Transition Resources
Building a Resume: Tips for Youth with Disabilities
PACER’s National Parent Center on Transition and Employment provides these tips for young people with disabilities and their families on effective strategies for building the first resume.
RAMP helps people with disabilities learn how to use public transportation in Rockford and Belvidere through a cooperative effort with the Rockford Mass Transit District.
C.E.F.S. Economic Opportunity Corporation
C.E.F.S. Economic Opportunity Corporation (C.E.F.S.) is a non-profit that serves residents in the Illinois counties of Christian, Clay, Effingham, Fayette, Montgomery, Moultrie and Shelby.
C.E.F.S. aims to help economically and socially disadvantaged people become more self-sufficient. Its support and services include:
- Summer youth program and college scholarships
- Housing programs
- Employment and training services
- Education services
- Food and utility assistance
Visit the C.E.F.S. website for more information.
Center for Accessibility and Neurodiversity at Illinois Valley Community College in Oglesby
The Center for Accessibility and Neurodiversity (CAN) at Illinois Valley Community College in Oglesby provides a wide range of supports and services to empower diverse learners. CAN services include:
- Accommodations
- Resources and study skills support
- Success coaching
CAN is on the Oglesby Campus in room C-211. It is open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. You can also make an appointment by contacting Tina Hardy at (815) 224-0284 or tina_hardy@ivcc.edu.
Center for Disability and Elder Law
The Center for Disability and Elder Law (CDEL) provides free legal services to low-income seniors and people with disabilities throughout Cook County. CDEL offers programs and appointments at community sites on matters including:
- Adult guardianship
- Financial and housing stability
- Estate and end-of-life planning
- Divorce
Center for Transition to Adult Health Care for Youth with Disabilities
The Center for Transition to Adult Health Care for Youth with Disabilities offers a wide range of tools to empower youth and young adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities (ID/DD) ages 12 to 26 to direct their transition from pediatric to adult care. This national site is a one-stop shop where young people and their families, clinicians, and direct care providers can find videos and other resources for understanding and navigating the transition to adult health care.
Site resources include:
- An “Introduction to Health Care Transition (HCT)” for youth and young adults
- A “Moving to Adult Health Care: Six-Part Toolkit Series for Health Care Transition”
- Videos and interactive quizzes
- Changes in insurance and legal rights
- Quick guides and infographics
Central Illinois LGBTQ+ Organizations
The University of Illinois Springfield’s Gender and Sexuality Student Services provides a list of advocacy and community groups in central Illinois for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and/or questioning, plus (LGBTQ+) youth.
Central Illinois Public Transit
Central Illinois Public Transit provides reliable and timely transportation that is wheelchair-accessible and compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act. The program serves the counties of Christian, Clay, Effingham, Fayette, Montgomery, Moultrie and Shelby.
Central Illinois Sled Hockey Association
The Central Illinois Sled Hockey Association (CISHA) is a volunteer, non-profit organization offering recreational and competitive sled hockey for youth and adult players with physical disabilities throughout the central Illinois region.
Families do not pay to participate. CISHA provides sleds, hockey equipment, team jerseys and ice time.
Challenged Athletes Foundation
The Challenged Athletes Foundation (CAF) believes that involvement in sports at any level increases self-esteem, encourages independence and enhances quality of life. CAF provides several grant programs, events and support to people with physical challenges who are pursuing active lifestyles through physical fitness and competitive athletics. CAF resources include:
- Grants to help pay for sports prostheses, adaptive sports equipment, coaching and competition expenses
- Adaptive sports videos
- A list of adaptive sports organizations and collegiate programs
- Information about adaptive sports equipment