Mark Your Calendars for DSCC’s 2026 Family Education Webinar Series!

February 12th, 2026

Text "DSCC Family Education Webinar Series" above graphic images of an open textbook, magnifying glass, computer screen, lightbulb, thought bubble and pencil.

These free webinars will focus on SNAP benefits, estate and financial planning, and caregiver mental health

Our annual education webinar series returns in March with a whole new lineup of topics!

Join the Division of Specialized Care for Children (DSCC) and learn more about key programs and services for Illinois families and caregivers from the comfort of your home.

These free sessions will take place on the second Tuesday of each month and are open to anyone who is interested.

Presenters will cover a different topic each month and answer your questions. Each presentation will be in English. A Spanish interpretation line will be available during each session.

Check out the topics, mark your calendars and register for each session you’re interested in attending.

The session descriptions are in English followed by Spanish:

You can also download a flyer with all the Family Education Webinar Series topics and registration links. (The flyer is also available in Spanish.)

Details about each series session are also posted on our Events page.

We began offering our free family webinars in response to questions and suggestions from our Family Advisory Council. The webinars are open to everyone.

If you miss a session, you can access the recordings and related materials on our Family Education Webinars page.

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

We hope you’ll join us!

Illinois Statewide Transition Conference Celebrates 20 Years of Empowering Youth on the Journey to Adulthood

February 4th, 2026

A family of three smiles together in the middle of a meeting room. The parents are on either side of their teenage daughter. She has a tie-dye shirt, colorful leggings, short hair, glasses and uses a wheelchair. She has a big smile and holds a thumbs-up.

About 400 youth, family members and professionals gained valuable information, resources and connections to help prepare for adulthood at the 2025 conference in Springfield 

The 2025 Illinois Statewide Transition Conference was more than just an informative event for 17-year-old attendee Aliyah.

The conference helped reframe how she thinks about her disability, her sense of self and what’s possible for her future.

 “I think the most important takeaway from this whole thing is just finding the courage to say, ‘Hey, this is me, and I’m not ashamed of it anymore,’” Aliyah said.

A DSCC team member hands out information at DSCC's booth at the Transition Conference Vendor Fair. A teenage DSCC participant and her father review the hand outs and take a promotional pen.
DSCC’s Integrated Program Support Specialist Courtney Kerfoot hands out informational booklets and fact sheets on the transition to adulthood for individuals with disabilities. She stands behind DSCC’s booth at the vendor fair while Aliyah and her dad receive a DSCC mop top pen.

Aliyah has cerebral palsy and is a Division of Specialized Care for Children (DSCC) participant. She loves art and being creative. She is also a Special Olympics athlete with three gold medals in track and two in bowling. Her dream is to be a daycare worker or babysitter.

Aliyah and her parents, Dawn and Steve, traveled from Carbondale to attend the 20th annual Illinois Statewide Transition Conference in Springfield. It took place Oct. 30-31, 2025, at the Crowne Plaza Hotel and Convention Center.

More than 400 people from across the state attended, including youth with disabilities, parents, caregivers, vocational professionals, healthcare professionals and more.

“The transition conference is really a way for professionals and families to get together to learn about all the areas of the transition to adulthood,” said Claire Cook, DSCC’s Title V Transition Specialist and co-chair of the transition conference’s steering committee.

“You learn from self-advocates and learn about independence, healthcare transition, guardianship and alternatives, education — all the different areas that you need to learn about as you become an adult.”

DSCC helps sponsor the conference and serves on its steering committee. We also provide financial support to help our participant families attend the conference.

“Don’t let your limits hold you back”

Aliyah and her parents were among 21 DSCC participant families who attended the 2025 conference. They took part in a busy schedule of presentations and workshops.

“Today’s been exhausting, but also exciting because it’s like my future and what the future holds for me,” Aliyah shared after the conference’s first day.

Before coming to the conference, Aliyah didn’t enjoy planning for the future.

