Resource Directory /

Transition Resources

  • RAMP Disability Resources and Services – Center for Independent Living (CIL)

    RAMP (RAMP-CIL) is a non-profit, non-residential Center for Independent Living (CIL). It welcomes anyone with a disability, regardless of the type of disability, age, or economic status. The organization serves Boone, DeKalb, Stephenson and Winnebago counties. RAMP-CIL services for youth and adults include:
    • Information and referral
    • Youth education and advocacy
    • Portable ramp loans
    • Independent living skills training
    • Bus training and public transportation skills
    • Employment services
    • Fast Track Transition services for youth
    • Project SEARCH school-to-work program transition program

    For questions, please see RAMP’s website for specific contact information and office hours.

  • Ray Graham Association

    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 provides door-to-door and fixed-route service to anyone needing 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:

  • Rising Lights Project

    Rising Lights Project is dedicated to creating environments for individuals affected by disability to learn, laugh, thrive and engage with the Fox Valley Community.

    Rising Lights Project provides opportunities that engage, encourage, educate and empower people from all areas of the community to change the way disability is viewed and create new opportunities to keep those with disability engaged and connected. The project hosts inclusive events that are accessible and sensory-friendly for all ages.

  • Safe2Help Illinois

    Safe2Help Illinois offers students a safe, confidential way to share information that might help prevent suicides, bullying, school violence or other threats to school safety. The program is focused on getting students to “Seek Help Before Harm.”

    Recognizing that not all students may feel safe talking to their parents, teachers, coaches or mentors, students can use a free app, text/phone, website (Safe2HelpIllinois.com) and other social media platforms to confidentially report school safety issues and seek help before harming themselves or others.

    The Safe2Help website provides guidance, tips and multi-media materials for children, teens, parents and educators on topics including:

    • The role and actions of a trusted adult
    • Ways to get help
    • Encouraging others
    • Helping someone online
    • Suicide prevention

  • Saving Money for the Future

    The Arc’s Center for Future Planning has created this free resource to help you and your family save money for the future.

  • 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

  • Self-Advocacy Online

    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

  • Sertoma Organization for People Affected by Hearing Loss

    Sertoma provides information and support to people at risk of or affected by hearing loss. National and local chapters across the United States support hearing health through a variety of programs and activities. Sertoma services include annual scholarships, access to amplified hearing devices, teen and college-level service programs, the “Adopt-an-Agency” program and more.

    Sertoma offers two scholarship programs:

    • The Scholarship for the Hard of Hearing or Deaf is open to students with clinically significant bilateral hearing loss. Graduating high school students or undergraduate students pursuing four-year college degrees in any discipline are eligible for the scholarship.
    • The Communicative Disorders Scholarship is for graduate students pursuing advanced degrees in audiology or speech-language pathology from institutions in the United States. The program awards these scholarships in the spring to help offset the cost of tuition, books and fees incurred during the following school year.

    See Sertoma’s website for eligibility requirements. The program accepts applications between Nov. 1 and March 31 each year.