The Early Intervention Clearinghouse (EI) offers books, videos, articles and web resources to help with toilet training your child. This site provides information that can be used for most children, with and without disabilities.
Medical/Health and Wellness Resources
The Superhero Project matches children facing serious illnesses, disabilities and complex medical needs with artists to create their superhero alter egos.
The nonprofit interviews kids and teens about their superhero alter egos. Artists then design the characters the children have described, creating a visual representation of their strength, courage and resilience. Families then receive an inspiring poster of their superheroes.
The Superhero Project is free and open to families around the world. For questions, please contact The Superhero Project using the online form or email hello@SHPkids.org
The Trevor Project provides crisis intervention and suicide prevention services to lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and questioning (LGBTQ) youth.
This flyer provides information about crisis support services, including TrevorLifeline, TrevorText and TrevorChat.
The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s Find Shelter Tool
The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD) Find Shelter tool provides information about housing, shelter, medical clinics, food pantries and clothing resources for someone in need in your community. Visit www.hud.gov/findshelter/.
The University of Illinois Chicago (UIC) College of Dentistry Pediatric Special Needs Dentistry
The University of Illinois Chicago (UIC) College of Dentistry Pediatric Dental Care provides comprehensive dental care for children, including individuals with complex oral health needs and special developmental and behavioral care needs. Pediatric Dentistry clinics provide care for children from infancy through adolescence (under age 17), including:
- Comprehensive oral health examinations, teeth cleaning, fluoride treatments, sealants, restorative procedures (fillings, crowns, etc.)
- Extractions and minor surgical procedures
- Urgent care (trauma, infection, etc.) and more
These services can be completed using inhalation sedation (Nitrous oxide), moderate sedation and general anesthesia. Read more about pediatric services.
Social stories are also available to help children with autism or sensory issues get ready for a dental visit:
- Read the visit to the dentist story in English.
- Read mi historia de la visita al dentista en español.
For questions, please contact UIC College of Dentistry Pediatric Dental Care at (312) 996-7532 or dentpediatrics@uic.edu.
Thresholds provides recovery services for persons with mental illnesses and substance use disorders in Illinois. Thresholds’ services include:
- Youth and young adult services
- Deaf program
- Intensive outreach for mental illness
- Training and workforce development
- Integrated primary and behavioral health care
- Housing and residential programs
Thresholds offers programs at more than 75 locations throughout Chicago, the adjacent suburbs and surrounding counties.
For questions, please contact Thresholds. If you need services, please contact the Thresholds’ intake services team. You can also call (773) 572-5500 or email ServiceCenter@thresholds.org.
Thumbuddy Special is a non-profit organization founded by a group of special education teachers and therapists to raise funds to provide adaptive equipment for children with special needs.
Thumbuddy Special supplies equipment such as wheelchairs, walkers, bath chairs, adapted bikes, ramps and computers. In addition, the nonprofit offers scholarships to children to attend local special recreation camps in the summer.
For questions, please call Thumbuddy Special at (630) 212-3419.
Tips for Families: Receiving Early Intervention Services Through the Phone, Tablet, or Computer
The Early Childhood Personnel Center and UConn Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities provide a checklist to help families prepare for virtual Early Intervention services.
Tips for Teens on Talking With Your Parents or Guardians About Vaccines
Talking with family members about vaccines and healthcare choices can be stressful and scary, especially for teens. The Illinois Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics (ICAAP) has created a “Tips for Teens – Talking with Your Parents or Guardians About Vaccines” handout in English and Spanish to help teens navigate those tricky conversations.
The Maternal and Child Health Services Block Grant, Title V of the Social Security Act, is a federal program that aims to improve the health of all women, children and families. Each state has a Title V program that serves children with special health care needs.
The Maternal and Child Health Bureau of the Health Resources and Services Administration provides this list of state Title V program contact information.
Toilet Training Children With Special Needs – Early Intervention Clearinghouse