“I was scared about it. I was scared of my future, and also, I didn’t want anything to change. I’m not good with change at all,” she said.

Keynote presenter Taylor Sweeting speaks into a microphone enthusiastically on the conference stage. An American Sign Language (ASL) interpreter signs next to him. The conference room is full with individuals sitting at dining tables.
Program Director for the Jacksonville Area Center for Independent Living, Taylor Sweeting, presents his keynote session, “Adaptability Pride: Adapting Your Disability Into Your Identity.”

“The first speaker we saw, (keynote presenter) Taylor (Sweeting), he relates a lot to me because he felt like he was an outsider and didn’t belong here, and he hated his disability, and I hated my disability for a long time. I didn’t want anything to do with it or even talk about it.”

By attending sessions with self-advocates and connecting with a strong community of other individuals with disabilities, Aliyah began to view her future in a new way.

“Honestly, I like to see people that are going through things I’m going (through), that people are just like me,” she said.

Now, Aliyah offers powerful advice to other teens and young adults with disabilities.

“Don’t let your limits hold you back. If you have a dream, don’t let your disability or whatever you have hold you back from your dream,” she said.

TaLeah is another DSCC participant with big dreams.

The 18-year-old from Kankakee, Ill., first attended the transition conference in 2024. Since then, TaLeah has achieved her goal of attending college and playing basketball. She’s now working hard to eventually play basketball professionally.

As a returning conference attendee, TaLeah recommends the conference to other young adults with disabilities.

“Any type of disability, you should come here because they give you a lot, a lot of information,” she said.

A teenage DSCC participant stands next to her mom for a posed photo in the interview meeting room.
TaLeah, 18, smiles next to her mom, Tamara.

“I was a little nervous at first. But I’m like, OK, you know what, I’m going to go ahead and check it out, see what’s going on. And then I felt like, OK, this conference can kind of help with information about disability. I feel good right now.”

TaLeah and her mom, Tamara, found out about the Transition Conference through DSCC.

TaLeah first enrolled with DSCC 16 years ago when she was diagnosed with hearing loss.

“We’ve been there since she was 2 or 3. I can’t believe all this time has gone by already. Throughout the years, they’ve been very supportive. They’ve been very helpful with medical expenses, equipment, appointments, resources. They can refer you here, refer you there. It’s very helpful,” said Tamara.

“Independent in her own space”

DSCC parent Todd attended the conference alone in 2023 and 2024. He and his wife, Michelle, said they were grateful they could both attend the 2025 event with their daughter, Taylor.

Taylor, 18, has Down syndrome and mild to moderate hearing loss. She loves art, taking care of animals, and most of all, her dog, Lulu.

A family of three smile in the conference dining area. A teenage DSCC participant stands in the middle. Her parents are on either side of her. Dining tables are in the background.
Taylor, 18, stands between her mom, Michelle, and dad, Todd, in the conference dining room.

“I would say that the past two years attending this conference, I gained so much information, I could have even benefited by going a year prior to that,” said Todd.

“It was a lot building up to her turning 18 that we felt like we had to get done, and I think we were able to get a lot of information. We set up an ABLE account. We obtained guardianship, applied for Social Security, and I think all of that we were able to do from the information and the knowledge that we got from this conference.”

Participating in the conference as a family helped them attend more sessions and gather twice as much information for Taylor. Now that Taylor has reached the age of adulthood, they have many hopes for what her next chapter will look like.

“The way that I see her future is Taylor independent in her own space with her own friends. Her days are meaningful, filled with doing what she loves, work or if that’s continued education. That’s the way that I see her future – happy, safe and living her best life,” said Michelle.

A powerful ripple effect

Michelle said she recommends the conference not only to other families but also to educators who teach youth with disabilities.

