Medical/Health and Wellness Resources
“Camp Free to Be” Day Camp in Peoria
The Heart of Illinois Special Recreation Association’s (HISRA) “Camp Free to Be” is for children with multiple and/or severe disabilities ages 4 to 21. This day camp runs Monday through Friday, providing eight weeks of fun and exciting activities.
Camp Free to Be matches campers with staff members to ensure their success and can also accommodate a 1:1 ratio. A typical camp day runs from 8:30 am. to 4 p.m. Registration usually opens in February and closes on May 1.
The Heart of Illinois Special Recreation Association (HISRA) is a cooperative extension of the Chilicothe, Morton, Peoria and Washington park districts to provide quality recreation programming and inclusion services.
The Funeral Service Foundation’s “Youth and Funerals” page provides free ebooks, printed booklets and webinars to help families discuss death and funerals with youth. The information can help families understand the role funerals play in the lives of children and youth, and how including youth in remembering loved ones can be healing and empowering.
Materials in English and Spanish include:
- Age-appropriate language and advice on discussing death and funerals with youth
- Suggestions for preparing and involving youth in remembering or memorializing a loved one
Adaptive Adventures Recreation Opportunities
Adaptive Adventures focuses on providing children, adults and veterans with physical disabilities the opportunity to achieve greater independence in outdoor sports while experiencing camaraderie and the benefits of recreation and adventure. Their ongoing programs, camps and clinics include cycling, climbing, kayaking, paddle boarding, dragon boat racing, skiing, snowboarding, waterskiing, wakeboarding and rafting.
Adaptive Adventures travels the country to provide direct program services. Programming is offered to participants and their families free of charge or significantly subsidized. Adaptive Adventures believes cost should never be a barrier to someone’s participation in quality outdoor adaptive sports opportunities.
Visit the Adaptive Adventures website for information about programs and events in Illinois.
Adoptive Families
Adoptive Families is an award-winning web resource for parents raising children through adoption. It offers thousands of articles through its searchable Adoption Parenting Library, as well as helpful tip sheets featuring expert guidance, personal stories, parent-to-parent interaction and more.
Adventures Unlimited in the Chicagoland Area
Adventures Unlimited is a free, state-funded respite program in Illinois that provides programming and events for participants with intellectual and developmental disabilities and respite to caregivers.
Adventures Unlimited offers two-hour recreation opportunities and events focusing on fitness, art, media training and food preparation for adults and children as young as 4 years old.
To be eligible for Adventures Unlimited, individuals must have a documented developmental disability. They must also not be enrolled in any other Medicaid waiver program.
American Foundation for the Blind
The American Foundation for the Blind (AFB) offers information and resources for children and adults who are blind or visually impaired. AFB resources include:
- Research and initiatives
- Publications
- Digital inclusion and talent lab internships and apprenticeships
- Braille and technology resources
American Society for Deaf Children / Sociedad Americana para Niños Sordos
The American Society for Deaf Children (ASDC) is a national, non-profit organization providing support, encouragement and information to families raising children who are deaf or hard of hearing.
ASDC offers deaf mentors and online American Sign Language (ASL) classes for beginner, intermediate and advanced levels. To help support language development, families and providers can also access ASL stories to watch and read together. Resources are available in English and Spanish.
American Youth Soccer Organization VIP Program
The American Youth Soccer Organization Very Important Players (AYSO VIP) Program provides a quality soccer experience for children and adults whose physical or mental disabilities make it difficult to successfully participate on mainstream teams.
AMBUCS is a non-profit organization that makes and gives away therapeutic tricycles called Amtrykes. For parents, the Amtryke fills the need of every child to have a bike—just like their siblings and friends. Many riders not previously considered capable of riding a bike will be successful riding an Amtryke. Amtrykes are designed to look like bikes, not medical equipment, and to be age-appropriate.
Information about how to either purchase or request a donated Amtryke, visit https://ambucs.org/riders/parents/.
Arab American Action Network (AAAN)
The Arab American Action Network (AAAN) is a grassroots nonprofit on the southwest side of Chicago.The AAAN combines social services with organizing and advocacy to promote social change. AAAN services include:
- Children’s after-school program and summer camp
- Cultural outreach presentations for schools, faith institutions, corporations and other community organizations
- Family empowerment program offering biweekly citizenship classes, English classes and family literacy and parenting skills program
- Youth leadership program