Transition: Social Resources
Sign Language Interpreter Directory
The Illinois Deaf and Hard of Hearing Commission maintains a directory of sign language interpreters. You can search the directory by an interpreter’s name or by region/county.
Special Recreation Associations in Illinois
The Special Recreation Associations Network of Illinois (SRANI) is a network of therapeutic recreation agencies. Special Recreation Associations provide community-based special recreation services to children and adults with disabilities. You can see a list of special recreation cooperatives available in Illinois.
For more information, visit the SRANI website.
Strong Family Alliance’s mission is to save lives and preserve families by helping children come out and parents become informed supporters and allies.
The alliance strives to give parents and LGBTQ people accurate information, insights on this challenging transition for both parents and children, ways to keep LGBTQ children safe and healthy, and encouragement for parents to lead with love and solve problems over time. Its website includes parent guides and resources.
The Arc of Illinois Financial Assistance for Training
The Arc of Illinois, through a grant from the Illinois Council on Developmental Disabilities, administers the Financial Assistance for Training Program. The program provides funds for people with developmental disabilities and their family members to attend conferences of their choice that are directly related to developmental disability issues.
Due to the pandemic, there is a need for training, important meetings and conferences to be virtual. This program will now allow stipends to pay for the assistive technology needed to attend virtual events.
The Arc’s Virtual Program Library
The Arc’s Virtual Program Library is a free hub full of on-demand activities that people with disabilities, and their families and service providers can do at home.
Topics include arts, community and life skills, health and wellness, virtual clubs, and more. Service providers can also find and share resources to facilitate or deliver live, remote programming for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
PUNS is the name for the list of the people in Illinois with developmental disabilities who want or need services but do not yet have funding. Individuals who need help from the government to pay for needed Division of Developmental Disabilities Waiver services now, or in the future, should register for PUNS.
The Arc of Illinois’ Life Span Program provides an overview of how to get on the PUNS list and how to check the approximate date when you may be selected.
The Penguin Project provides a supportive environment for children with a wide range of disabilities to explore the performing arts. The program encourages children and young adults ages 10 to 24 to discover their creative talents, build self-confidence and make new friends by rehearsing and performing a modified version of a well-known Broadway musical. The young artists work side-by-side with age-level “peer mentors” through four months of rehearsals and the final performance.
The project has several chapters in Illinois. Visit The Penguin Project website for more details.
Western DuPage Special Recreation Association
Western DuPage Special Recreation Association (WDSRA) provides recreation and social opportunities for individuals with a wide range of disabilities. From ages 3 to their senior years, individuals can enjoy adaptive sports, athletics, camps, social clubs, trips and more. WDSRA is a cooperative extension of nine park districts and serves the communities/member districts of Bloomingdale, Carol Stream, Glen Ellyn, Naperville, Roselle, Warrenville, West Chicago, Wheaton, and Winfield.
WDSRA programs include:
- Rec & Roll for individuals ages 22 to 55 with an intellectual disability
- Adaptive sports and athletic programming
- Camps
- Cultural arts
- Social programs and clubs
- Trips and special events