Medical/Health Resources
The Arc’s Talk About Sexual Violence project provides materials and practical tools to help health care professionals, people with disabilities, and their families and supporters learn about the depth of the problem, support victims and work to prevent it.
Talk About Sexual Violence seeks to empower survivors with disabilities in the reporting process and give health care professionals the tools to more effectively identify victims, connect them to appropriate services, help build their self-advocacy skills and better prevent sexual violence.
In addition to the “Starting the Conversation Toolkit for Self-Advocates,” put together by Self-Advocacy Resource and Technical Assistance Center (SARTAC), resources include short training videos for healthcare professionals, tools to help guide conversations and more.
Resources to Understand and Maximize Your Health Coverage
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services has developed the Coverage to Care (C2C) initiative. C2C provides information to help you understand your health coverage and connect to primary care and the preventive services that are right for you.
Resources are provided in multiple languages and on topics including:
- Five steps for making the most of your health coverage
- Telehealth services
- A step-by-step roadmap to health
- A companion roadmap to behavioral health
- Videos on maximizing your health coverage
Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) Fact Sheet for Parents
Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a common respiratory virus that usually causes mild, cold-like symptoms. Most people recover in a week or two, but RSV can be serious, especially for infants and older adults.
The Illinois Department of Public Health provides this fact sheet for parents to help them understand how RSV spreads and how to prevent it.
RxAssist can help you learn about ways to use pharmaceutical company programs and other resources to help reduce your medication costs.
The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s (SAMHSA) National Helpline is a free, confidential, 24-hour, seven-days-a-week, 365-day-a-year treatment referral and information service (in English and Spanish) for individuals and families facing mental and/or substance use disorders.
(800) 662-HELP (4357)
TTY: (800) 487-4889
Save Babies Through Newborn Screening
Save Babies Through Screening Foundation educates parents, pediatric healthcare providers, and policy makers about available comprehensive newborn screening, the importance of obtaining positive or other test results requiring follow-up actions within 5 days of birth, and the importance of prompt confirmatory testing and treatment/management when needed.
Seizure Action Plan Examples and Resources
A seizure is a medical emergency. A Seizure Action Plan (SAP) contains tailored guidelines on how to respond during a seizure, based on the patient’s medical history. It includes health and medical information specific to the patient and helps others recognize seizures and the appropriate steps to take to keep them safe from injury or damage caused by prolonged seizures.
The Seizure Action Plan Coalition has several Seizure Action Plan examples and resources in English and Spanish to help you create your own plan. Resources are also available in other languages.
Epilepsy Alliance America manages the Seizure Action Plan Coalition.
Self-Advocacy for People with Disabilities During Hospitalization Tip Sheet
Hospital stays can be difficult for everyone. However, individuals with disabilities may face a variety of unique challenges. This Self-Advocacy for People with Disabilities During Hospitalization tip sheet includes information about your right to have a support person with you any time in the hospital, provider bias, preparing for your hospital stay and self-advocacy resources.
The Illinois Deaf and Hard of Hearing Commission has a list of Service Animal Resources. Information includes Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA) requirements, programs that provide animals and more.
The Shirley Ryan AbilityLab is a nonprofit hospital providing patient care, a research community focused on physical medicine and rehabilitation, clinical trials and a wide range of resources to help with caregiving, adapting and accessibility. Based in Chicago, the Shirley Ryan AbilityLab provides help with pediatric and adolescent rehabilitation, spinal cord injuries, brain injury recovery, limb loss and impairment, stroke and more.
Shirley Ryan Abilitylab’s Henry B. Betts, MD, Learning, Innovation, Family and Empowerment (LIFE) Center also offers resources to help empower people living with chronic, cognitive and physical impairments and diseases affecting function. Resource topics include:
- Caregiving and equipment
- Housing and transportation
- Inspiration and hope
- Support and wellness
- Recreation and leisure
- Medical information and care
- Education and employment