Illinois State Resources

Each state sets eligibility ages for services to children and youth with disabilities.
For current information concerning this state, please contact the office listed under
STATE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION: Special Education Services.

See Illinois Web Resources

 STATE DEPARTMENT OF   EDUCATION:  Special  Education Services. STATE VOCATIONAL  Rehabilitation Agency. DEVELOPMENTAL  DISABILITIES 
Planning Council.
DISABILITY  Organizations 
PARENT-TO-PARENT  Family Resource
PROGRAMS FOR CHILDREN ages 3 through 5.  STATE VOCATIONAL Special Needs Programs ILLINOIS DISABILITIES
Advocacy  Program
UNIVERSITY AFFILIATED Programs   
EARLY 
Intervention System.
DEPARTMENT OF  MENTAL
HEALTH 
for children and youth.
CLIENT ASSISTANCE
Program.
TECHNOLOGY RELATED  Assistance.
PARENTS Training and Information Project. DEPARTMENT OF  MENTAL
Health 
PROGRAMS FOR CHILDREN with Special Health Care Needs. PARENT-TEACHER Association (PTA)

 
STATE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION: SPECIAL EDUCATION
Jack Shook, Division Administrator 
Center for Educational Innovation & Reform 
Program Compliance 
100 North First Street, E-228 
Springfield, IL 62777-0001 
(217) 782-5589 

Gordon M. Riffel, Special Assistant to the Superintendent 
Special Education Coordination 
Illinos State Board of Education 
100 North First Street 
Springfield, IL 62777-0001 
(217) 782-3371 
E-mail: griffel@smtp.isbe.state.il.us 

PROGRAMS FOR INFANTS AND TODDLERS
AGES BIRTH THROUGH 2
Mary Miller, Bureau Chief 
Help Me Grow 
Bureau of Part H/Early Intervention 
Dept. of Human Services 
P.O. Box 19429 
Springfield, IL 62794-9429 
(217) 782-1981; (800) 323-4769 (in IL only) 

PROGRAMS FOR CHILDREN WITH DISABILITES: 
AGES 3 THROUGH 5
Kay Henderson, Division Administrator 
Center for Educational Innovation and Reform 
Department of Early Childhood Education 
100 North First Street, E-230 
Springfield, IL 62777-0001 
(217) 524-4835 

STATE VOCATIONAL REHABILITATION AGENCY
Carl Suter, Associate Director 
Office of Rehabilitation Services 
Department of Human Services 
P.O. Box 19429 
Springfield, IL 62794-9429 
(217) 785-0218 (V); (217) 782-5734 (TTY) 

OFFICE OF STATE COORDINATOR OF VOCATIONAL 
EDUCATION FOR STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES
Sharon Fall, Special Populations Coordinator 
Illinois State Board of Education 
100 North First Street, C-418 
Springfield, IL 62777-0001 
(217) 782-3370 

STATE MENTAL HEALTH AGENCY
Lynn Handy, Director 
Division of Disability & Behavior Health Services 
Department of Human Services 
100 S. Grand Ave. West 
Springfield, IL 62765 
(217) 785-1469 

STATE MENTAL HEALTH REPRESENTATIVE FOR CHILDREN
Leigh Steiner, Associate Director 
Department of Human Services 
400 Stratton Building 
Springfield, IL 62765 
(217) 782-7555 

STATE MENTAL RETARDATION PROGRAM
John Bundy, Associate Director 
Department of Human Services 
416 Stratton Building 
Springfield, IL 62765 
(217) 524-0453 

STATE DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES PLANNING COUNCIL
Rene Christensen Leininger, Director 
Illinois Planning Council on DD 
830 S. Spring St. 
Springfield, IL 62704 
(217) 782-9696 (V/TTY) 

PROTECTION AND ADVOCACY AGENCY
Zena Naiditch, CEO & President 
Equip for Equality, Inc. 
11 East Adams, Suite 1200 
Chicago, IL 60603 
(312) 341-0022 

CLIENT ASSISTANCE PROGRAM
Cynthia Grothaus, Manager 
Illinois Client Assistance Program 
100 North First Street, 1st Floor West 
Springfield, IL 62702-5197 
(217) 782-5374 (V/TTY) 
 
PROGRAMS FOR CHILDREN WITH SPECIAL HEALTH CARE NEEDS
Charles N. Onufer, Interim Director 
Division of Specialized Care for Children 
University of Illinois at Chicago 
P.O. Box 19481 
2815 West Washington, Suite 300 
Springfield, IL 62794-9481 
(217) 793-2340 
E-mail: cnonufer@uic.edu 
PROGRAMS FOR CHILDREN AND YOUTH
WHO ARE DEAF OR HARD OF HEARING
Ellen Roth, State Coordinator of the Deaf 
Division of Services for Persons who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing 
Department of Rehabilitation Services 
100 West Randolph Street, Suite 8-100 
Chicago, IL 60601 
(312) 814-2939; (312) 814-3040 (TTY) 
E-mail: zandu@mcs.com 
STATE EDUCATION AGENCY RURAL REPRESENTATIVE
Leah Covey, Design Facilitator 
Dept. of Rural Education, IL State Board of Education 
123 South Tenth Street, Suite 200 
Mt. Vernon, IL 62864 
(618) 244-8383 

