Resource Directory /

Transition Resources

  • Conquering CHD Transition Checklist

    Conquering CHD has put together a Conquering CHD Transition Checklist to help youth with congenital heart disease manage their own care as they reach adulthood and move from their pediatric doctor to an Adult Congenital Heart Disease doctor.

  • Conversation Guides for End-of-Life Care

    The Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI) provides free Conversation Guides to help you have conversations with a family member, friend, or other loved one about your – or their – wishes for care through the end of life.

    All the guides are available to download and print at home for free. The guides include:

    • Your Guide to Choosing a Health Care Proxy
    • Your Guide to Being a Health Care Proxy
    • Your Guide to Talking With a Health Care Team
    • What Matters to Me Workbook
    • Guide for Caregivers of a Child With Serious Illness

    The guides are available in English, Spanish, Portuguese and Chinese.

  • Create Your Own Communication Card for People With Hearing Losssun-icon

    The Illinois Deaf and Hard of Hearing Commission (IDHHC) provides a template to create a personalized Communication Card for people with hearing loss. The card helps others understand your communication needs and lists your preferred communication provider’s name and contact information. To create a personalized Communication Card, visit the “Create my own Communication Card” page on IDHHC’s website.

    For more information, contact the IDHHC:

  • Creative Healing for Youth in Pain

    Creative Healing for Youth in Pain (CHYP) is a nonprofit organization serving youth between the ages of 13 and 24 who are experiencing pain, feelings of isolation and loneliness. CHYP provides educational resources, peer connection and exposure to creative healing experiences to help bridge the gap between common healthcare barriers such as cost, geographic location and long wait times for appointments. Resources are available for both youth and their parents.

    CHYP resources include:

    • Information on the science of pain
    • Strategies for breaking the pain cycle
    • On-demand webinars for youth and parents
    • Monthly open Zoom meetings for youth (ages 13 to 24)
    • Small group and Zoom meetings for parents
    • Summer camp

    For questions, fill out CHYP’s online form or email admin@mychyp.org.

  • Dare2tri

    Dare2tri is a nonprofit specializing in adaptive sports. It encourages recreation, racing and competition while cultivating a sense of community among all athletes, not defined by physical ability but by their determination and will to succeed.

    Dare2tri offers free training opportunities for athletes with physical disabilities and visual impairments throughout the year for children and adults. Its programs include:

    • Play for All at Chicago Children’s Museum
    • Kids Tri Camp for youth ages 6 and up
    • Learn 2 Tri beginner-level training camp
    • Multisport clinics and more

    For questions, contact Dare2tri at (312) 967-9874 or info@dare2tri.org.

  • DayOne PACT

    DayOne PACT is a not-for-profit agency that provides service case management, trust and guardianship services for people with disabilities in Illinois through its Life Management Services program.  The agency also functions as the Child and Family Connections agency for DuPage, Kane and Kendall Counties. This service works with families with children who are eligible for services through the Illinois Early Intervention system.

    DayOne PACT aims to help individuals with disabilities of all ages live supported, productive and meaningful lives.

    • The St. Charles location serves Kendall and Kane counties. Call (630) 879-2277 (telephone and “Crisis After Hours” with 24-hour accessibility) or (888) 356-0491 (toll-free)
    • The Lisle location serves DuPage County.  Call  (630) 960-9700 (telephone and “Crisis After Hours” with 24-hour accessibility) or (888) 356-0491 (toll-free)

  • Dean Ritter Foundation Scholarship for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing

    The Dean Ritter Foundation Scholarship for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing awards scholarships ranging from $500 to $5,000 annually to graduating high school seniors throughout Illinois who have severe to profound hearing impairments. Individuals with financial needs will receive special consideration, but the program does not make scholarship decisions solely on a financial basis. Application deadlines and the number and amount of scholarships vary each year.

    Students must be continuing their education at an accredited university or technical school to receive tuition scholarships. They must also:

    • Be an Illinois resident
    • Be a senior in high school in good standing
    • Have significant (severe to profound) hearing loss in one or both ears

    For any questions regarding scholarships, please email deanrittertrust@gmail.com.

  • Decision-Making Planning Tool

    Everyone’s ability to make decisions changes across a lifetime, including people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD).

    The Arc’s Center for Future Planning created this Future Decisions handout to help individuals with IDD and their families learn how to make, review and adjust a decision-making plan throughout a person’s life to maximize their ability to make their own decisions.

  • Decision-Making Supports

    People with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) have the same right to make decisions about their lives as people without disabilities. It is important to recognize and respect that right.

    This Decision-Making Supports handout from The Arc’s Center for Future Planning provides information about available supports to help people with IDD make decisions.

  • Developmental Disabilities Employment

    The Illinois Department of Human Services’ Division of Developmental Disabilities (DDD) seeks to maximize opportunities for people with developmental disabilities to work in competitive integrated employment.

    The division’s Developmental Disabilities Employment Resources list provides the latest information on the division’s efforts toward employment for people with developmental disabilities. It includes a list of DDD-supported employment providers that also provide employment services funded by the Division of Rehabilitation Services. The list aims to help individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities understand the options available to them when searching for an employment supports provider.