Resource Directory /

Financial Assistance and Grant Programs Resources

  • Metropolitan Family Services

    Metropolitan Family Services provides a variety of services throughout Chicago, DuPage County, Evanston, Skokie and the southwest suburbs to help families learn, earn, heal and thrive. Metropolitan Family Services programs include:

    • Early learning
    • Afterschool
    • Job readiness
    • Counseling and mental health
    • Legal assistance

  • Migrant Ministry

    Migrant Ministry of the Catholic Parishes of Oak Park provides a variety of support services to help migrants and asylum seekers work toward achieving financial independence. Located at the former St. Edmund School (now St. Edmund Center) at 200 S. Oak Park Ave. in Oak Park, Migrant Ministry offers:

    • Resources
    • Advocacy
    • Help finding food, housing and other supports
    • Family mentors

  • Miracle League of Central Illinois

    The Miracle League of Central Illinois is a league for children and adults with disabilities that enables them to play baseball on a specially designed adaptive field. The Miracle League of Central Illinois and the town of Normal, Ill., partner to provide this program to a wide range of participants. Scholarships are available to help youth of all abilities participate.

    Visit the Miracle League of Central Illinois website to learn more.

  • Miracle League of Joliet

    The Miracle League of Joliet is a non-profit baseball league for children and young adults (ages 4 to 19) with disabilities. The rules emphasize participation, with every player getting a turn to bat in each inning.  A volunteer “Buddy” assists each player at bat and on the field.

    League games take place on a custom-designed field featuring a rubberized turf, free from obstacles to ensure players can round the bases and play baseball safely. Visit the Miracle League of Joliet website for more details.

  • MPHI Center for Precision Public Health

    The MPHI Center for Precision Public Health provides educational opportunities for clinicians, public health professionals, community organizations and families. The center focuses on improving the health and well-being of all through research, supporting data-driven initiatives, facilitating community-led program development, and providing technical assistance.

    MPHI also provides free CME and CE Modules for families and professionals. Topics include:

    • Improving care for developmental disabilities and dysmorphic features
    • Patient-centered newborn screening communication
    • Decoding genetic test reports for frontline clinicians

  • Muscular Dystrophy Association

    The Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA) provides comprehensive information and resources to help with understanding, managing and living day-to-day with muscular dystrophy and related neuromuscular diseases.

    MDA programs and resources include:

    • The MDA Resource Center providing one-on-one support by phone or email for individuals and families looking for resources, activities and more
    • Durable Medical Equipment (DME) Grant Program
    • Nationwide summer camps
    • Resources for caregivers
    • Community education and services

  • My Pantry Express

    Northern Illinois Food Bank has launched My Pantry Express, an online source for groceries. The program allows families in need of food assistance to choose specific grocery items and pick them up at a preferred participating location.

    Pickup locations are available in the following counties: DeKalb, DuPage, Lake, Will, Winnebago.

  • National Center on Deaf-Blindness

    The National Center on Deaf-Blindness (NCDB) is part of a network of projects for children and youth with deaf-blindness (birth through 21) providing information and learning and development tools for families and educators. NCDB resources include:

    • An overview of deaf-blindness
    • Practice guides and professional development
    • Spanish resources

    NCDB includes state deaf-blind projects in every state, Puerto Rico, the District of Columbia, the Pacific Basin and the Virgin Islands.

  • National Deaf Center on Postsecondary Outcomes

    The National Deaf Center on Postsecondary Outcomes (NDC) shares information, networks, and strategies to improve continuing education and training for deaf people. It offers online courses, online gaming tools for youth, evidence-based resources, webinars and more.

    NDC resources include:

    • Free online learning modules and webinars for teens, college students and professionals
    • Planning tools, tips and more for high school and college students
    • Disability services providers portal and online training modules
    • Deaf culture and awareness resources
    • Deafverse, a choose-your-own-adventure online game created just for deaf teenagers

  • National Disability Institute

    The National Disability Institute (NDI) collaborates with organizations nationwide to empower people with disabilities and their families to make informed financial decisions and build a better future. NDI offers a wide variety of webinars, tip sheets, information and resources to help people with disabilities achieve employment, financial stability and independence.

    NDI resources include:

    If you have questions, please email info@ndi-inc.org or call (202) 296-2040.