Resources for families in need of disability services
One of the blessings of the Internet is that you can find information on just about anything. One of the curses is that there is so much information that it can leave you dizzy trying to sort through it all. Layer that with the task of searching for accurate information having to do with the disability system, and it could leave you more confused than when you started.
Wouldn’t it be helpful to have practical, useful resources at your fingertips? Well, there are two websites that are worth sharing. Both have completely different content, but families may find them equally valuable.
The first is a hub of resources dealing with advocacy and support services that might be needed throughout a person’s lifetime. The Illinois Life Span, a project of The Arc of Illinois, provides information for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities and their families. Their website, www.illinoislifespan.org, is a database of resources searchable by service type, provider type and agency name. You can find information and links on child services, the PUNS system, respite services, medical providers and more.
“The disability system in our state is kind of complex and things change constantly,” says Deb Fornoff, acting director of Illinois Life Span. “We help direct people to resources they will need no matter where they are in the life process.”
For instance, if you have a school-age child, their special education team may provide many of the services you need. But if you have a young child or one who is transitioning out of the school system, the Illinois Life Span site can be a first stop offering direction on a variety of service providers you may need at either of the aforementioned points in life.
“Parents need a resource that will start them in the right direction,” says Fornoff. “They may still have to do a little more investigating and make some phone calls, but this is a great place to get started.” The website compartmentalizes resources and includes an overview of each agency with direct links, addresses, phone numbers and even maps.
There are several features of particular interest. One feature that will save you time is the county search. Although resources are listed for the entire state of Illinois, there is the ability to search by county so you can find providers close to home. Another feature is an events calendar, which includes trainings, presentations and conferences across the state. There is also a links section that provides access to national, state and regional resources.
For more information, please visit the Illinois Life Span website at www.illinoislifespan.org or contact Illinois Life Span at (800) 588-7002. A resource specialist who speaks Spanish is available.
Another site that might be of interest to parents and educators is www.oneplaceforspecialneeds.com. This is a labor of love by Dawn Villarreal, a mom of two children with special needs who has a desire to help other families with special needs children. The site is a national disability resource for sources and events both local and online.
“There is so much information out there that it can be confusing,” says Villarreal. “I decided to find the most relevant information and make it available. If I can save families the time it takes for them to search out this information themselves, they can get back to the business of raising their families.”
According to Villarreal, this is the website she wishes was available when she needed to find information for her two children.
Families will find information, tips, links and video resources on things that will help on a daily basis. One of the most clicked through sections is the online resources. This is the real gem of the site. Here you can find links to topics like toilet training, traveling, social stories and popular apps. For example, under the Autism heading some of the topics include explaining Autism to others, traveling with a child with Autism and even Autism and driving. Under the Life Skills heading, there are resources on cooking, dressing and money management.
There are also monthly articles. This month’s features include a social story on trick or treating, so you can help prepare your child for Halloween, resources and videos on Halloween safety tips and resources on how to teach tying shoes.
Both websites contain an enormous amount of information. Perhaps the best way to get started is by looking around the sites, clicking through to see what kind of information is available and getting familiar with their formats. Though both websites are vastly different in content, they both can be a terrific resource for families.
Ÿ Sherry Manschot is the marketing/public relations manager at Western DuPage Special Recreation Association. She leads a parent network of special needs families at WDSRA and can be contacted at sherrym@wdsra.com. More information on WDSRA can be found at wdsra.com.