Enjoy inclusive egg hunts, time with the Easter Bunny and lots of family fun at sites across Illinois

Wondering where the Easter Bunny will hop next?

Check out our Special Events page to find sensory-friendly Easter Bunny visits and egg hunt options for individuals with disabilities of all ages.

The Bunny Cares program offers Easter Bunny visits in a calmer, quieter environment that supports visitors’ sensory, physical and developmental needs. Autism Speaks and Cherry Hill Programs have teamed up to provide these special Bunny Cares photo opportunities.

Bunny Cares events are scheduled at several malls in Illinois on Sunday, April 6.

Click on the locations below to learn more and book your free sensory bunny visit (be sure to search the event schedule for “Bunny Cares,” “Caring Bunny” or “Sensory Bunny” for each location):

• Fox Valley
• Gurnee Mills
• Hawthorn
• Northwoods Mall (IL)
• Orland Square Mall
• Woodfield Mall

Photos will be available to buy at each event. Reservations are limited. Visit the Bunny Cares website for more details and a complete list of sites.

There are more “eggs-cellent” opportunities to meet the Easter Bunny and hunt for eggs throughout Illinois.

If you’re located in the west and northwest suburbs, check out Kidlist for Easter egg hunts and more.

We’ve also highlighted a variety of egg hunts and bunny visits happening in communities across the state. These events include:

• Bunny Hop Breakfast for People with Disabilities and Their Families in Schaumburg on April 5 from 9 to 10:30 a.m.
• Sensory-Friendly Easter Bunny Event in Springfield on April 5 from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.
• The Dr. Patchett Extra Special Eggstravaganza in Carterville on April 5 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
• Inclusive “Easter Egg Hunt Miracle Mile” Event in Rockford on April 6 from 2 to 4 p.m.
• Sensory Egg Hunt for Children With Disabilities in Champaign on April 12 from 1 to 3:15 p.m.

Our Special Events page has more opportunities for finding colorful eggs, having fun and celebrating spring.

Many of the events are free. You can use the contact and registration information provided with each event listing to learn more.

Please note that the Division of Specialized Care for Children (DSCC) does not sponsor or organize these events. We are sharing the details to help families find inclusive events in their communities.

Eligible Chicago families who have children with disabilities in grades K-12 can apply for a chance to receive a one-time grant through Oct. 30

If you live in Chicago and have at least one child with disabilities enrolled in a public or private k-12 school, you may be eligible for a one-time grant.

The Chicago Mayor’s Office for People with Disabilities and Ada S. McKinley Community Services has launched the Diverse Learners Recovery Fund for students with disabilities.

The program aims to help families who were uniquely challenged by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The fund will provide one-time grants of $500 to up to 8,000 eligible K-12 students through a lottery. Students with autism, physical and developmental delays and other disabilities may be eligible.

Families can use these funds to pay for things such as medical expenses, supplemental education resources or other accommodations their student needs.

Parents and guardians can apply for the Diverse Learners Recovery Fund grant at www.AdaMOPD.com through Oct. 30.

Families applying for the grant must:

• Live in Chicago
• Have a student currently enrolled in a K-12 public or private school
• Have an Individualized Education Program (IEP), a 504 Plan, an Individual Support Plan (ISP), or a doctor’s note verifying a disability diagnosis covered under the Americans with Disabilities Act
• Have a household income level at or below 300 percent of the federal poverty level

Families can receive a maximum one-time payment of $500 for one student and $1,000 for two students.

The program will select recipients using a lottery system. All eligible applications will be included in the drawings on:

• July 1
• Sept. 16
• On or after Nov. 30

Submitting an eligible application does not guarantee you will receive the funds. Eligible applications that are not chosen will be included in the following drawing(s).

See the Diverse Learners Recovery Fund flyer for more information on the fund and eligibility requirements. It also has a QR code to apply.

You can also visit the Diverse Learners Recovery Fund for Students with Disabilities website. The site features tools to help with the application process, including:

• A video
• Eligibility requirements
• Frequently asked questions and a chart to help determine the federal poverty level
• A list of documents necessary to complete your application
• Contact information (phone and online)

If you’re ready to apply, be sure to set up your Diverse Learners Recovery Fund for Students with Disabilities account online.

The deadline to apply for a chance to receive a grant is Oct. 30.

The program receives funding from The Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds (SLRF) program authorized by the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA).

Fun, inclusive events the whole family can enjoy throughout Illinois!

