.

  • Summer Meals Program

    The Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) provides free meals and snacks to children 18 and under when school is out for the summer.

    SFSP meals and snacks are served free at participating program sites. Sites may be located in various settings, including schools, parks, community centers, libraries, apartment complexes, churches and migrant centers.

    To find a meal site near you:

    There is no income requirement to participate in open-site summer meal programs.

    Certain summer meal sites, such as camps or closed programs that require an application to participate, may ask about income during the application process.

  • Supporting Children With Limited Verbal Skills Tip Sheet

    This Supporting Children With Limited Verbal Skills tip sheet from the Illinois Early Learning Project provides strategies that are helpful to all children but are particularly helpful for those with limited verbal skills.

    IEL offers a wide variety of one-page, easy-to-read tip sheets covering a wide range of topics for parents and teachers of young children.

    All tipsheets are available in Spanish and English. Selected tipsheets are available in Polish, Korean, Chinese, Arabic, Russian and French.