Keynote speaker Diana Braun speaks into a microphone on the conference stage. Two individuals sit next to her on stage. Diana raises her hand in the air to emphasize the point she is making.
Keynote speaker Diana Braun speaks into a microphone on the conference stage. Diana is a passionate disability rights advocate. She has served with distinction as a member of the Illinois Council on Developmental Disabilities, as president of People First of Illinois, and as a board member of The Arc of Illinois.

Conference Co-Chair Claire agreed that the transition conference offers a wealth of information for professionals that can have a powerful ripple effect.

“I really love the fact that these professionals can take it back to their communities and really spread it out to where they may have been the only one that attended, but hundreds of families learn from it,” Claire said 

DSCC Care Coordinator Gabrielle Paskevicz attended the 2025 conference for the first time. She said she wanted to strengthen her knowledge and gain resources to help her participant families better navigate the challenges involved with moving to adult systems.

“It’s always a learning experience. I don’t care if you’ve been a professional for one year or 25 years. There’s new information, and it’s always evolving, and it’s important for us as professionals to be up to date with everything that’s going on,” she said.

A conference room at the Transition Conference. A teenage DSCC participant who uses power wheelchair sits front row. He is surrounded by his family and peers. The presenter speaks directly to the audience with a passionate energy.
A presenter speaks to a room of young adults with disabilities, families and professionals at the 20th annual Illinois Statewide Transition Conference.

 “I am very thankful that I was able to talk with some doctors that are actually some of my current participants’ doctors and be able to talk as professionals and just let them know the barriers that I’m hearing from my families and how to communicate with them… and how can we work towards their goals and make their transition process easier.”

The 2026 Illinois Statewide Transition Conference will take place on Nov. 5-6, 2026, at the Sheraton Lisle Naperville Hotel in Lisle, Ill.

To learn more about how to support youth with special healthcare needs during the transition to adulthood, contact DSCC at (800) 322-3722 or dscc@uic.edu.

For more information about the transition conference, visit www.illinoistransitionconference.org/.

Learn more about the annual conference, including highlights from DSCC participants, families and team members, in the video below.

You can also check out our Facebook page to see a photo album with more photos from the 2025 transition conference.

Our 2026 Annual Family Survey Is Coming!

January 28th, 2026

The text "Your Feedback Matters" coming out of a megaphone icon

DSCC participant families, please be on the lookout for our annual family survey on Feb. 10.

Participant families, we want to hear from you!

Our annual family survey is coming soon, and your feedback helps us better support children, youth and families like yours. You’ll also have the chance to win a gift card. 

All Division of Specialized Care for Children (DSCC) participants will receive the survey starting Feb. 10. You’ll receive the survey by email or mail, based on your preferences.

Quick, Easy and a Chance to Win

  • The survey takes less than 10 minutes to complete. 
  • Filling it out is optional and will not affect your services. 
  • If you respond, you could win one of five $50 Amazon gift cards.*

The survey asks about your experiences with DSCC, including how well our team supports your family and meets your needs.

How Your Feedback Makes a Difference

Your voice leads to real change. This short video shares what families told us during last year’s survey and how we’re using that input to make improvements:

Based on family feedback from last year’s survey:

  • We are developing a customer service training for DSCC teams to strengthen our partnership with families. The training will focus on:
    • Communication
    • Teamwork
    • Sensitivity to the needs of children and youth with special healthcare needs
    • Response times
  • We are also expanding our education and resource efforts to help families feel more informed, connected and supported through proactive care coordination.

You can learn more about how we use family feedback on our Family Surveys page.

Please be on the lookout for our annual survey on Feb. 10.

If you have questions or need more information, please contact your Care Coordinator.

We appreciate your partnership and look forward to hearing from you!

*Please note: Foreign national nonresident aliens are not eligible for the gift card participation prize.

Create Holiday Magic with Inclusive Fun for Everyone!

November 21st, 2025

A DSCC participant family of four poses with Santa Claus in front of a festive holiday photo backdrop in DSCC's Mokena Regional Office

Celebrate the holidays with our list of inclusive, sensory-friendly events happening across Illinois.