How will you make memories this holiday season?

There are light displays, sensitive Santa opportunities, parades and more going on throughout Illinois.

Our Special Events page includes a roundup of opportunities designed specifically for youth with disabilities and special healthcare needs.

You can also browse this collection of special programs and event guides for opportunities to create some holiday magic and plenty of smiles:

• Autism Speaks and Cherry Hill Programs will provide sensory-friendly Santa experiences in Illinois and the St. Louis area on Dec. 3. These visits are free. Keepsake photo packages will be available for purchase. You must sign up to attend. Visit the Santa Cares website for a complete list of Santa’s stops. Be sure to select “Santa Cares”, “Caring Santa” or “Sensitive Santa” when checking your location. (Note some event dates and times may vary. Please check your location to confirm your date and time.)
• The National Federation of the Blind is offering letters from Santa and winter celebration letters in Braille to children who are blind or have low vision. The program is for children ages 10 and younger. Please complete the letter request form before Dec. 15. If you have any questions, call (410) 659-9314, ext. 2236, or email education@nfb.org.
• The Secret Sleigh Project is coordinating volunteers to provide in-home Santa visits to children who are medically fragile. Use the “Request a Santa Visit” form on the project’s website to request a visit.
• For families in the southern Illinois area, SI Families’ event calendar provides a great list of fun, seasonal activities. Other events in the area include Sensitive Santa at Heartland Regional Medical Center in Marion, the Carbondale Lights Fantastic Parade, and the DuQuoin Holiday Lights Fair.
• For options in central Illinois, check out these lists from ChambanaMoms.com and Springfieldmoms.org. Great places to see lights include Chatham Lights up the Park, Festival of Lights in East Peoria, and Mattoon Lightworks.
• For Chicagoland residents, WTTW Public Television, Chicago Parent Magazine and Kidlist have some great suggestions for things to do and see. Want to catch a show? Chicago Children’s Theatre features accessible weekends for children and their families.
• Don’t forget to check with your local zoos! The St. Louis Zoo and Lincoln Park Zoo will offer a sensory-friendly viewing option. Contact your local zoo to see what’s happening and when.

We will continue to add holiday events and activities, so please check our Special Events page often throughout the season.

If you know of a good sensory-friendly event to share, please email us at dscc@uic.edu.

Please note, the University of Illinois Chicago’s Division of Specialized Care for Children (DSCC) is not involved in organizing or scheduling these holiday events. If you have questions about a specific event, please contact the event sponsor or organizer.

Hippity-hoppity, the Easter Bunny is on its way!

Sensory-friendly Easter Bunny visits are happening at sites throughout Illinois and the St. Louis area. Individuals of all ages and abilities may schedule an appointment.

The visits will take place in a calmer, quieter environment that supports visitors’ sensory, physical and developmental needs. Autism Speaks is partnering with Cherry Hill Programs to provide these special Easter Bunny photo events.

The Bunny Cares experiences are free. Photos will be available to buy at each event.

You can see the Easter Bunny on March 26 at the following locations (in the “Reserve” section for each location, click on the “Events” button and select “Bunny Cares”):

• Fox Valley
• Frontenac Plaza (Missouri)
• Hawthorn Mall
• Market Place Shopping Center
• Northwoods Mall
• Orland Square Mall
• White Oaks Mall
• Woodfield Mall (also hosting an event on April 2)

Reservations are limited. Visit the Bunny Cares website for a complete list of sites and to reserve your spot.

Many communities are also hosting sensory-friendly egg hunts and opportunities to meet the Easter Bunny. To find these events and other family-friendly spring activities, hop on over to our Special Events page.

Free Santa visits for children with autism and other special needs

Are you ready for some Santa magic?

Autism Speaks has partnered with Cherry Hill Programs to provide sensory-friendly Santa experiences nationwide.

In Illinois, Santa will be spreading joy and holiday cheer on Dec. 5 and 12.

Join Santa in a calmer, more subdued environment. He is planning stops in communities that include:

• Aurora
• Champaign
• Chicago
• Gurnee
• Moline
• Northbrook
• Orland Park
• Peoria
• Rockford
• Rosemont
• Schaumburg
• Springfield
• Vernon Hills

These sensory-friendly Santa experiences are free. Keepsake photo packages are available to buy.

You can reserve your spot for the Santa experience online. (The organizers strongly encourage reservations.)

For more upcoming holiday events for children with special healthcare needs in Illinois, be sure to check our Special Events page often.