Disability Support Information Resources
Enhance Learning
At STAR NET, we believe that access to high-quality resources empowers educators, caregivers, and families to support young children in reaching their fullest potential. Search our Recommended Resources for more.
Family to Family Health Information and Education Center
A program of the Arc of Illinois, Family to Family is a free service to assist families of children with special health care needs with questions about health care and services, navigating Medicaid, Medicare and insurance for individuals with disabilities.
Gigi’s Playhouse Down Syndrome Achievement Center
Works to change the way the world views Down syndrome through national campaigns, educational programs, and by empowering individuals with Down syndrome, their families and the community. Free therapeutic and educational programming for individuals with Down syndrome and their families. Local locations.
Glenkirk – Respite Care
Glenkirk’s Respite Program provides short-term, intermittent care for children and adults with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities within their family home setting.
Illinois Assistive Technology Program (IATP)
IATP promotes the availability of assistive technology services and programs for Illinois residents with disabilities and/or health conditions. IATP focuses on education, employment, community living, information technology and telecommunications. Their goal is to improve the quality of life of all Illinoisans with disabilities and enable them through greater access to assistive technology devices to fully participate in all aspects of life.
IATP provides free information and assistance on assistive technology and other related disability and aging topics, including seeing and trying devices, recycling and reusing devices, and provides training on AT and Information and Communication Technology Accessibility.
Illinois Council on Developmental Disabilities (ICDD)
The Illinois Council on Developmental Disabilities (ICDD) was created under a federal mandate in 1974 as an amendment to the Developmental Disabilities Assistance and Bill of Rights Act (DD Act), and is administered by the federal Administration of Developmental Disabilities. ICDD works to promote the independence, productivity, integration, and inclusion of those with disabilities into the community, ensuring that those individuals with developmental disabilities have the same opportunities as others in the community. Moreover, the purpose of ICDD is to ensure that people with developmental disabilities participate and be included in everyday life, and be able to choose the services and supports that best fit their needs. To accomplish this, ICDD makes investments in people and organizations that serve people with disabilities throughout the State of Illinois.
Illinois Department of Human Services (IDHS)
IDHS’ Division of Developmental Disabilities provides services and supports for individuals with developmental disabilities and their families. The PUNS (Prioritization for Urgency of Need for Services) statewide database records information about individuals with developmental disabilities who are potentially in need of services. In Illinois, enrolling in PUNS is the first step to the individual receiving state funded disability services outside the educational setting. See Understanding PUNS (DHS 4313): A Guide to PUNS. Enter PUNS in the search box for a related list of documents in English and Spanish.
Illinois Division of Early Childhood (IDEC)
Illinois Subdivision of the Division for Early Childhood of the Council for Exceptional Children, a nonprofit organization advocating for individuals who work with or on behalf of children with special needs, birth through age eight, and their families.
Illinois Early Intervention Clearinghouse
This website for early intervention families and professionals provides a wealth of information on early intervention services in Illinois, tip sheets, a newsletter, Illinois EI program guide, lending library, blog and many other resources. The website is viewable in Spanish.