The holiday season is a time for joy, connection and shared traditions. For individuals with sensory sensitivities, medical complexities and other disabilities, typical celebrations may not always feel comfortable or accessible.

Every family deserves the chance to enjoy the season in ways that support their children and loved ones’ needs and allow for meaningful moments together.

We’ve gathered a list of inclusive and sensory-friendly holiday events happening throughout Illinois. These activities can help you experience the magic of the season at a pace and environment that works best for your family.

There are sensitive Santa opportunities, Mr. and Mrs. Deaf Claus, light displays, low-sensory celebrations, accessible theater performances and other welcoming events for children and adults with special healthcare needs.

You can check out our Special Events page for the full roundup of activities. Just like Santa’s list, be sure to check it at least twice as we continue to add events!

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

Featured Events

Chicago and Northern Illinois

Check out WTTW’s list of holiday light displays and experiences. Kidlist also offers a huge list of Chicagoland drive-through and walk-through displays to help you get into the holiday spirit.

Other Chicagoland sensory-friendly activities include:

Central Illinois

Inclusive holiday parties are happening in central Illinois, such as:

For more ideas, check out Chambanamoms.com’s roundup of holiday season fun for families and Visit Springfield.

Southern Illinois

There are many hometown holiday parades, concerts and festivals throughout the area. You can check Southern Illinois Families (SI Families) and Southernmost Illinois for lists of events.

Inclusive activities include:

Have an Event to Share?

If you know of an inclusive or sensory-friendly event to include in our list, please email us at dscc@uic.edu.

Resources to Recharge

The hustle of the holiday season can feel overwhelming.

There are resources available if you need to step back and take a deep breath.

You can search our website for support groups and helpful webinars. On Dec. 11, the “How to Keep from Kicking Santa Claus – Tips for Managing Holiday Stress” webinar will feature practical tips for relieving stress, preventing meltdowns and strategies for creating your own fun.

Our Caregiver Mental Health Toolkit is also a great resource during the holidays and beyond.

Happy Holidays!

Honor National Family Caregivers Month by Caring for Yourself

November 12th, 2025

Caregiver Mental Health Toolkit graphic featuring a toolbox, a hand holding a heart and the Division of Specialized Care for Children logo

We’ve developed resources to help you support your mental health, reduce stress and connect with others who understand.

November is National Family Caregivers Month, a time to recognize and celebrate the incredible dedication of families caring for children and youth with special healthcare needs.

At the Division of Specialized Care for Children (DSCC), we know that caregiving can be both a rewarding and challenging journey.

As you care for others, it’s just as important to take care of your own mental health.

Find Support in Our Caregiver Mental Health Toolkit

Our Caregiver Mental Health Toolkit can help you find the support and strategies you need to recharge and stay well.

This online resource offers practical tips, self-care strategies and mental health resources to help you navigate the unique demands of caregiving while prioritizing your own health and well-being.

The Caregiver Mental Health Toolkit includes:

  • Stress management strategies and techniques to help you cope with tough times.
  • Self-care tips and practical ways to nurture your own physical, emotional and mental health.
  • Mental health support resources to connect you with professional help and support networks when needed.
  • Apps, online tools, videos and podcasts you can access anytime.

Explore the Caregiver Mental Health Toolkit

We created this toolkit with input from our Family Advisory Council, which shared the importance of mental health support for caregivers like you.

Whether you’re a parent caring for a child, a family member supporting a loved one or anyone in a caregiving role, we encourage you to explore this free resource.

Connect With a Fellow Caregiver for Support

One of the most powerful supports you can have is a connection with another parent who truly understands.

We have a Home Care Family Outreach Associate on our team who understands the unique challenges of caring for a loved one with complex medical conditions firsthand.

Our Home Care Family Outreach Associate works to create a community for caregivers within DSCC and offer heartfelt support, connection and empowerment.

