Medical/Health and Wellness Resources
Transition QuickGuide: Take Charge of Planning and Managing Your Own Health and Career Goals
The Transition QuickGuide checklist provides information and resources about health insurance coverage, self-care, health care transition, decision-making and career planning and management.
Travel Guide for Children with Medical Complexity
Traveling with a child with medical complexity can be challenging. With extra planning, a family vacation can be a memorable and enjoyable experience. This travel guide from the Courageous Parents Network offers practical advice on choosing a location, what and how to pack the medical supplies your child needs, tips for traveling by car and airplane, and what precautions to take should your child have a medical emergency while on vacation.
The guide is available in English and Spanish.
The Tri-State Foodbank partners with southern Illinois agencies to provide food assistance in Alexander, Edwards, Gallatin, Hamilton, Hardin, Johnson, Lawrence, Massac, Pope, Pulaski, Richland, Saline, Union, Wabash, Wayne and White counties.
Please use the “Find A Pantry” tool to locate local pantries, shelters, and soup kitchens offering free food to those in need.
U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC)
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC) is the nation’s leading science-based, data-driven, service organization that protects the public’s health. The CDC provides up-to-date information and resources on topics such as nutrition, diseases and conditions, healthy living, violence and safety, detecting and responding to new and emerging health threats, and more.
The U.S. Department of Education is America’s education agency. Its website includes guidance, resources and technical assistance related to the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA).
IDEA is a law that makes available a free appropriate public education to eligible children with disabilities throughout the nation and ensures special education and related services to those children, supports early intervention services for infants and toddlers and their families, and awards competitive discretionary grants.
UCP Seguin of Greater Chicago is a charitable not-for-profit agency serving individuals with disabilities in metropolitan Chicago and beyond.
Its services include employment and community day services for adults, residential services for adults, children’s foster care, assistive technology and accessibility services, and more.
UIC College of Dentistry Inclusive Care Clinic in Chicago
The Inclusive Care Clinic (ICC) at the University of Illinois Chicago’s College of Dentistry offers comprehensive, preventive and integrated (multidisciplinary) dental treatment for patients 15 years of age or older with a wide range of physical and developmental disabilities. The ICC serves individuals with autism, physical disabilities, intellectual and developmental disabilities, and behavioral and other conditions.
The clinic includes:
- A sensory room
- A wheelchair lift
- Private treatment rooms
- Noise-cancelling headphones
- Personal entertainment tablets
- Weighted blankets
For questions, please contact ICC at (312) 355-1641.
UIC The Resource Center for Autism and Developmental Delays
UIC The Resource Center for Autism and Developmental Delays (RCADD) provides support for those who care for, teach and serve children with an autism spectrum disorder or other developmental delays. RCADD serves families currently enrolled in an Early Head Start or Head Start program as well as others throughout the Chicagoland area.
Anyone can also visit RCADD’s website for:
- Free autism trainings/webinars in English and Spanish
- Printable visuals
- Activity ideas
UIC’s Institute on Disability and Human Development
The University of Illinois Chicago’s Institute on Disability and Human Development (IDHD) promotes community participation, health, empowerment and advocacy for people with disabilities and their families across all aspects of life. IDHD is part of the University Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities (UCEDD) network for the state of Illinois.
UIC’s IDHD supports and services include:
- Webinars
- Services and clinics for individuals with disabilities, their families and professionals
- Research
- Continuing education
Understanding Inclusion Online Series for Parents of Young Children With Disabilities
Early CHOICES offers a free, online series for parents of young children with disabilities, practitioners, educators and administrators in Early Intervention or early childhood programs. The Understanding Inclusion series covers everything from defining inclusion to dreaming big for your child and includes:
- Short videos
- Activities to promote inclusion
- Topic guides to support you in reflection and resource gathering
Flyers outlining the series’ details are available in English and Spanish.