Medical/Health and Wellness Resources
It’s important for everyone involved in your child’s care to understand their needs and what makes them unique. The Division of Specialized Care for Children (DSCC) has created “All About Me” Pages that you can personalize to help anyone on your care team and beyond get to know your child. These free templates highlight what works best for your child, what they like and dislike and who they are as a person.
There are a variety of designs to choose from to help you capture your child’s personality. You can share them with doctors, nurses, schools, other caregivers and more. Templates are available in both English and Spanish.
“Camp Free to Be” Day Camp in Peoria
The Heart of Illinois Special Recreation Association’s (HISRA) “Camp Free to Be” is for children with multiple and/or severe disabilities ages 4 to 21. This day camp runs Monday through Friday, providing eight weeks of fun and exciting activities.
Camp Free to Be matches campers with staff members to ensure their success and can also accommodate a 1:1 ratio. A typical camp day runs from 8:30 am. to 4 p.m. Registration usually opens in February and closes on May 1.
The Heart of Illinois Special Recreation Association (HISRA) is a cooperative extension of the Chilicothe, Morton, Peoria and Washington park districts to provide quality recreation programming and inclusion services.
“Got You Covered” in Carterville
“Got You Covered” is a non-profit organization that provides diapers, baby wipes and infant hygiene products to families in need. Diapers are available for infants, children and adults.
“Got You Covered” is located in the First United Methodist Church in Carterville. Diapers are provided as available. Anyone needing access to diapers, or who wants to donate diapers, can call (618) 922-6355 or reach out through the organization’s Facebook page.
“RSV, Flu and COVID: How Are These Respiratory Illnesses Different?”
Influenza, RSV and COVID-19 have similar symptoms, so it can be hard to tell them apart. HealthyChildren.org put together information on these infections and ways to protect your family.
“Steps for Better Health” Toolkits for People with Sickle Cell Disease (SCD)
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) provides a series of easy-to-read fact sheets for people with sickle cell disease (SCD). The “Steps for Better Health” toolkits provide information and health tips about many of the complications that can affect people with SCD. The CDC created the materials in partnership with the American Society of Hematology (ASH).
The “Steps for Better Health” toolkits are based on the ASH Clinical Practice Guidelines on SCD and include information on:
- Caring for common complications
- Lung health
- Blood clots
- Managing acute and chronic pain
- Blood transfusions
The Funeral Service Foundation’s “Youth and Funerals” page provides free ebooks, printed booklets and webinars to help families discuss death and funerals with youth. The information can help families understand the role funerals play in the lives of children and youth, and how including youth in remembering loved ones can be healing and empowering.
Materials in English and Spanish include:
- Age-appropriate language and advice on discussing death and funerals with youth
- Suggestions for preparing and involving youth in remembering or memorializing a loved one
It’s easy to view self-care as a low priority when your child is diagnosed with a serious illness. Your role as a parent and parenting partner has unexpectedly changed. The child has urgent and complex medical needs; you must manage appointments and service providers, and learn new information about the disease and medical treatment—all while tending to the needs of other family members, work and/or other responsibilities.
The Courageous Parents Network provides this guide to help parents make time and find ways to take care of themselves.
Tracheostomy.com (Aaron’s Tracheostomy Page) is an independent, family-run website that provides information about home care for children with tracheostomies (trachs) as well as parent-to-parent networking and support.
ABCya provides a variety of games designed to help children in kindergarten through 6th grade learn.
Adaptive Adventures Recreation Opportunities
Adaptive Adventures focuses on providing children, adults and veterans with physical disabilities the opportunity to achieve greater independence in outdoor sports while experiencing camaraderie and the benefits of recreation and adventure. Their ongoing programs, camps and clinics include cycling, climbing, kayaking, paddle boarding, dragon boat racing, skiing, snowboarding, waterskiing, wakeboarding and rafting.
Adaptive Adventures travels the country to provide direct program services. Programming is offered to participants and their families free of charge or significantly subsidized. Adaptive Adventures believes cost should never be a barrier to someone’s participation in quality outdoor adaptive sports opportunities.
Visit the Adaptive Adventures website for information about programs and events in Illinois.