You can ask your DSCC care coordination team to refer you to the HCFOA. You can also email a request to speak with the HCFOA at DSCC-FamilySupport@uic.edu.

Learn more about Erica Stearns, our current HCFOA, on our Home Care Family Outreach page and in the short video below:

Meet our Home Care Family Outreach Associate

Take a Break with Caregiver Coloring Sheets

We’ve also designed four coloring pages to help caregivers relax and take time to relieve stress and practice mindfulness.

There are four designs available in both English and Spanish:

These printable pages are a simple way to pause, relax and focus on yourself.

More Mental Health Resources and Support

You can find more mental health resources in our online Resource Directory.

Be sure to also follow our DSCC Facebook page and Instagram page for helpful reminders and tips throughout the rest of the month.

Your DSCC care coordination team is also here to support you. They can listen, help identify your needs and find available services and resources.

As the heart of your child’s care team, we celebrate you this month and always!

DSCC is on Instagram!

November 10th, 2025

Graphic announcing, "We're on Instagram!" There is confetti and @uicdscc is in bright yellow.

Join us as we grow our online community to share resources, family stories and more.

The Division of Specialized Care for Children (DSCC) is now on Instagram!

Follow @UICDSCC to stay connected and find:

  • Helpful resources and tips for navigating care and services
  • Family stories that celebrate our participants’ strength and unique experiences
  • Upcoming events and learning opportunities
  • Encouragement and inspiration from families and DSCC team members across the state

Follow @UICDSCC on Instagram

Our Instagram page is another way we’re working to keep you informed, supported and connected to the information and resources you need. 

We can’t wait to see you there! 

Update on Federal SNAP Benefits and Food Resources for Families

October 22nd, 2025

Canned food goods stacked together in multiple rows

DSCC can help our participant families find food pantries and other resources as the federal government shutdown continues.

UPDATED on Nov. 14, 2025 – The Illinois Department of Human Services says it’s working to distribute full Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits now that the federal government shutdown has ended.

IDHS expects the remaining benefit payments to be made over the coming days, with all SNAP recipients receiving their full November benefits by Nov. 20.

To check your Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) Card balance, visit IDHS: Illinois Link Card or call the Illinois Link Help Line at (800) 678-LINK (5456). 

SNAP recipients can still use their benefits left on cards from previous months.

Visit snapfederalimpact.illinois.gov for the most up-to-date information from IDHS and to find food in your community.

Resources for Where to Find Food

If your family is affected by this change or needs food support, there are many local and statewide resources available:

These resources can help families locate nearby food pantries, meal programs and other nutrition supports. You can also find more information about local food pantries and other resources in our online Resource Directory.

If you have questions or need more assistance, please contact your Division of Specialized Care for Children (DSCC) Care Coordinator. We are here to help!

Important Update About Our Phone Menu Options

October 6th, 2025

A close-up of dark-skinned hands holding a cell phone and touching the screen

Details about our updated phone menu to help families more quickly connect with our team

It’s important that you can reach the right team member whenever you need help or have questions.

We want to share our updated phone menu to help you more quickly connect with our staff.  

Our updated phone menu options are: 

  • Press 1 for Customer Service
  • Press 3 to Dial by Extension
  • Press 4 for Language Line

Please note: If you need to reach a staff member directly by their extension, you must first select option 3 (“Dial by Extension”).

Entering the extension at the start of your call will automatically connect you with our Customer Service team. Option 2 (the old Language Line) is no longer available.

We understand this change may be new and want to ensure you can get to the right person without any confusion. If you have questions or need assistance, our Customer Service team is happy to help explain these options when you call.

Our toll-free number, (800) 322-3722, remains the simplest and fastest way to reach anyone at DSCC. 

