Resources

Resources

  • General disability information and laws
  • For parents of children with disabilities
  • Products and services for individuals with developmental disabilities
  • Websites about specific types of disabilities
  • Primary and secondary (federal and local) public education resources
  • State and local programs and services
  • Local mental health boards
  • Information referral, and advocacy organizations
  • Academic/Research Institutions and Information
  • State budget information

General disability information and laws

Oak Park Township COVID Guide
COVID19 Social Services Resource Guide

American With Disabilities Act
Information and technical assistance on the American with Developmental Disabilities Act.


The Arc of Illinois
The Arc of Illinois is a state-wide advocacy organization, committed to empowering persons with disabilities to achieve full participation in community life.

The Arc of the United States
The Arc is the world’s largest community based organization of and for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

Understanding PUNS
A guide to prioritization for urgency of need for services from the State of Illinois Department of Human Services.

They Deserve More Campaign
A statewide coalition of families and friends of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, nonprofit community providers, advocacy organizations and more.

Parents with children with disabilities

Community Resources and Activities
A high school service directory from the Cicero Community Collaborative.
Exceptional Parent Magazine
A publication for parents and families of children with special needs.

La Grange Rotary                            

The Rotary Club of La Grange, Illinois wanted to help local nonprofits communicate and advertise the critical social services that they offer to residents of the Lyons Township Community. With this goal in mind, they joined forces with the local video production company Motion Source, as well as over a dozen nonprofits. The purpose of this webpage is to provide all interested parties with access to the video resources that were created.

Sleep Guide For Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder
While Autism Spectrum Disorder in kids creates many challenges, both personal and social, it can also affect one’s sleep. In fact, sleep issues are the most common for autism patients, children and adults alike.

Parents Helping Parents
Guidance, supports, and services for families of children with any special need.
Positive Parenting DuPage
A great resource for families in DuPage County, Illinois.


Products and services for individuals with developmental disabilities

ABLE DATA
ABLEDATA provides objective information about assistive technology products and rehabilitation equipment available from domestic and international sources.

JJ’s List
JJ’s List is a website that reviews local products and services for individuals with disabilities.

West Suburban Special Recreation Association
The West Suburban Special Recreation Association (WSSRA) is a part of your local park district or village recreation program. WSSRA provides recreation programs for adults and children who have a physical impairment, a mental disability, or any other type of disability.

Sleep Help
A site devoted to spreading awareness of sleep health and wellness and a resource specifically for helping children and adults with autism to get better sleep.

Websites about specific types of disabilities

4MyChild
A resource related to caring for a child with Cerebral Palsy and other neurological injuries.

Adults with Autism
This film releases, for the first time, the remarkable archival footage of the adults progressing from childhood through adulthood.

Autism Speaks
Autism Speaks is an autism advocacy organization in the United States that sponsors autism research and conducts awareness and outreach activities aimed at families, governments, and the public

Autism Society of Illinois
A resource for Illinois parents of children with autism and autism spectrum disorders.

ADHD
Healthy Children
Resources from the American Academy of Pediatrics

National Association for Down syndrome
The site of the oldest organization in the country serving individuals with Down syndrome and their families.

National Down Syndrome Society
A resource of Down syndrome education, research and advocacy.


United Cerebral Palsy
United Cerebral Palsy is a leading source of information on cerebral palsy and is an advocate for the rights of persons with any disability.

Cerebral Palsy Guide
The people working behind the scenes on the Cerebral Palsy Guide have strived to create an easy-to-use, informative website that provides solutions for families.

Cerebral Palsy Guidance
Learning that your baby or child has cerebral palsy can be devastating news. However, by educating yourself on the disorder, including treatment options and how to help manage your child’s disorder, your child can still live a productive life.

The Sensory Processing Disorder Network

Cerebral Palsy Group
An online resource for anyone who has been affected by cerebral palsy, brain injuries, or birth injuries.

Sibling Leadership Network
The SLN is a national nonprofit dedicated to providing support and information to siblings of people with disabilities.

Primary and secondary (federal and local) public education resources

Children and Family Connections
This site, hosted by Western Illinois University, provides information on the regional intake agencies for children and families to enter the Illinois Early Intervention System.

Education Resources
Resource for scholarship information for Individuals with I/DD.

U.S. Department of Education
The U.S. Department of Education provides information about The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) – a law ensuring services to children with disabilities.

Illinois Early Intervention System
The State of Illinois’ Early Intervention System web pages have information about early intervention services for children with developmental disabilities.

LaGrange Area Department of Special Education
(L.A.D.S.E.)

School Association for Special Education in DuPage County
(S.A.S.E.D.)

Wrights Law
A resource where parents, educators, advocates, and attorneys come to research special education law, education law, and advocacy for children with disabilities.

College Accessibility for Students with Disabilities: Scholarships and Financial Aid
A resource on information on scholarships and financial aid available to students with disabilities.

College for Students with Disabilities: A Guide for Students, Families, and Educators
A helpful “Frequently Asked Questions” (FAQ) to give you an idea of what to expect as you research your options.

State and local programs and services

Illinois Department of Human Services
Information on State of Illinois services for individuals with developmental disabilities


Illinois Department of Rehabilitative Services
Adult services for employment, education, and independent living.

SPRED (Special Religious Ed)
Information on the efforts the Catholic Church to provide religious education with individuals with special needs.

Local Mental Health Boards

Association of Community Mental Health Authorities of Illinois
Association of Community Mental Health Authorities includes links to list of Townships with local governing bodies for Mental Health

Information referral, and advocacy organizations

Illinois Life Span Project
Statewide Information Resource & Referral for Advocacy & Services for People with Developmental Disabilities.

IllinoisParents.org
A site that links parents directly to local programs, services, and community agencies and to help parents find information on raising and educating their children.
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Oak Park Network of Care
A website that provides information about behavioral health services, laws, and related news concerning local resources for behavioural health.

Academic/Research Institutions and Information

Cord Blood Banking
Learning more about cord blood, and the science behind stem cell transplants, can help parents decide if storing their child’s leftover umbilical cord cells is the right option for their family.

Cord Blood Guide
Offers a free downloadable guide as well as user friendly content relating to cord blood and how cord blood banking works.

Institute on Disability and Human Development
A very informative website from IDHD in the Department of Disability and Human Development, University of Illinois at Chicago.

State budget Information

DSP Hiring Crisis
A Chicago Sun Times article about the difficulty of hiring Direct Support Professionals.

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