General Resources
National PTA Special Education Toolkit for Parents and Caregivers
National PTA promotes family-school partnerships and building community at the local, state and national levels. Its website offers a variety of family-focused resources, including a Special Education toolkit, Parents’ Guide to Student Success, College and Career Readiness resources and more.
The National Runaway Safeline is a 24-hour, seven-day-a-week crisis connection line for youth at risk of running away or already have and are looking for help.
Call: (800) Runaway (786-2929)
Text: 66008
Navigating Financial Health During Difficult Times
The National Disability Institute (NDI)’s Financial Resilience Center provides resources and assistance to help those with disabilities and chronic health conditions navigate financially through difficult times, like the COVID-19 crisis. The website features videos and resources on topics including employment and unemployment, public benefits, housing, managing money and Social Security benefits.
NDI’s Financial Resilience Center also includes:
- The “Faces of Financial Wellness” video series featuring individuals from Illinois sharing their experiences in Spanish
- A financial wellness toolkit in English and Spanish/ Recursos en Español
- Videos and financial resources designed for individuals who are deaf and hard-of-hearing
Normal Moments supports Chicagoland families with critically ill/medically complex children up to age 17 by providing help with many household and outdoor tasks. The organization matches volunteers based on the families’ needs, volunteer location and interests. Support includes:
- In-home help with necessary chores such as house cleaning, laundry, pet care and other errands
- Outdoor services such as lawn maintenance and snow removal
- Annual holiday programs
Note that Normal Moments volunteers may not provide care for dependents. A responsible adult over 18 must be in the house while a volunteer is in the house with children.
North Shore Gas Assistance Options
If you cannot pay your energy bill due to financial difficulties, North Shore Gas has flexible payment arrangement plans or energy assistance options that may help.
They also include information about these programs:
- Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP)
- Percentage of Income Payment Plan (PIPP)
- Share the Warmth, company- and customer-funded heating grants
Northern Will County Special Recreation Association
Northern Will County Special Recreation Association (NWCSRA) provides year-round, community-based recreational programs and inclusion services for children, teens and adults with special needs.
NWCSRA collaborates with the Bolingbrook Park District, Lockport Township Park District, Plainfield Park District, the Village of Romeoville, Brookeridge Park District and Justice Park District to provide recreation opportunities and special events for area families.
For more information, contact NWCSRA at (815) 407-1819.
Northlands Association for Special Recreation (NASR)
Northlands Association for Special Recreation (NASR) is a cooperative partnership between the Belvidere, Freeport and Rockford Park Districts. NASR programs are open to individuals with disability-related needs including physical, mental and developmental disabilities, mental illness, behavior disorders and visual or hearing impairments.
Nourishing Hope helps individuals and families in Chicago by meeting them where they are to overcome barriers. Help includes food programs, trauma-informed mental health counseling in multiple languages, domestic violence support and a wide range of social services. Nourishing Hope offers a choice-based food distribution program that also includes:
- Monthly food distribution and additional produce pickups through five different food access programs.
- A home delivery services for people with disabilities, older adults and homebound neighbors.
- Life-changing social services such as case management, job search support, domestic violence intervention and public benefits assistance (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program or SNAP, healthcare, government forms).
NubAbility Athletics Foundation and Camps
The NubAbility Athletics Foundation is a non-profit organization that encourages, inspires and instructs limb different youth by getting them out of the stands, off the bench and into mainstream sports. NubAbility offers a wide variety of limb-different sports camps nationwide for youth athletes who are congenital, traumatic or medical amputees from around the world.
NubAbility offers camps for a wide range of ages and interests. Options include:
- All sports
- Deep sea fishing
- Competitive shooting
- Equestrian
- Basketball
- Archery and more
Office of Disability Employment Policy
This agency provides national leadership by developing and influencing disability employment-related policies