TECHNOLOGY-RELATED ASSISTANCE
Wilhelmina Gunther, Executive Director 
Illinois Assistive Technology Project 
1 W. Old State Capitol Plaza, Suite 100 
Springfield, IL 62701 
(217) 522-7985(V/TTY) 
(800) 852-5110 (V/TTY, in IL only) 
REGIONAL ADA TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AGENCY
University of IL/Chicago 
Institute on Disability & Human Development 
1640 West Roosevelt Road (MC/626) 
Chicago, IL 60608-6902 
(312) 413-1407 (V/TTY) 
E-mail: gldtac@uic.edu 

DISABILITY ORGANIZATIONS
Attention Deficit Disorder 
To identify an ADD group in your state or locality, contact either: 

Children and Adults with Attention Deficit Disorders (CH.A.D.D.) 
499 NW 70th Avenue, Suite 101 
Plantation, FL 33317 
(954) 587-3700 
(800) 233-4050 (Voice mail to request information packet) 
URL: http://www.chadd.org 

National Attention Deficit Disorder Association (ADDA) 
9930 Johnnycake Ridge Rd., Suite 3E 
Mentor, OH 44060 
(440) 350-9595 
(800) 487-2282 (Voice mail to request information packet) 
E-mail: NatlADDA@aol.com 
URL: http://www.add.org 

Brain Injury 
Cheryl Burda, Executive Director 
Brain Injury Assoc. of Illinois 
1127 South Mannheim Rd., Ste. 213 
Westchester, IL 60154 
(708) 344-4646; (800) 699-6443 (in IL only) 
E-mail: biail@yahoo.com 

Cerebral Palsy 
Don Moss, Executive Director 
United Cerebral Palsy of IL 
312 East Adams 
Springfield, IL 62701 
(217) 528-9681 
E-mail: dmoss10110@aol.com 

Epilepsy 
Barbara Wilder-Dershin, President/CEO 
Epilepsy Foundation of Greater Chicago 
20 East Jackson Boulevard, 13th Floor 
Chicago, IL 60604 
(312) 939-8622; (800) 273-6027 
(312) 939-1117 (TTY) 

Epilepsy Resource Center 
(serving central Illinois) 
219 Bruns Lane 
Springfield, IL 62702 
(217) 726-1839 (V/TTY); (800) 800-6401 

Learning Disabilities 
Ernie Florence, President 
Learning Disabilities Association of IL 
10101 S. Roberts Rd., Suite 205 
Palos Hills, IL 60465 
(708) 430-7532 
E-mail: JanetLerner@juno.com 
URL: http://www.ldanatl.org 

Mental Health 
Jan Holcomb, Executive Director 
Mental Health Association of IL 
188 West Randolph Street, Suite 2225 
Chicago, IL 60601 
(312) 368-9070 

Randy Wells, Executive Director 
Alliance for the Mentally Ill of IL 
730 E. Vine Street, Room 209 
Springfield, IL 62703 
(217) 522-1403; (800) 346-4572 (In IL only) 
E-mail: AMIIL@eosinc.com 

Mental Retardation/Developmental Disabilities 
Anthony Paulauski, Executive Director 
The Arc of Illinois 
1820 Ridge Road, Suite 300 
Homewood, IL 60430 
(708) 206-1930; (708) 206-1171 (Fax) 
E-mail: tony@thearcofil.org 
URL: http://www.thearcofil.org 

Speech And Hearing 
Cynthia Keillor, Executive Director 
Illinois Speech-Language-Hearing Association 
435 N. Michigan Ave., Suite 1717 
Chicago, IL 60611-4067 
(312) 644-0828, ext. 210 

Spina Bifida 
Ann Walsh Cernak, Director 
IL Spina Bifida Association 
3080 Ogden Avenue, Suite 103 
Lisle, IL 60532 
(630) 637-1050; (773) 581-2426 
E-mail: ILSBA@aol.com 

Spinal Cord Injury 
Mercedes Raven, Executive Director 
National Spinal Cord Injury Association 
Illinois Chapter 
1032 S. La Grange Rd. 
LaGrange, IL 60525 
(708) 352-6223 
E-mail: sciinjury@aol.com 

OTHER ORGANIZATIONS
Tom Berkshire, President 
Illinois Easter Seal Society 
2715 South 4th Street, Box 1767 
Springfield, IL 62705 
(217) 525-0398 
E-mail: IESS@Eosinc.org 

Pathways Awarness Foundation 
123 North Wacker Drive 
Chicago, IL 60606 
(800) 955-2445; (312) 236-7411 (TTY) 
URL: http://www.pathwaysawareness.org 
 