Saving our toll-free (800) number and updating your Care Coordinator’s extension number in your phone’s contact list can help:

  • Prevent you from mistaking our calls as spam, ensuring you receive important updates and support from your care coordination team 
  • Save time when you need to call us for assistance or have questions
  • Ensure smoother communication whenever you need support or would like to share feedback

You may also reach us electronically through our general dscc@uic.edu email address or our Contact Us or Request a Callback forms on our website.

Save Time With the DSCC Family Portal

Our DSCC Family Portal is also available to help you communicate and share information more easily with your care coordination team.

You can use the Family Portal to:

  • Send messages
  • Sign documents
  • View important letters
  • See a list of providers and much more

To help you get started, we’ve created several tip sheets and videos for how to use the Family Portal. You can find these resources on our website’s Family Portal page.

If you have trouble accessing the Family Portal or need other support, please email dsccexternalhelp@uic.edu. A designated DSCC staff person will help you as soon as possible.

We hope you’ll take advantage of this helpful tool!

Update on DSCC’s New Claims Processing System  

October 2nd, 2025

Healthcare billing statement with a calculator, stethoscope and pen

Find out what our participant families can expect as we continue to roll out CarePay, our new claims processing system

We want to share our progress as we implement a new claims system and explain what this change means for you. 

In May, the Division of Specialized Care for Children (DSCC) launched our new claims processing system called CarePay. We developed CarePay to offer faster and more efficient claims processing. 

We are continuing to work through the initial rollout and its related issues. Here is what our participant families can expect and need to know: 

For Core Program Families

As we move to CarePay, you may experience some temporary delays with our claims processing. It could take up to 30 days for us to pay a claim. 

If you or your child’s provider has been waiting for a claim payment for longer than 30 days, please contact us. We can verify that we have properly received your claim submission and investigate any issues.

If you have experienced a significant delay with a claims payment, please bring it to the attention of your care coordination team so we can help you. 

For Home Care Program Families

  • We are continuing to issue payments to nursing agencies at the updated 2025 rates. The rate increase received the necessary federal approvals in April, with an effective date of Jan. 1, 2025.
  • We continue to work with our claims system developers on a plan for issuing “top-off” payments for adjusted claims we received between January and when CarePay went live.
  • It is important for your nursing agency to double-check the accuracy of the claims it submits for reimbursement as we process these payments.

We understand that timely claims processing is important to you and your providers. We’re committed to resolving any issues as quickly as possible and ensuring you receive the support you need.

Thank you for your patience and partnership as we work through this transition.

If you have any questions or concerns, please don’t hesitate to contact us at (800) 322-3722. 

Seeking Teens and Young Adults for Our Youth Advisory Council

September 25th, 2025

A diverse group of four students, including a young woman in a wheelchair, gathered in a college library and enjoying discussion

The council is a great opportunity to share your voice and help improve transition support for youth across Illinois.

Calling all teens and young adults with special healthcare needs in Illinois!

Would you like to make a difference? Your voice can help shape programs and services for youth like you across the state.

We are looking for new members to join our Youth Advisory Council (YAC).

The YAC is an opportunity to share your feedback and help improve planning for the transition to adulthood. You can also strengthen your leadership skills and connect with other youth.

As a YAC member, you can:

  • Learn about and help improve how the transition to adulthood works for Illinois youth with special healthcare needs
  • Help us gain a better understanding of your and your peers’ transition needs
  • Give a voice to what matters most to you
  • Gain valuable leadership and advocacy experience
  • Expand your network

The council is open to all Illinois youth ages 15 to 24 with special healthcare needs.

You do not need to be a Division of Specialized Care for Children (DSCC) participant to join.

How to Join and Learn More

Members must complete an online application to join. (The application is also available in Spanish.)

Visit our Youth Advisory Council page for more information and answers to frequently asked questions.

You can also see the YAC flyer for more details:

If you have questions, please contact Claire Cook, DSCC’s Title V Program Transition Specialist, at clairer3@uic.edu or (800) 322-3722, ext. 21812.

Your perspective matters!