Financial Assistance and Grant Programs Resources
DSCC’s Travel Safety Tip Sheet
The Division of Specialized Care for Children (DSCC) created this tip sheet for youth with special healthcare needs and their families to encourage travel safety. The tip sheet also provides information about adaptive driver programs and possible resources for vehicle adaptations.
The Dysphagia Outreach Project is a nonprofit organization that provides assistance for individuals with swallowing disorders across the lifespan.
The Dysphagia Outreach Project’s Dysphagia Food Bank aims to provide tangible assistance to low-income individuals with dysphagia across the lifespan by providing access to thickeners, pre-modified foods, therapy tools, oral care supplies and adaptive equipment.
El Mercadito (Nourishing Hope)
El Mercadito is a partnership between La Casa Norte and Nourishing Hope. This partnership provides Chicago residents fresh food, benefits assistance, job search training, mental health counseling, and access to housing information and referral services. Assistance is available in multiple languages.
Nourishing Hope also offers a free, monthly Online Market service where individuals can:
- Place a grocery order using any computer or smartphone
- Order frozen meats, canned goods, cereal, milk, eggs, and fresh produce each month
- Pick up from the warehouse, The Hub or Sheridan Market
- Skip waiting in line
- Continue access to the physical pantry/market
Election Engagement Hub for Individuals with Disabilities
The American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD) has an Election Engagement Hub that provides information and tools for disabled voters to engage as meaningfully as possible in their state, local and federal elections.
You can find state-by-state voting guides, plain language definitions of voting words and more.
AAPD also has the REV UP Voting Campaign, which aims to build the power of the disability vote through a national network of coalitions and organizations.
Electronic Portal for SSI Recipients
The IRS has an electronic portal to assist people on SSI and other non-filers in receiving their stimulus payments. Individuals can go to the portal, enter their personal information and that information will be utilized to send them a stimulus payment.
Elmhurst Learning and Success Academy (ELSA)
Elmhurst Learning and Success Academy (ELSA) is a four-year, post-secondary certificate program for young adults aged 18-28 with disabilities. Elsa students can live on campus or commute and participate in on-campus activities alongside their degree-seeking peers.
If you have any questions, please call (630) 617-3752 or email elsa@elmhurst.edu.
Emergency and Transitional Housing Program
The Emergency and Transitional Housing Program in Illinois gives immediate and comprehensive shelter services to people who are homeless and people at risk of becoming homeless. Services are provided at shelters run by nonprofit organizations and local governments. for more information, see the Emergency and Transitional Housing Provider List.
Employment Rights Helpline – Equip for Equality
Equip for Equality’s Employment Rights Helpline provides free legal advice and self-advocacy assistance to people with disabilities who have questions or need legal help related to their disability. It aims to help applicants and employees with disabilities in Illinois understand their legal rights and responsibilities with the goal of increasing meaningful employment opportunities.
The Helpline is toll-free at 1-844-RIGHTS-9, (844) 744-4879, or (800) 610-2779 (TTY). You can also email the Helpline at employment@equipforequality.org.
Endeavor Health Mobile Dental Clinic
Endeavor Health (formerly Northwest Community Healthcare) Mobile Dental Clinic offers family dental care for residents without access to a dentist due to financial barriers in Elk Grove, Palatine, Schaumburg or Wheeling Townships. Individuals must meet income guidelines and not have private dental insurance.
The clinic does not accept walk-ins. It may charge a copay for adult visits. Children’s services are free. To be eligible for services, patients must:
- Reside in Elk Grove, Palatine, Schaumburg or Wheeling Townships
- Undergone screening by their township before making an appointment
- Have an income at or below 200 percent of the federal poverty level or be on General Assistance or Medicaid
See the Mobile Dental Clinic flyer in English and Spanish for enrollment details and a contact number for each township.
EngineerGirl focuses on diversity of thought and the many opportunities engineering represents for girls and women. The EngineerGirl website includes inspiration, information about women engineers and their achievements, “Try This” design challenges, a writing contest, summer study programs for high school students and more. EngineerGirl offers girls interested in problem-solving and engineering.
Visit its website for information about engineering scholarships and the EngineeringGirl annual writing contest.