General Resources
Smart911 allows individuals to provide critical details about themselves and family members so that in emergencies 911 call takers have the information they need to quickly assess and address special concerns or safety needs.
Smart911 is a free, private and secure nationwide service that automatically delivers your safety profile to local law enforcement, medical and fire responders and public safety agencies that have installed the Smart911 technology. To determine if Smart911 is available in your city or town, visit the SMART911 website, scroll to the bottom and click “Find Services in Your Area.”
SNAP Online Purchasing Program
The Illinois Department of Human Services is offering online purchasing for more than 1.8 million Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) customers across a million households.
Online SNAP will give families easier access to food during the COVID-19 crisis and beyond. Busy parents will no longer have to stress about how they can pick their kids up from school and make it to the grocery store before dinner. And those working multiple jobs or the late shift won’t have to rush to make it before the store closes. All families will have another option to independently secure the food they need.
The Social Security Administration (SSA) offers toolkits for people with sickle cell disease and professionals navigating the disability application and evaluation process. The toolkits provide detailed information, examples of the types of medical evidence required for individuals with sickle cell disease, and tips to help with the disability application and evaluation process:
Southern Illinois University Center for Autism Spectrum Disorders in Carbondale
The Center for Autism Spectrum Disorders (CASD) at Southern Illinois University is an interprofessional training and research center providing information and services to area residents with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and their families. CASD offers ASD screenings, clinical services for children, adolescents and adults, webinars and support.
CASD faculty and students provide a variety of training and services, many at no cost to families and their children. Help is available in the following areas:
- Speech/language
- Social skills
- Emotional-behavioral concerns
- Toileting
- Sleep
- Picky eating and more
For more information, call (618) 453-7130 or email autism@siu.edu.
Special Camps Overnight Camps for Children, Youth and Adults with Developmental Disabilities
Special Camps provide opportunities for children and adults with intellectual disabilities to experience overnight camp. Special Camps are volunteer-run and offer trained staff and 24-hour nursing for children and adults with disabilities who could not otherwise attend a similar camp due to physical, medical or developmental needs. Financial scholarships are available to campers in need.
Campers can make friends, increase independence and try new activities. Special Camps take place each year at Camp Red Leaf in Ingleside.
Camp registration typically opens in early February. For questions, please contact Colleen McDonald at (630) 690-0944 or colleen.scamps@icloud.com.
Special Connections of Grundy County
Special Connections of Grundy County promotes inclusion, self-determination and learning for people with disabilities in Grundy County. Programs include a wide range of Special Olympics athletics, arts and crafts, movies, games, picnics, parties, dances and family support throughout the year.
Special Father’s Network is a dad-to-dad mentoring program for fathers raising children with special needs.
The program connects new fathers with special needs children to another father (a Mentor Father) who has experienced a similar situation. The program matches Mentor Fathers as closely as possible based on the child’s special needs, gender, ethnicity, socioeconomic group and relationship to the child e.g., .father, stepfather, grandfather).
The Special Father’s Network is available through the 21st Century Dads Foundation, which raises awareness and resources for greater father involvement and seeks to inspire dads to be present, caring and nurturing.
Special Needs Chicago Transportation Services
Special Needs Chicago provides individuals with physical and/or cognitive challenges throughout Chicago and the suburbs with wheelchair-accessible transportation.
Special Needs Child Passenger Safety Resource Center
The Special Needs Child Passenger Safety Resource Center, funded by the Illinois Department of Transportation, educates parents and caregivers of children with special needs on the importance of proper child passenger safety. The Special Needs Child Passenger Resource Center’s main location is at OSF Children’s Hospital of Illinois in Peoria. A satellite site is located at LaRabida Children’s Hospital, in Chicago. Its services include:
- A resource center for nurseries and organizations across Illinois that provides over-the-phone and in-person consultation and guidance for proper car seat usage and optimum safety.
- Education to parents, groups, hospital staff and certified child passenger safety technicians on changes in national guidelines and new seat choices.
- Proper selection, installation and fitting of special needs restraints for parents and their children.
- A short-term loan program to provide seats to parents in need.
Learn more on the Special Needs Child Passenger Safety Resource Center website.
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.