UNIVERSITY AFFILIATED PROGRAM
David Braddock, Director 
Institute on Disability & Human Development 
University of Illinois at Chicago 
1640 West Roosevelt Road 
Chicago, IL 60608 
(312) 413-1647 (V); (312) 413-0453 (TTY) 

PARENT TRAINING & INFORMATION PROJECTS
Charlotte Des Jardins, Director 
Family Resource Center on Disabilities 
20 East Jackson Blvd., Room 900 
Chicago, IL 60604 
(312) 939-3513; (312) 939-3519 (TTY) 
(800) 952-4199 

National Center for Latinos with Disabilities 
1921 S. Blue Island Ave. 
Chicago, IL 60608 
(312) 666-3393; (312) 666-1788 (TTY) 

Deb Kunz, Director 
Family T.I.E.S. Network 
830 S. Spring Street 
Springfield, IL 62704 
(800) 865-7842; (217) 544-5809 (V) 
(217) 544-5826 (TTY) 
E-mail: ftiesn@aol.com 

Maria Elena Rodriguez-Sullivan 
National Center for Latinos with Disabilities 
1921 South Blue Island Avenue 
Chicago, IL 60608 
(312) 666-3393 (V); (312) 666-1788 (TTY) 
(800) 532-3393 
E-mail: ncld@interaccess.com 
 

PARENT-TO-PARENT
Charlotte Des Jardins 
Family Resource Center on Disabilities 
20 East Jackson Blvd., Suite 900 
Chicago, IL 60604 
(312) 939-3513; (800) 952-4199 

PARENT TEACHER ASSOCIATION (PTA)
Anna Weselak, President 
Illinois Congress of Parents and Teachers 
901 South Spring Street 
Springfield, IL 62704-2790 
(800) 877-9617; (217) 528-9617 

 
 
Illinois Web  
Civil Liberties and Human Rights  
ACLU of Illinois  
Amnesty International  
West Central Illinois Educational   
Telecommunications Corporations  

Legal Assistance   
Chicago Legal Aid to Incarcerated Mothers (CLAIM)  

Education  
Chicago Academy of Sciences  
Junior Achievement Chicago  
Sharing the Ability to Read (STAR)  
Viet Nam War Museum  
 

Community  
Illinois State and Local Government  

Disability Information   
Arc of Illinois  
Avenues to Independence  
Chicago Association for Retarded Citizens  
Glenkirk  
Illinois/Iowa Center for Independent Living  
Illinois Assistive Technology Project  
Little City Foundation  
Macomb Projects  
National Association for Down Syndrome  
Special Opportunities Available in Education  
 

Children and Youth  
Boy Scouts - Northwest Suburban Council  
Lawrence Hall Youth Services  
Northeast Illinois Council Boy Scouts of America  
Northwestern University Settlement House  
ProFamily  
Technical Assistance Program  

Job Training and Workplace  
Quad City SCORE  
Veterans Leadership Program 
 

Community Building and Renewal   
Chicago Video Project  
Community Media Workshop  
Learning Logic Foundation Think Tank  
Metro Chicago/Illinois Planners Network  
Metro Chicago Information Center  
Northwestern University Settlement House  
ProFamil  
Physicians for Social Responsibility--Chicago  
Qumbya, Student Cooperative Housing in Chicago 
 
Health  
CH.A.D.D. of Lake County, IL  
Chicago-Greater Illinois Chapter of the Multiple Sclerosis Society  
Easter Seal Society of Metropolitan Chicago  
Epilepsy Association of Southwestern Illinois  
Howard Brown Health Center  
Huntington's Disease Society of America Illinois Chapter  
JFK Health World  
South Cook Multiple Sclerosis Self-Help Group 
 
Safety   
RiverBend Search and Rescue Dog Association  

Family and Parenting  
the Cradle  
Hamdard Center  
Illinois Family Institute  
La Leche League of Champaign  
Lifelink  
Planned Parenthood of East Central Illinois  
Stepfamily Association of Illinois, Inc.  
 

Computers and Technology   
Digital Queers  
Middle Passages Inc.  
Information Technology Resource Center  
Tech Corps Illinois  

Recovery, Addiction, and Abuse  
Friendship House  
Illinois Young People in Alcoholics Anonymous  
PATH (Public Assistance Telephone Help)  
Prairie Center for Substance Abuse  
Rape Crisis Center  
Self-Help Center 

Homelessness, Housing and Poverty  
Champaign County Habitat for Humanity  
Champaign-Urbana Tenant Union  
Chicago Mutual Housing Network  
Christmas in April Geneseo  
Fox Valley Habitat for Humanity    
Habitat for Humanity of McLean County  
Leadership Council for Metropolitan Open Communities    
Bethlehem Center Food Bank  
Common Ground Food Co-op  
Golden Years Inc.  
Hamdard Center  
  
 

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