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).

The Consumer Stipend Program provides assistive technology funding for individuals with developmental disabilities and their families.

Most conferences, important meetings and training for people with developmental disabilities and their families have gone virtual.

Grant funding is now available through the Consumer Stipend Program to help these individuals stay connected during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Arc of Illinois manages the Consumer Stipend Program through a grant from the Illinois Council on Developmental Disabilities. The stipend funds help people with developmental disabilities and their family members attend conferences that are directly related to developmental disability issues.

The Consumer Stipend Program will now allow stipends to pay for the assistive technology needed to attend virtual events.

To apply for the Consumer Stipend Program, an applicant must be:

• An Illinois resident
• A person with an intellectual and/or developmental disability
• A family member of a person with an intellectual and/or developmental disability
• A guardian/foster parent of a person with an intellectual and/or developmental disability

Funding is available for a variety of assistive technology, including:

• iPads and other tablets
• Laptops
• Apps for tablets
• Software
• Other assistive technology that will help people stay connected

Available funds will depend on an applicant’s technology needs. Only one application is allowed per individual or family.

More details about the Consumer Stipend Program and the application process are available on The Arc of Illinois website.

You may also call (815) 464-1832 with any questions about the stipend program.

Grant from the Autism Society of Central Illinois aims to improve the life of an individual or child with autism.

The Blake Penner Memorial Grant was established by the Autism Society of Central Illinois in 2005 in honor of one special child. The grant program is designed to help families purchase items or services that will improve the life of an individual or child with autism. Examples of  grant uses include adaptive bicycles, occupational therapy, physical therapy, speech therapy, educational consultant fees and social skills training.

Grant beneficiaries must be a person with autism spectrum disorder who lives within the central Illinois area (must live in Sangamon or Menard county or other qualifying zip codes listed on the Autism Society of Central Illinois’ website at http://autismcil.org/).

Applications are available here and must be mailed in by Nov. 3. Funds are limited, so apply early.