Resource Directory /

Health Condition and Disability-Specific Resources

  • Love is Respect – Teen Dating and Healthy Relationships for Young Adults

    Love is Respect, a project of the National Domestic Violence Hotline, offers information, support and advocacy to young people between the ages of 13 and 26 who have questions or concerns about their romantic relationships. Free, confidential services are available anytime via:

    • Live chat
    • Call (866) 331-9474 or TTY (800) 787-3224
    • Text ‘LOVEIS’ to 22522

    Services for the deaf and hard of hearing are also available:

    Love is Respect also provides a Parent Discussion Guide on Youth Healthy Relationships.

  • Margaret Hackett Family Program

    Congenital anomalies of the central nervous system (CNS) are congenital disabilities of the physical structure of the brain or spinal cord that occur during fetal intrauterine growth, such as spina bifida, hydrocephalus and other conditions. The Margaret Hackett Family Program (MHFP) at the University of Chicago provides individuals and families with help in diagnosing, understanding, caring for, and addressing the challenges of living with CNS congenital anomalies. MHFP also provides research and research grants.

    The Margaret Hacker Family Program also offers:

    • A monthly, virtual “Connect Group” for individuals and families affected by CNS anomalies
    • In-person quarterly socials
    • In-person events twice a year featuring food, giveaways, fun activities and resources
    • Help with finding resources and medical care

    For questions, please call (773) 795-0622 or email mhfcp@bsd.uchicago.edu.

  • McLean County Functional Needs Registry

    The McLean County Functional Needs Registry helps individuals with special needs during an emergency situation. The registration form documents the needs of people with physical, mental or medical limitations due to impaired vision, hearing or mobility, and language barriers. The program seeks to ensure that residents with functional needs get the assistance they need during a weather disaster or some other local emergency.

    Registration for the program is free, voluntary and confidential. You can fill out an online form or print out a hardcopy registration form in English or Spanish on the registry website.

  • Mended Hearts Program

    The Mended Hearts program is a national peer-support program for patients with cardiovascular disease, their caregivers, and their families. Mended Hearts provides support and education, raises awareness of the issues faced by those living with heart disease, and advocates to improve quality of life across the lifespan.

    It includes Mended Little Hearts, which provides support to families of children with congenital heart defects (CHDs) or other heart conditions, and Young Mended Hearts, which supports young adults ages 18 to 55 who have heart disease, including CHDs.

    For questions or to request support, please call (888) 432-7899 or email info@mendedhearts.org.

  • Miracle League of Joliet

    The Miracle League of Joliet is a non-profit baseball league for children and young adults (ages 4 to 19) with disabilities. The rules emphasize participation, with every player getting a turn to bat in each inning.  A volunteer “Buddy” assists each player at bat and on the field.

    League games take place on a custom-designed field featuring a rubberized turf, free from obstacles to ensure players can round the bases and play baseball safely. Visit the Miracle League of Joliet website for more details.

  • MPHI Center for Precision Public Health

    The MPHI Center for Precision Public Health provides educational opportunities for clinicians, public health professionals, community organizations and families. The center focuses on improving the health and well-being of all through research, supporting data-driven initiatives, facilitating community-led program development, and providing technical assistance.

    MPHI also provides free CME and CE Modules for families and professionals. Topics include:

    • Improving care for developmental disabilities and dysmorphic features
    • Patient-centered newborn screening communication
    • Decoding genetic test reports for frontline clinicians

  • Muscular Dystrophy Association

    The Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA) provides comprehensive information and resources to help with understanding, managing and living day-to-day with muscular dystrophy and related neuromuscular diseases.

    MDA programs and resources include:

    • The MDA Resource Center providing one-on-one support by phone or email for individuals and families looking for resources, activities and more
    • Durable Medical Equipment (DME) Grant Program
    • Nationwide summer camps
    • Resources for caregivers
    • Community education and services

  • National Association for Down Syndrome

    The National Association for Down Syndrome (NADS) serves individuals with Down syndrome and their families. NADS’ website provides a variety of webinars, publications and resources for the Chicago metropolitan area and beyond.

    NADS also offers a “Congratulations Basket and Referral Program.” Please note that the organization can only deliver baskets to specific Chicago-area hospitals.

  • National Association of the Deaf

    The National Association of the Deaf (NAD) preserves and promotes the civil, human and linguistic rights of deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals in the United States and U.S. territories. Resources include videos in American Sign Language (ASL) on a wide range of topics, a list of universities and education resources by state, webinars and more for deaf and hard-of-hearing people, their families and friends.

  • National Center for Hearing Assessment & Managementsun-icon

    Supports early and continuous screening and works to ensure newborns with hearing losses are identified.