Free Family Webinar Series Focuses on Medicaid Waivers

February 12th, 2025

On the left is a dark blue box with rounded corners with white text that says: Health Insurance Education Series. DSCC's logo is below it. In the upper right and going down the page is a cup of coffee, part of a keyboard and a bright gold pen.

Learn more about the MFTD, DRS and DDD Medicaid waivers and how they can help your family

Our annual Health Insurance Education Series returns in March to help families understand important health insurance topics.

In response to family feedback, our 2025 series will explain Medicaid Home and Community-Based Services Waiver Programs for Illinois.

The webinars are open to Division of Specialized Care for Children (DSCC) participants, their family members and anyone interested in these topics.

These free virtual trainings will feature DSCC team members and other presenters covering a different waiver each month:

  • Medically Fragile and Technology Dependent (MFTD) Medicaid Waiver, March 11 at 6 p.m.
  • Division of Rehabilitation Services (DRS) Medicaid Waivers, April 8 at 6 p.m.
  • Division of Developmental Disabilities (DDD) Medicaid Waivers, May 13 at 6 p.m.
  • La Excepción de Medicaid para personas médicamente frágiles y dependientes de la tecnología (MFTD), 11 de marzo, a las 6 p.m.
    • La presentación de marzo se centrará en la excepción para personas médicamente frágiles y dependientes de la tecnología para niños y adultos. Los presentadores de la División de Atención Especializada para Niños (DSCC) le explicarán cómo presentar la solicitud, quién es elegible, qué beneficios están disponibles y cómo utilizarlos.
    • Consulte el folleto de Beneficios de MFTD para obtener más detalles.
    • Registrarse para MFTD en Zoom.
  • Excepciones de Medicaid de la División de Servicios de Rehabilitación (DRS), 8 de abril a las 6 p.m.
  • Excepciones de Medicaid de la División de Discapacidades del Desarrollo (DDD), 13 de mayo a las 6 p.m.

You can also:

Our Health Insurance Education Series began in response to questions and suggestions from our Family Advisory Council.

If you have questions about these webinars before or after a session, please email dscc@uic.edu or call (800) 322-3722.

Upcoming Education and Scholarship Opportunities for Young Adults with Disabilities

April 7th, 2023

diverse group of college students taking a selfie in a grassy area outdoors on a college campus

Learn more about the Illinois Community College Initiative and 2023 CSBG Scholarship Program

Finding the right programs and resources is key when planning for the future as a young adult with disabilities.

Two programs currently offer valuable education, training and scholarship opportunities for Illinois youth interested in college or joining the workforce after high school.

Illinois Community College Initiative

The Illinois Department of Human Services’ Division of Rehabilitation Services (DRS) wants to help people with disabilities in their quest for success.

The Illinois Community College Initiative provides academic and vocational training programs for eligible students with disabilities at in-state public community colleges and approved community colleges bordering the state.

People with disabilities who are eligible for the DRS vocational rehabilitation program are eligible to participate. You may complete community college coursework leading to an associate degree or to a degree, certificate or other industry-recognized credential or certificate.

DRS will help you with:

  • Tuition
  • The cost of fees, books and supplies
  • Transportation costs
  • Other eligible costs

See the Illinois Community College Initiative flyer for more details.

Spanish-speaking families can listen to the radio ad or read the ad transcript in Spanish.

Ready to get started? Contact your local DRS office using the locator tool or call (877) 581-3690. TTY and relay callers can dial 711.

2023 C.E.F.S. Economic Opportunity Corporation’s CSBG Scholarship

C.E.F.S. Economic Opportunity Corporation has a scholarship program to help students pay for college or occupational training.

The CSBG College Scholarship program provides financial help to income-eligible students living in the following counties:

  • Christian
  • Clay
  • Effingham
  • Fayette
  • Montgomery
  • Moultrie
  • Shelby

You can use the scholarship to pay for formal education or occupational training in an accredited Illinois educational institution. Training and degrees may include:

  • Associate, bachelor’s or master’s degree, post-secondary education
  • General education, short-term training (two years or less) in growth occupation skills

The CSBG scholarship is competitive and awards students based on:

  • Income
  • The interview process
  • Choosing to go into high technology areas or other growth occupations

Previous scholarship recipients can submit an application. You must be enrolled or intend to enroll as full-time students for the fall 2023 semester in an Illinois-accredited college. Full-time is 12 hours or more.

Click on the CSBG Scholarship application or get an application at your county C.E.F.S. outreach office. The application includes contact information for each local office.

You can also visit the C.E.F.S. website for more information.

You must complete your application and submit all requested documents to your local office by April 14 at 4 p.m.

All eligible candidates will have an interview in May.

Find More Transition Resources

Visit the Transition Tools section of our website to find more programs and information to help with planning and paying for college, getting a job and more.

You can browse the Transition: Education Resources and the Transition: Work Resources categories to find what you need.

Our team is also here to help partner with you and your family to help make the transition to adulthood as successful as possible.

Contact us to find out more!