Health Condition and Disability-Specific Resources
Illinois Council on Developmental Disabilities
The Illinois Council on Developmental Disabilities (CDD) helps lead change in Illinois so all people with developmental disabilities exercise their right to equal opportunity and freedom.
ICDD provides information, investments and initiatives to ensure that people with developmental disabilities and their families have a part in the design of and access to culturally competent services, supports and other assistance and opportunities that promote independence, productivity and integration and inclusion into the community.
For more information, see CDD’s Frequently Asked Questions page.
Illinois Deaf and Hard of Hearing Commission
The Illinois Deaf and Hard of Hearing Commission (IDHHC) is an executive state agency that promotes education and awareness of the legal requirements for effective communication on behalf of people with hearing loss in Illinois.
The commission also provides information about:
- Assistive technology
- Hearing aid assistance
- Service animal resources
- Interpreters and CART providers
- American Sign Language (ASL) videos and publications
Illinois Department of Human Services
The Illinois Department of Human Services (DHS) provides services and programs to help Illinois residents become economically independent and self-sufficient, including food, financial assistance, mental health, child care, shelter/housing and more. Its divisions include:
- Developmental Disabilities
- Early Childhood
- Family and Community Services
- Mental Health
- Rehabilitation Services
- Substance Use Prevention and Recovery (SUPR)
Illinois Division of Developmental Disability (DDD) Services
Illinois’ Division of Developmental Disability (DDD) Services system offers services including day services, home-based services, Early Intervention services, disability determination services and other supports.
Visit the Developmental Disability Services page for more information. You can also contact:
- (888) 337-5267
- (866) 376-8446 (TTY)
- DHS.DDDComments@illinois.gov
Illinois Dyscalculia and Dyslexia Handbooks for Parents, Educators and Students
The Illinois State Board of Education’s (ISBE) and the Specific Learning Disability (SLD) Support Project’s Dyscalculia and Dyslexia Handbooks provide information and guidance on dyscalculia, dyslexia and related disorders for educational professionals, school leaders, families, guardians, and students. The handbooks aim to provide a better understanding of dyslexia and strengthen programs to meet the educational and social-emotional needs of children and adolescents who struggle to learn to read.
The Dyscalculia Handbook helps educators, families and students better understand dyscalculia, a learning disorder that affects a person’s ability to understand numbers, calculations and mathematical reasoning.
The Illinois Dyslexia Handbook outlines how to identify signs of dyslexia, describes evidence-based instructional practices that improve academic outcomes and highlights available resources and services to support students and those who work with them.
You can use the handbook alone or with the Dyslexia Toolkit. The toolkit’s ever-evolving collection of resources includes laws, websites, videos and podcasts for families and educators.
Visit the Specific Learning Disability Support Project (SLD Supports) website for these resources and more.
Illinois Early Hearing Detection and Intervention (EHDI) Program
The Illinois Early Hearing Detection and Intervention (IL EHDI) Program works to ensure families of babies and children who are deaf or hard of hearing receive appropriate and timely services. These services include hearing screening, diagnosis, early intervention and parent-to-parent support, provided through coordinated systems of care.
Families and providers can learn more about the EHDI program and find resources on the Illinois Sound Beginnings website.
Illinois Early Learning Project
The Illinois Early Learning Project provides evidence-based, early care and education information for parents, caregivers and teachers of young children in the state of Illinois.
The site provides a wide range of information on important topics involving early care and education, including:
- Resource lists
- Easy-to-read tip sheets
- Dental health and dentist visits resources on children’s dental health and dentist visits to promote good oral health
- A picky eaters toolkit with strategies to try and actions to avoid
- Safe sleep resources for educators and family members on how to keep infants and toddlers safe when sleeping
Illinois Epilepsy Support and Resources
Streator Unlimited Inc.’s Illinois Epilepsy Support and Resources provides services to anyone of any age with epilepsy or a seizure disorder who resides in its service area of central and northwest Illinois. Its services include:
- Peer support and support groups
- Caregiver support
- Help to navigate insurance and benefits
- Medical service support
- Access to counseling
- Vocational support
- Help to coordinate transportation
For more details, email epilepsy@streatorunlimited.org or call (815) 673-5574.
Illinois Hands & Voices Guide By Your Side (GBYS) is a free program providing unbiased information, one-on-one support and resources and trained Parent Guides to talk and/or meet with you if you have a child with hearing loss or a suspected hearing loss.
Parent Guides are adults who have children with a hearing loss. They provide unbiased information and resources regarding communication, educational and technological choices. They help families identify their options and not tell them which options to choose. They support families and can help them navigate through the many systems and services available in Illinois. They work as a team with professionals offering a well rounded care system for families.
Illinois Hands & Voices is a parent-driven, nonprofit organization dedicated to helping families of children who are deaf and hard of hearing. It offers a wide range of resources, including educational options and how to access them, parent guides, family networking and learning opportunities, and more.
For questions, please contact Illinois Hands & Voices at executivedirector@ilhandsandvoices.com, or (630) 697-3544.