Health Condition and Disability-Specific Resources
Sign Language Interpreter Directory
The Illinois Deaf and Hard of Hearing Commission maintains a directory of sign language interpreters. You can search the directory by an interpreter’s name or by region/county.
Signed By Stories aims to raise mental health awareness, advocacy, education and support for individuals who are deaf, hard of hearing, deaf-blind, late-deafened and deaf-disabled through storytelling.
Signed By Stories is working to create a community where deaf and hard-of-hearing people can:
- Join together and share their mental health stories
- Receive validation for their experiences
- Learn how to better support their own and the larger community’s mental health needs
- Have a platform where both deaf and hearing people have the knowledge, tools and feel empowered to take action to improve the current state of mental health care for deaf people
Sleep Help for Individuals With ASD
Autism Speaks offers parents helpful tips for establishing good sleep hygiene and tool kits targeting sleep strategies for children, teens and adults on the spectrum.
Southern Illinois University Center for Autism Spectrum Disorders in Carbondale
The Center for Autism Spectrum Disorders (CASD) at Southern Illinois University is an interprofessional training and research center providing information and services to area residents with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and their families. CASD offers ASD screenings, clinical services for children, adolescents and adults, webinars and support.
CASD faculty and students provide a variety of training and services, many at no cost to families and their children. Help is available in the following areas:
- Speech/language
- Social skills
- Emotional-behavioral concerns
- Toileting
- Sleep
- Picky eating and more
For more information, call (618) 453-7130 or email autism@siu.edu.
Spanish Language Resources for Families & Children Who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing
Hands & Voices (Manos y Voces): Unbiased parent-to-parent support and Spanish-language resources for families and children who are Deaf or hard of hearing.
American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (La Asociación del Habla, Lenguaje y Audición): The organization provides Spanish-language information for the public and families with children who are deaf or hard of hearing.
Gallaudet University (Resources for Hispanic Deaf and Hard of Hearing Population): Resources providing contacts, publishers/distributors, and online links to assist Spanish-speaking individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing.
Special Camps Overnight Camps for Children, Youth and Adults with Developmental Disabilities
Special Camps provide opportunities for children and adults with intellectual disabilities to experience overnight camp. Special Camps are volunteer-run and offer trained staff and 24-hour nursing for children and adults with disabilities who could not otherwise attend a similar camp due to physical, medical or developmental needs. Financial scholarships are available to campers in need.
Campers can make friends, increase independence and try new activities. Special Camps take place each year at Camp Red Leaf in Ingleside.
Camp registration typically opens in early February. For questions, please contact Colleen McDonald at (630) 690-0944 or colleen.scamps@icloud.com.
Swann Special Care Center is a non-profit organization located in Champaign that offers residential and educational programs for people with severe and profound intellectual disabilities. Its programs serve residents from throughout Illinois and include residential nursing care, adult day training and an accredited year-round school. Swann Special Care Center also offers:
- Restorative and long-term habilitation
- Palliative and end-of-life care
- Evaluation on an individual and ongoing basis
- Physical, occupational and speech therapies
Swift Outdoor Accessible Recreation (S.O.A.R.) Foundation
The Swift Outdoor Accessible Recreation (S.O.A.R.) Foundation provides an individual adaptive equipment grant for spinal cord injury survivors with paraplegia and quadriplegia.
The grant is open to individuals of all ages and covers specific modifications or equipment needs that will help get you outdoors. Eligible items include:
- Wheelchair outdoor tires and attachments
- Vehicle modifications (i.e., hand controls or lifts)
- Exercise (FES Bike, Standing Frame) or recreational equipment
- Small home modifications (including a ramp)
Applicants must reside in the United States. They also must demonstrate financial need and may be required to provide documentation.
The Organization for Understanding Congenital Hearts (T.O.U.C.H.) provides support and information to empower families, children, youth and adults with congenital heart defects.
For additional information, contact touchhearts365@gmail.com
TDI for Access Communication Access Scholarship Program
TDI for Access’ annual Communication Access Scholarship Program recognizes graduating high school students who are deaf, hard of hearing, late-deafened, and deafblind (DHH). The scholarship program is open to graduating DHH high school seniors anywhere in the United States who plan to attend post-secondary school at either a technical college or university.
The scholarship recognizes students for their passion and capacity to lead and serve as well as their commitment to making a significant impact on accessible communication technologies. The application window is from March to May every year.