Recreation and Inclusion Resources
Camp New Hope offers year-round recreational opportunities for individuals with disabilities ages 8 and older. Camp New Hope is accessible to all and located on 41 rolling acres overlooking Lake Mattoon. Year-round programming includes summer camp, respite weekends, bowling and parties.
For more information or to take a tour, call (217) 895-2341 or email officemanager@campnewhopeillinois.org.
Camp Riley in Martinsville, Ind.
Camp Riley in Martinsville, Ind., empowers children with physical and developmental disabilities through life-changing week-long camp experiences tailored to their individual needs. Campers with physical and developmental disabilities, Down syndrome, craniofacial anomalies, sickle cell anemia, and other blood disorders can have fun while shattering limitations, making new friends and increasing their independence.
Camp Riley takes place at Indiana University’s Outdoor Center, Bradford Woods, with the support of Riley Children’s Foundation. Riley Hospital for Children at IU Health provides 24-hour medical coverage for Camp Riley, including medical and nursing directors, resident physicians, nurses and a pharmacy team.
Camp Riley hosts eight camps each summer:
- Camp Riley 1 – Campers 8 to18 years old with physical disabilities needing a 1-to-1 ratio
- Camp Riley 2 – Campers 8 to18 years old with physical disabilities needing a 1-to-2 ratio
- Camp Riley 3 – Campers 8 to18 years old with physical disabilities needing a 1-to-3 ratio
- Camp Riley+ – Adults 18 and over with a physical disability needing a 1-to-1 ratio
- Camp About Face – Campers 8 to18 years old with craniofacial anomalies
- Camp Hi-Lite – Campers 8 to 22 years old with Down syndrome needing a 1-to-2 ratio
- Camp Independence – Campers 8 to 18 years old with sickle cell anemia and other blood disorders needing a 1-to-5 ratio
- Camp Kan Du – Campers 8 to 18 years old with a cognitive level ranging from birth to 48 months and with physical disabilities needing a 2-to-1 ratio
Camp Riley also includes a “Beyond the Woods” mentor program for teens ages 14-18 with a physical disability. Campers are matched with adult mentors who have been through similar life experiences and can act as a source of empowerment and a resource for campers on a variety of topics, including personal challenges, next steps in education and career, and more. For more information about the Beyond the Woods program, please call (765) 342-2915.
For more information, please contact therapy@iu.edu or call (765) 349-5122.
Camp Sunshine for Children with Life-Threatening Illnesses and Their Families in Maine
Camp Sunshine helps children with life-threatening illnesses and their families find hope, community and a safe space for recharging together. Located in Maine, the camp offers medical support and free, year-round camping sessions for children ages 21 and under, their siblings, parents and caregivers. Campers come from all over the United States, Canada, and other parts of the world. Bereavement sessions are also available for families who have experienced the death of a child from a supported illness.
Camp Sunshine offers sessions of varying lengths throughout the year. Supported conditions and diagnoses include:
- A brain tumor, cancer and retinoblastoma
- Kidney disease
- Sickle cell disease
- Hematologic conditions
- Phenylketonuria (PKU) and more
Center for Accessibility and Neurodiversity at Illinois Valley Community College in Oglesby
The Center for Accessibility and Neurodiversity (CAN) at Illinois Valley Community College in Oglesby provides a wide range of supports and services to empower diverse learners. CAN services include:
- Accommodations
- Resources and study skills support
- Success coaching
CAN is on the Oglesby Campus in room C-211. It is open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. You can also make an appointment by contacting Tina Hardy at (815) 224-0284 or tina_hardy@ivcc.edu.
Challenged Athletes Foundation
The Challenged Athletes Foundation (CAF) believes that involvement in sports at any level increases self-esteem, encourages independence and enhances quality of life. CAF provides several grant programs, events and support to people with physical challenges who are pursuing active lifestyles through physical fitness and competitive athletics. CAF resources include:
- Grants to help pay for sports prostheses, adaptive sports equipment, coaching and competition expenses
- Adaptive sports videos
- A list of adaptive sports organizations and collegiate programs
- Information about adaptive sports equipment
For questions, use the contact page on CAF’s website or call (858) 866-0959.
Chase’s Warrior Foundation (CWF) provides information and adaptive, therapeutic equipment to families of children and young adults with altered physical conditions and/or special needs. CWF funds equipment that will improve the applicant’s potential for recreation, mobility and everyday living success.
CWF provides life-changing adaptive equipment to families with children and young adults under 26 who have a disability or long-term injury that challenges their everyday lives:
- CWF reviews each request on an individual basis
- CWF grants requests depending on the funds available at the time of the request
- Families will receive a letter, email or phone call notifying them of the decision to either grant or deny funding
- Requests may be full payments or partial payments, depending on financial need
- Anyone receiving grant funds must wait two years before applying again.
For any questions, please contact Chase’s Warrior Foundation at info@cwfusa.org.
Chicago Adaptive Sports provides programming, support and advocacy for individuals with physical and visual disabilities of all ages and backgrounds. The organization adapts programming to meet the needs of individuals who use manual or power wheelchairs or have other ambulatory disabilities such as amputation, cerebral palsy, spina bifida, stroke and other spinal cord or orthopedic impairments. No prior experience is necessary to participate. Financial assistance is available. Participants will not be turned away due to their ability to pay.
Chicago Adaptive Sports programs include:
- Chicago No Limits Fishing
- Wheelchair basketball
- Wheelchair softball
- Wheelchair tennis
- Sled hockey
The Chicago Hearing Society (CHS) provides a wide range of programs to support families and connect people who are deaf, deafblind, or hard of hearing. Its services include:
- Hearing evaluations and assistive technologies
- Free American Sign Language (ASL) family classes in English and Spanish
- ASL in-person and online youth classes
- ASL Adult in-person and virtual classes
- Community outreach and youth programs
- Interpreter services and captioning
For more information, call CHS:
- Main Number: (773) 248-9121
- Videophone: (773) 904-0154
The Chicago Help Initiative (CHI) provides meals and access to social services to Chicagoans who are experiencing homelessness, hunger and economic insecurity. CHI offers Wednesday dinners, adult learning, one-on-one tutoring, a job club, arts and culture outings, and the New Foundations program to help guests apply for and connect with key services, benefits and supports that improve the quality of their lives.
CHI also offers this Resource Guide to provide crucial information on food, shelter and help for those in immediate need.
Contact CHI using the online form.
The Chicago Help Initiative office is located at 440 N Wells St., Ste. 440, Chicago, IL 60654.
For more details, call (312) 448-0045.
Children’s Theatre of Elgin and Fox Valley Theatre Company
Children’s Theatre of Elgin and Fox Valley Theatre Company (CTE/FVTC) is a not-for-profit based in Elgin that offers all individuals an opportunity to learn, grow and enrich their lives through theatre. It provides fun and exciting programs that offer children, youth and young adults an affordable opportunity to experience the performing arts, either as participants or audience members. CTE/FVTC also provides a variety of summer camps and accessible, sensory-friendly and American Sign Language-interpreted performances throughout the year.
See CTE/FVTC’s Frequently Asked Questions page for more details.
If you have questions, please email office@cteelgin.com or call (847) 214-7152.