Resource Directory /

Education Resources

  • School Board Meeting Toolkit for People With Disabilities

    School boards make many decisions that affect students. These decisions can significantly affect students with disabilities and special healthcare needs. The Center for Dignity in Healthcare for People with Disabilities provides a School Board Meeting Toolkit with resources and tips to help families advocate with and to school boards.

  • School Help for Homeless Children with Disabilities: Information for Parents

    The National Center for Homeless Education at SERVE (Supporting the Eduction of Children and Youth Experiencing Homelessness) provides this information for families experiencing homelessness who have children with special needs.

    This brief discusses common concerns and offers resources for additional assistance.

  • Shepherd’s College

    Offers three-year post-secondary educational programs for students with intellectual disabilities. Programs include general education for independence, culinary arts, and horticulture.

    1805 15th Avenue
    Union Grove, WI 53182-1597
    (262) 878-5620
    info@shepherdscollege.edu

  • Special Education Assessment Tip Sheet and Resource List

    Family members and early care and education providers are adults who notice when the children in their care may have disabilities or developmental delays and would benefit from special education services.

    The Illinois Early Learning Project’s Special Education Assessment tip sheet series is a helpful tool for learning more about the steps in that process. The IEL also provides an Assessment for Special Education resource list.

  • Special Education Helpline

    Equip for Equality has a toll-free Special Education Helpline to help families get appropriate education services for their children. The Helpline can assist by providing:

    • Someone to talk to about your questions and concerns
    • Information sheets on frequently asked questions
    • Sample letters and forms
    • Referrals
    • Other assistance as needed

    Contact the Helpline at 1-866-KIDS-046 (1-866-543-7046) or specialed@equipforequality.org.

  • STAR NET Region VI

    STAR NET Region VI is part of the Illinois STAR NET system and is supported through a grant from the Illinois State Board of Education in cooperation with Southwest Cooperative. STAR NET provides training, consultation and resources to the early childhood community.

    The STAR NET system assists the State Board of Education in meeting local needs by providing services to professionals and parents of young children with special needs throughout Illinois.

    STAR NET Region VI serves South Cook, Kane, Kendall, Kankakee, LaSalle, Will and  Grundy counties.

    STAR NET Region VI
    6020 W. 151st Street
    Oak Forest, Il  60452
    Phone:  (708) 342-5370
    Fax: (708) 687-2247
    email: starnet6vi@gmail.com

  • STARNET

    Illinois STARNET provides a variety of opportunities for personal and professional growth for those who touch the lives of young children, ages birth through eight, with an emphasis on children with special needs. STARNET supports family-centered, researched, and effective practices in early childhood education and care.

  • STARNET Region II

    Illinois STARNET provides a variety of opportunities for personal and professional growth for those who touch the lives of young children, ages birth through eight, with an emphasis on children with special needs. STARNET supports family-centered, researched, and effective practices in early childhood education and care.

    STARNET
    2626 S. Clearbrook Dr.
    Arlington Heights, IL 60005-4626
    Phone 224-366-8579
    Fax 847-278-5434
    Email: starnet@cps.edu

  • Supporting Children With Limited Verbal Skills Tip Sheet

    This Supporting Children With Limited Verbal Skills tip sheet from the Illinois Early Learning Project provides strategies that are helpful to all children but are particularly helpful for those with limited verbal skills.

    IEL offers a wide variety of one-page, easy-to-read tip sheets covering a wide range of topics for parents and teachers of young children.

    All tipsheets are available in Spanish and English. Selected tipsheets are available in Polish, Korean, Chinese, Arabic, Russian and French.

  • Swann Center in Champaign

    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