Resource Directory /

Education Resources

  • Early Intervention-Illinois Department of Human Services

    Illinois’ Early Intervention Service System serves children less than 36 months of age with disabilities or developmental delays, or who are at risk of substantial delays.

  • Easterseals Central Illinois

    Easterseals Central Illinois offers programs and support for individuals with developmental delays, disabilities and autism from birth through age 21. Resources include physical and occupational therapy, speech services, feeding therapy, autism evaluations and supports, education services, camp and recreation programs, and more.

    Easterseals Central Illinois provides services in McLean, Peoria, Tazewell, and Woodford counties. It also manages Child and Family Connections for Peoria and Champaign counties. For more information and help navigating their services, see the Parent Handbook.

    You can contact Easterseals Central Illinois through its website or call (309) 686-1177.

  • Easterseals Serving Chicagoland and Greater Rockford

    Easterseals Serving Chicagoland and Greater Rockford offers community-based, comprehensive services and supports to individuals in the city of Chicago, surrounding suburban Cook County, and the Rockford area. Programs focusing on early learning and disability services include autism services and supports, diagnostic services, early intervention and education programs, teen and young parent services, respite care, employment opportunities, and additional support services.

    Easterseals Serving Chicagoland and Greater Rockford services and programs include:

    For more information, visit the Easterseals Serving Chicagoland and Greater Rockford’s website contact page.

  • El Valor

    El Valor is a non-profit, community-based organization serving children, people with disabilities and their families in the Chicagoland area. El Valor offers education programs focusing on early education, inclusion, employment and self-sufficiency for individuals of all ages with different abilities.

    It also provides families a variety of enrichment opportunities including certification classes, first aid, parenting seminars and family support groups. Services are available in English and Spanish.

  • Elmhurst Learning and Success Academy (ELSA)

    Elmhurst Learning and Success Academy (ELSA) is a four-year, post-secondary certificate program for young adults aged 18-28 with disabilities. Elsa students can live on campus or commute and participate in on-campus activities alongside their degree-seeking peers.

    If you have any questions, please call (630) 617-3752 or email elsa@elmhurst.edu.

  • EngineerGirl

    EngineerGirl focuses on diversity of thought and the many opportunities engineering represents for girls and women. The EngineerGirl website includes inspiration, information about women engineers and their achievements, “Try This” design challenges, a writing contest, summer study programs for high school students and more. EngineerGirl offers girls interested in problem-solving and engineering.

    Visit its website for information about engineering scholarships and the EngineeringGirl annual writing contest.

  • ERIC: Education Resources Information Center

    ERIC is an online library of education research and information, sponsored by the Institute of Education Sciences of the U.S. Department of Education.

  • Exceptional Learners Collaborative

    The Exceptional Learners’ Collaborative (ELC) is a special education cooperative and joint agreement between four school districts in Vernon Hills (Lake County), Ill. The ELC provides services to students with special needs, ages 3 through 22. Its website offers information and resources on transition, employment, housing, mental health, parent advocacy and empowerment, the One Community parent-to-parent support group and more.

    ELC provides services and support in communities that include Buffalo Grove, Kildeer, Long Grove, Lincolnshire, Riverwoods, Prairie View, Hawthorn Woods, Vernon Hills, Mundelein, Lake Zurich, Mettawa, Fox Lake and Spring Grove.

  • Family Resource Center on Disabilities (FRCD)

    The Family Resource Center on Disabilities (FRCD) serves Cook, DuPage, Grundy, Kane, Kendall, Lake, McHenry and Will counties. The FRCD can help you learn about your rights and responsibilities under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), make informed decisions about your child’s individualized education program (IEP), obtain appropriate services for your child, communicate more effectively with school professionals and more.

    You can contact the FRCD at (312) 939-3513 or info@frcd.org.

  • FAQ on New Special Education Laws for Students Who Turn 22

    In July 2021, House Bill 40 and House Bill 2748 became law, allowing Illinois special education students to continue attending school through the end of the school year in which they turn 22. The package also allows special needs students who recently turned 22 and were impacted by COVID-19 to remain eligible for educational services up to the end of the regular 2021-22 school year.

    The Illinois State Board of Education has put together a frequently-asked-questions document on the new laws (Public Act 102-0172 and Public Act 102-0173).

    A press release summarizing the legislation is also available on Illinois.gov.