Education Resources
School Meetings for Children and Preteens: Skills Tips
School Meetings for Children: (English) (Spanish)
School Meetings for Preteens: (English) (Spanish)
Sertoma Organization for People Affected by Hearing Loss
Sertoma provides information and support to people at risk of or affected by hearing loss. National and local chapters across the United States support hearing health through a variety of programs and activities. Sertoma services include annual scholarships, access to amplified hearing devices, teen and college-level service programs, the “Adopt-an-Agency” program and more.
Sertoma offers two scholarship programs:
- The Scholarship for the Hard of Hearing or Deaf is open to students with clinically significant bilateral hearing loss. Graduating high school students or undergraduate students pursuing four-year college degrees in any discipline are eligible for the scholarship.
- The Communicative Disorders Scholarship is for graduate students pursuing advanced degrees in audiology or speech-language pathology from institutions in the United States. The program awards these scholarships in the spring to help offset the cost of tuition, books and fees incurred during the following school year.
See Sertoma’s website for eligibility requirements. The program accepts applications between Nov. 1 and March 31 each year.
Sertoma Star Services in Illinois
Sertoma Star Services (SRS) is a not-for-profit community organization dedicated to challenging the limits and changing the lives of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities and mental illness in the Chicagoland and Northwest Indiana areas. Services include vocational, educational, therapeutic, recreational and residential programs.
Sertoma Star Services programs include:
- Special recreation services for children, teens and adults
- Community living and home-based services
- Life skills enrichment program for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities
- Janitorial and e-recycling vocational training and long-term job opportunities for adults
Offers three-year post-secondary educational programs for students with intellectual disabilities. Programs include general education for independence, culinary arts, and horticulture.
1805 15th Avenue
Union Grove, WI 53182-1597
(262) 878-5620
info@shepherdscollege.eduSpecial Connections of Grundy County
Special Connections of Grundy County promotes inclusion, self-determination and learning for people with disabilities in Grundy County. Programs include a wide range of Special Olympics athletics, arts and crafts, movies, games, picnics, parties, dances and family support throughout the year.
Special Education and Inclusion in Early Care and Education
The Illinois Early Learning Project provides this Special Education and Inclusion in Early Care and Education resource list for early childhood special education and inclusive childcare for children ages 3 to 5 years old. The resources include tip sheets on choosing child care for infants and toddlers, choosing a preschool, inclusion in preschool classrooms and special education assessment for preschool-aged children.
Special Education Assessment Tip Sheet and Resource List
Family members and early care and education providers are adults who notice when the children in their care may have disabilities or developmental delays and would benefit from special education services.
The Illinois Early Learning Project’s Special Education Assessment tip sheet series is a helpful tool for learning more about the steps in that process. The IEL also provides an Assessment for Special Education resource list.
Equip for Equality has a toll-free Special Education Helpline to help families get appropriate education services for their children. The Helpline can assist by providing:
Someone to talk to about your questions and concerns
Information sheets on frequently asked questions
Sample letters and forms
Referrals
Other assistance as neededContact the Helpline at 1-866-KIDS-046 (1-866-543-7046) or specialed@equipforequality.org.
STAR NET Region VI
STAR NET Region VI is part of the Illinois STAR NET system and is supported through a grant from the Illinois State Board of Education in cooperation with Southwest Cooperative. STAR NET provides training, consultation and resources to the early childhood community.
The STAR NET system assists the State Board of Education in meeting local needs by providing services to professionals and parents of young children with special needs throughout Illinois.
STAR NET Region VI serves South Cook, Kane, Kendall, Kankakee, LaSalle, Will and Grundy counties.
STAR NET Region VI
6020 W. 151st Street
Oak Forest, Il 60452
Phone: (708) 342-5370
Fax: (708) 687-2247
email: starnet6vi@gmail.comSTARNET
Illinois STARNET provides a variety of opportunities for personal and professional growth for those who touch the lives of young children, ages birth through eight, with an emphasis on children with special needs. STARNET supports family-centered, researched, and effective practices in early childhood education and care.