Special Population resources
Please use the table below to find the resources that best match your special population need.
Name of Organization |
Special Population Served |
Description of services |
| Achieving Independence and Mobility | disabilities | We empower persons with disabilities to effectively control and direct their lives. The Achieving Independence and Mobility Center for Independent Living provides leadership through training, community development and advocacy to enable persons with disabilities to fully participate in family, social and community life. |
| Association for Individual Development (AID) | disabilities | Since 1961, The Association for Individual Development (AID) has served individuals with developmental, intellectual, physical and/or mental health challenges, those who have suffered a trauma and those at risk. |
| DeKalb County Sheriff’s Office | multiple | Public Safety office |
| DeKalb County Youth Service Bureau | multiple | YSB provides individual, family, and group counseling, as well as specialty services which are designed to keep families intact, keep youth out of the juvenile court system, and empower youth to achieve. |
| Department of Children and Family Services | multiple | The Illinois Department of Children and Family Services was established on January 1, 1964 as the nation’s first cabinet-level state child welfare agency. |
| Department of Rehabilitation Services | disabilities | DHS’s Division of Rehabilitation Services is the state’s lead agency serving individuals with disabilities. DRS works in partnership with people with disabilities and their families to assist them in making informed choices to achieve full community participation through employment, education, and independent living opportunities. |
| Disability Works | disabilities | Illinois workNet Centers provide three levels of services: 1) Core services provide unassisted use of the center’s resource room where you can learn about careers, search for jobs and prepare for your job search. 2) For jobseekers who meet eligibility requirements, intensive services provide professional staff to assist in planning, conducting and succeeding in your job search. 3) Eligible jobseekers may also benefit from education and training programs to meet the requirements for work in specific industries. |
| Easter Seals | disabilities | Easterseals has served as an indispensable resource for individuals with disabilities, veterans, seniors and their families. |
| Epilepsy Foundation of Chicago | disabilities | Offers education, advocacy, and case management to people living with epilepsy, their families, and the communities in which they live, all in the service of helping our constituents seize the narrative back from epilepsy. |
| Fox Valley Special Recreation Association | disabilities | Provides a diverse range of year round recreational activities to enable residents with disabilities to experience active, healthy and playful lifestyles. Programs are designed to include opportunities that will enhance skill development and socialization, encourage self-awareness and community exploration, promote independence through personal choice of least restrictive environments, and provide a sense of enjoyment, satisfaction and fulfillment. |
| Health Benefits for Works with Disabilities | disabilities | Quick links to use to apply for benefits in Illinois |
| Home for Life Advantage | disabilities | We are certified professionals that want to help give solutions to any homeowner’s Mobility & Accessibility complications. |
| Housing Authority of the County of DeKalb | homeless | The mission of the Housing Authority is to positively impact lower income people by providing affordable housing. Serves KENDALL AND DEKALB Counties |
| Illinois Assistive Technology Program | disabilities | We provide expertise in assistive technology and accessible information technology to all Illinois residents of all ages with disabilities and/or health conditions including family members, friends, and caregivers |
| Illinois Department of Public Health | multiple | Public health department offers multiple services for all students and Illinois residents. |
| Illinois State Board of Education Special Education Advocates | disabilities | Parent advocates information for state of Illinois |
| Illinois Valley Center for Independent Living | disabilities | IVCIL’s Youth Services Program is another bridge to independence for persons with disabilities. Youth Services are available at no cost to children/youth with disabilities up to 21 years of age and their families. |
| Illinois workNet | multiple | Resource center for job placement help |
| ISBE Homeless Coordinator | homeless | Illinois State Board of Ed Homeless Coordinator |
| Kishwaukee College | multiple | Student services for differently abled students |
| Manufacturing Careers Internship Program | multiple | The Manufacturing Careers Internship Program (MCIP) provides youth ages 18-24 an opportunity to explore meaningful and productive careers in manufacturing. |
| Mulliganeers | multiple | The Mulliganeers is a non-profit 501(c)3 organization dedicated to raising funds for children and families in need. |
| National Alliance on Mental Illness | disabilities | NAMI, the National Alliance on Mental Illness, is the nation’s largest grassroots mental health organization dedicated to building better lives for the millions of Americans affected by mental illness. |
| O’Neill Tabani Enrichment Fund | disabilities | Financial assistance for young adults with down syndrome interested in attending postsecondary school. |
| Open Door Health Center of Illinois | multiple | Open Door is a regional, patient-centered health care organization that provides services including education, prevention, diagnosis and treatment services to those who have or are at risk for Sexually Transmitted Infections, including HIV/AIDS, in addition to the greater LGBTQ community. |
| Parents Alliance Employment Project | disabilities | Parents Alliance Employment Project helps people with disabilities find competitive employment. With 3 youth training programs that provide education, daily living, and vocational training and adult services that assist indirect employment support. |
| Precision Education | disabilities | Together with Precision Education, parents and staff are coming together with strategic plans to make a difference in the child’s education. From IEP goal writing to prioritizing what needs to happen on a daily basis, together we make change. |
| Princeton Review (test prep help) | multiple | Test prep help service for all students |
| Quad County Urban League | multiple | The Quad County Urban League (QCUL) supports racial justice, civil rights and economic empowerment for African Americans and others within the Quad Counties (DuPage, Kane, Kendall and Will) of Illinois. |
| RAMP (DeKalb County) | disabilities | NCIL is the statewide association for Illinois’ 22 Centers for Independent Living (CILs). CILs are community-based, non-residential, non-profit organizations that are of, by and for persons with disabilities. |
| Runaway Safeline | homeless | National helpline for runaways |
| Shelter Listings | homeless | Comprehensive list of shelters for the homeless |
| Shield Healthcare | multiple | Shield HealthCare is a service organization dedicated to fulfilling the medical supply needs of consumers and the caregiving community with a focus on customer satisfaction. |
| United Health Care Children’s Foundation | multiple | Our mission is to improve children’s lives and help families gain access to the care they need through medical grants. |
| VA office | military connected | Military family health care services including family therapy. |
| VIP Service Dog Foundation | disabilities | VIP is a 501c(3) non-profit charity organization who facilicate service dogs and companion dogs to developmentally disabled, physically disabled individuals. Our dogs assist disabled individuals with everyday activities. Both service dogs and companion dogs are available |
| Visiting Nurse Association of Fox Valley | multiple | VNA Health Care is a patient-centered, community-based, not-for-profit healthcare provider serving the Chicago suburbs with convenient and compassionate healthcare. |
| Waubonsee Works | multiple | Earn a short-term career-focused certificate so you can get a better job quickly. |