Transition: Independence Resources
The Ray Graham Association provides individuals with disabilities and their families in DuPage County and the surrounding area with recreational, residential, family support, employment and life skills services.
The Ray Graham Association website also includes links to advocacy and legislative resources. The association’s goal is to empower people to:
- Reach their potential by providing access to therapeutic programs, recreation and family support resources.
- Grow their future through neighborhood living, life-skills training and employment opportunities.
- Achieve their goals by pursuing personalized plans with measurable actions and results.
Resources for Voters With Disabilities
The U.S. Election Assistance Commission created this comprehensive list of resources for voters with disabilities, which includes links to voting accessibility laws and regulations and the latest best practices and research pertaining to voters with disabilities.
Rides Mass Transit District in Southern Illinois
Rides Mass Transit District (RMTD) offers clean, comfortable, and cost-effective public transportation in Clark, Crawford, Cumberland, Edgar, Edwards, Gallatin, Hamilton, Hardin, Jasper, Lawrence, Pope, Richland, Saline, Wabash, Wayne, White and Williamson counties. RMTD offers door-to-door and fixed-route services to anyone requiring transportation. RMTD also provides ADA paratransit services for people with disabilities who are unable to use fixed route bus services where available.
RMTD’s ADA paratransit service is by reservation only. For more details or to make a reservation:
- See the RMTD flyer in English
- See the RMTD flyer in Spanish/Folletto en español
For any questions, please call the RMTD Operation Center at (844) 220-1243.
Self Advocacy Resource and Technical Assistance Center (SARTAC)
The Self Advocacy Resource and Technical Assistance Center (SARTAC) provides a wide variety of information, videos, fellowship opportunities and events to support and strengthen self-advocacy.
SARTAC resources for individuals and self-advocacy groups include:
- Help for navigating social, economic and personal issues
- Self-advocacy Zoom meetings
- Tip sheets for self-advocacy groups
- A history of self-advocacy
The Self-Advocacy Online (SAO) website, from the Research and Training Center on Community Living at The University of Minnesota, provides self-advocacy tools for people with disabilities. The SOA website can help you research, learn and connect around self-advocacy. It includes:
- Stories from self-advocates
- A search feature to help you find self-advocacy groups
- Research and information on a variety of important topics
Sign Language Interpreter Directory
The Illinois Deaf and Hard of Hearing Commission maintains a directory of sign language interpreters. You can search the directory by an interpreter’s name or by region/county.
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.
STRIVE for Independence offers driver evaluations and training for all ages, disabilities and medical conditions for the Chicagoland area. STRIVE for Independence serves clients with a wide variety of driver rehabilitation needs. Their team of specialists includes occupational therapists, certified driver rehabilitation specialists and state of Illinois certified driving instructors (CDI) for adults and teenagers.
Visit the STRIVE for Independence website for more details.
Supported Decision-Making Act in Illinois
Illinois’ Supported Decision-Making Act ensures people with disabilities can get the help they need to make decisions for their own lives. The Illinois Guardianship and Advocacy Commission has many resources to explain the Supported Decision-Making Act. These include:
Telecommunications Relay Services Information in American Sign Language
Telecommunications Relay Services (TRS) allow people who are deaf, hard of hearing, deafblind or have speech disabilities to communicate by telephone.
The Federal Communications Commission’s American Sign Language video walks you through the various TRS systems available.