General Resources
Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities Training Modules
The Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities (MHDD) National Training Center has developed free, easy-to-read online learning modules for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, their family members and their supporters to learn more about mental health. They also have modules designed for mental health professionals and clinicians.
These training modules are available at www.mhddcenter.org/learn-now.
The training topics include anxiety, bipolar disorders, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, preparing for a mental health assessment, supported decision-making and what to expect in a mental health therapy session.
Mental Health First Aid is a course that teaches you how to identify, understand and respond to signs of mental illnesses and substance use disorders. The training gives you the skills you need to reach out and provide initial help and support to someone who may be developing a mental health or substance use problem or experiencing a crisis.
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
Miracle Flights provides free commercial airline tickets to pediatric patients ages 17 and under in need of life-changing medical care far from home. Families must meet certain requirements and apply online using the online application for requesting each flight.
The organization also provides flights for service dog retrieval and/or training. Miracle Flights’ service dog program is open to all individuals who need help retrieving/training their service dog.
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 Alliance for Children’s Grief
The National Alliance for Children’s Grief (NACG) is a nationwide, nonprofit organization that raises awareness about the needs of children and teens who are grieving a death. NACG provides education and resources for anyone supporting a child grieving the loss of a loved one.
In addition to support toolkits on a range of topics, NACG also provides:
- Information on how to talk about death to children
- Online learning and webinars
- A grief support resource library
National Association for Down Syndrome
The National Association for Down Syndrome (NADS) serves individuals with Down syndrome and their families. NADS’ website provides a variety of webinars, publications and resources for the Chicago metropolitan area and beyond.
NADS also offers a “Congratulations Basket and Referral Program.” Please note that the organization can only deliver baskets to specific Chicago-area hospitals.
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 Down Syndrome Society
The National Down Syndrome Society (NDSS) aims to empower individuals with Down syndrome and their families by driving policy change, providing resources, engaging with local communities and shifting public perceptions.
Its resources include information on Down syndrome across the lifespan as well as in the areas of aging, caregiving, education, employment, health and more.
National Library Service for the Blind and Print Disabled (NLS)
The National Library Service for the Blind and Print Disabled (NLS ) is a free braille and talking book library service for people with temporary or permanent low vision, blindness, or a physical or perceptual disability that prevents them from reading or holding the printed page. Through a national network of cooperating libraries, NLS offers books the way you want them: in braille or audio, mailed to your door for free or instantly downloadable.
NLS works to ensure that all may read by providing eligible individuals access to reading material regardless of age, economic circumstances or technical expertise.