Transition Resources
The ADA National Network Disability Law Handbook
This handbook is meant to provide basic information about disability rights under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) as well as resources for finding out more.
The Arc’s Center for Future Planning
The Arc’s Center for Future Planning aims to support and encourage adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD) and their families to plan for the future.
The Center provides reliable information and assistance to individuals with I/DD, their family members and friends, professionals who support them and other members of the community on areas such as person-centered planning, decision-making, housing options and financial planning.
The Arc’s Disability Voter Guide
The Arc has developed voting resources in plain language and Spanish, including a disability voter guide and sample questions for candidates.
The Arc’s Virtual Program Library
The Arc’s Virtual Program Library is a free hub full of on-demand activities that people with disabilities, and their families and service providers can do at home.
Topics include arts, community and life skills, health and wellness, virtual clubs, and more. Service providers can also find and share resources to facilitate or deliver live, remote programming for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
PUNS is the name for the list of the people in Illinois with developmental disabilities who want or need services but do not yet have funding. Individuals who need help from the government to pay for needed Division of Developmental Disabilities Waiver services now, or in the future, should register for PUNS.
The Arc of Illinois’ Life Span Program provides an overview of how to get on the PUNS list and how to check the approximate date when you may be selected.
The Calm Toolbox: Healthy Ways to Cope With Stress
Life can be stressful. The American Academy of Pediatrics Center of Excellence on Social Media and Youth Mental Health has developed “The Calm Toolbox: Healthy Ways to Cope With Stress” to help. It offers activities to help calm your nervous system by slowing your breathing and heart rate, providing a positive distraction or providing a physical outlet for releasing energy.
You can access “The Calm Toolbox: Healthy Ways to Cope With Stress” online.
A PDF version of The Calm Toolkit is also available to download.
The Center for Chronic Illness
The Center for Chronic Illness (CCI) is a nonprofit organization that offers support and education to promote well-being and reduce isolation for people affected by chronic illness. CCI offers adults and teens living with chronic illness a variety of support groups and programs focusing on emotional well-being, health education and community. CCI provides:
- Chronic illness support groups for adults and teens
- Supporting loved ones and parenting children with health challenges support groups
- BIPOC & LGBTQIA+ support groups
- Health education programs
- Resources
For questions, contact CCI at (425) 296-2705 or info@thecenterforchronicillness.org.
The Center for Enriched Living
The Center for Enriched Living (CEL) provides a wide range of services to enrich the lives of teens, adults and seniors with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). CEL programs include social, recreational and employment programs, events, adult day programs, and mental health and wellness support to people with IDD, their families and caregivers.
CEL is independently funded and partners with the community for donations, regular volunteers, advocacy and collaborations that support people with IDD.
For questions, please contact (847) 948-7001 or info@CenterForEnrichedLiving.org.
The Center on Youth Voice, Youth Choice
The Center on Youth Voice, Youth Choice is a national resource center for youth with disabilities. Youth Voice, Youth Choice provides self-advocates, their families and supporters with advocacy, teaching tools for alternatives to guardianship, plain language resources and more. It offers:
- Videos and youth stories
- Alternatives to guardianship tools with stories and resources to help make tough decisions
- A plain language series featuring a wide variety of important topics
- The Youth Ambassador Curriculum for building leadership and advocacy skills
For questions, please contact the Center on Youth Voice, Youth Choice by calling (617) 287 -4300 or emailing youthvoice@umb.edu.
The Odyssey Project at University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
The Odyssey Project offers free University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign courses in the humanities to income-eligible adults in east-central Illinois. Odyssey students can earn up to eight transferable college credits in an environment designed to support non-traditional students, especially those whose education has been interrupted for whatever reason.
The courses include free textbooks and course materials, access to computers, bus fare to and from class and more.
Visit the Odyssey Project website for more details and program fact sheets in Spanish, French and Simplified Chinese.