Health Condition and Disability-Specific Resources
Caring for a Child with a Gastrostomy Video from St. Louis Children’s Hospital
The “Caring for My Child with a Gastrostomy” video from St. Louis Children’s Hospital provides information on understanding your child’s gastrostomy appliance and how to care for it at home.
This educational video focuses on the gastrostomy tube (g-tube), the gastrostomy button appliance and answering a variety of frequently asked questions.
“Caring for My Child with a Gastrostomy” is broken into segments and available in full. Be sure to select the appropriate video based on whether you want to learn about the gastrostomy tube (g-tube) or the gastrostomy button appliance.
Central Illinois Down Syndrome Organization
The Central Illinois Down Syndrome Organization (CIDSO) offers support, events and educational resources for families in McLean County who have loved ones with Down syndrome.
For questions, please visit CIDSO’s Contact Us page.
The Cerebral Palsy Foundation is a non-profit organization that aims to be a catalyst for creating positive change for people with cerebral palsy (CP).
The Cerebral Palsy Foundation website includes expert insights into understanding CP, detection and intervention training, improving health and designing for disability.
Children with cerebral palsy have trouble controlling their movement. The condition is the most common disability that affects a child’s motor control.
Cerebral palsy usually is caused by a brain injury or abnormal brain development before birth or early in life. Genetic causes, although less common, can also play a role.
Healthy Children, the official parenting website of the American Academy of Pediatrics, provides an overview of what families need to know about cerebral palsy and how to help children who have it reach their full potential.
Cerebral Palsy Research Network
The Cerebral Palsy Research Network aims to optimize the lifelong health and wellness of people with cerebral palsy (CP) and their families through high-quality research, education and community programming.
The Cerebral Palsy Research Network website includes educational resources for the entire CP community to inform healthcare decisions, including a CP tool kit and a well-being guide for parents and caregivers.
The Cerebral Palsy Foundation’s Cerebral Palsy Resource website provides expert insights, fact sheets, stories, blogs, videos, podcasts and more to help individuals with cerebral palsy and their families across the lifespan.
Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) Resources
This tip sheet from the Division of Specialized Care for Children (DSCC) aims to help guide parents and caregivers through the steps to become a certified nursing assistant (CNA). It links to several websites and provides general guidelines.
Please note information may change, so be sure to go directly to the Illinois Department of Public Health’s (IDPH) website to verify information remains accurate and up to date.
Champaign County Down Syndrome Network
The Champaign County Down Syndrome Network (DSN) provides information and support to families who have members with Down syndrome in Champaign County and east-central Illinois.
DSN serves new parents, professionals and the general public to promote Down syndrome awareness and acceptance year-round.
Champaign County Epilepsy Support Group
The Champaign County Epilepsy Support Group “You Are Not Alone” offers support for anyone with epilepsy or a seizure disorder and their loved ones. The group meets on the first Tuesday of each month from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. at Carle South Clinic, 6th Floor Conference Room, 602 W. University Ave., in Urbana.
Charting the LifeCourse Nexus Training and Technical Resource Center
Charting the LifeCourse Nexus or LifeCourse Nexus framework was developed by families to help individuals with disabilities at any age or stage of life and their families develop a vision for a good life. LifeCourse Nexus provides free infographics, YouTube videos and step-by-step tip sheets to help people of all ages and abilities with identifying their dreams and desires, thinking about what they need to know and do, identifying how to find or develop supports, and discovering what it takes to live the lives they want to live.
The LifeCourse Nexus Library features a wide range of downloadable materials to help with the transition from school to community, including:
- Person-centered tools for exploring your desires and unique needs
- The family perspective booklet and tip sheets
- Kits (The Life Domains) focusing on life stages and exploring employment, healthy living, housing options and other areas
- Videos and step-by-step tip sheets on using the Integrated Supports Star tools to bring everything together