Disability Organizations
The organizations below focus on specific disabilities and disability rights.
THE ARC OF ILLINOIS
9980 190th Street, Suite C, Mokena, IL 60448. Contact: Anthony Paulauski Frankfort, IL 60423 Tel: (815) 464-1832 Fax: (815) 464-5292 Email: tony@thearcofil.org The Arc is a strong grassroots organization with a significant membership of self-advocates, parents and professionals working together to achieve common goals.The Arc of Illinois and its chapters take strong advocacy positions for people with disabilities and their families.
1901 S. 4th Street, Suite 209, Effingham, IL 62401 Tel: (217) 347-5428 Tollfree: (866) 436-7842 Contact: Debbie Einhorn Email: info@fmptic.org Website: https://fmptic.org/
Parent Training and Information Center provides information, referral, and linkages to empower families, parents and professionals to improve the quality of life for children and young adults students with disabilities.
PO Box 7557 Wilmington, DE 19803-9997 Phone/Fax: (800) 939-1019 EMAIL:: info@add.org WEBSITE: www.add.org
ADDA provides information, resources and networking opportunities to help adults with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder lead better lives, and professionals who serve them
9449 S. Kedzie Ste#268, Evergreen Park, Il 60805Contact: Paul Eric Butler Tele: (773) 329-0375 EMAIL: info@chicagoautism.org WEBSITE: https://chicagoautism.org/
CAC holds monthly parent meetings, and numerous activities to increase awareness for children and adults with autism.
1850 W. Roosevelt Road Chicago, IL 60608 Tele: (312) 666-1331 Contact: Mary Zabelski, Email: Mary.Zabelski@chicagolighthouse.org, Website: https://chicagolighthouse.org/
Helping people with visual impairments find jobs, provide low vision services, improve services of Low Vision Clinic through a new research program, including services for wounded veterans with eye-related injuries.
National Federation of the Blind
The National Federation of the Blind is the largest organization of blind and low-vision people in the United States. Founded in 1940, the Federation has grown to over fifty-thousand members. The organization consists of affiliates and local chapters in every state, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico. https://nfb.org/
Illinois Hands & Voices
Po Box 9366, Naperville, IL 60567. Tel: (877) 350-4556, Contact: Andrea Marwah, Email: ilhandsandvoices@gmail.com, Website: https://www.ilhandsandvoices.org; https://www.handsandvoices.org
Support families with children who are deaf and hard-of-hearing with resources, networking, and information to improve communication access and educational options.
FINDS – Family Ideas Network for Down Syndrome
P.O. Box 1441 Crystal Lake, IL 60039. Tel: (815) 444-8672, Contact: Mary or Michael Fisher, Email: mike@findsdownsyndrome.com, Website: https://www.findsdownsyndrome.com
FINDS is a network of families who work together to maximize the potential of each individual person with Down Syndrome and improve the quality of their lives through Bi-Monthly Newsletters, Social Events, Educational Services, and Family Support.
National Association for Down Syndrome
P.O. Box 206 Wilmette, IL, 60091. Tel: (630) 325-9112, Contact: Randi Gillespie, Email: info@nads.org, Website: https://www.nads.org
NADS is the oldest organization in the country serving individuals with Down syndrome and their families (new parents, grandparents, Teens & Adults, etc.) through information, support, and advocacy and direct support through their Parent Support Program, the Mentoring Program, the Work Experience Program, Outreach to Spanish-Speaking Families and other individualized services. Other services available are conferences, products and publications, online Discussion Forum, Public Awareness and much more.
National Down Syndrome Society:
The mission of the National Down Syndrome Society is to be the national advocate for the value, acceptance and inclusion of people with Down syndrome. The National Down Syndrome Society envisions a world in which all people with Down syndrome have the opportunity to enhance their quality of life, realize their life aspirations and become valued members of welcoming communities.: https://ndss.org
West Suburban Parent Support Group for Down Syndrome Gigi’s Playhouse
4024 Fox Valley Center Drive Aurora, IL 60504. Contact: Anne Sloka, Tel: (630) 778-7529, Email: foxvalley@gigisplayhouse.org, Website: https://gigisplayhouse.org
Gigi’s Playhouse goal is to increase positive awareness of Down syndrome through national campaigns, educational programs, and by empowering individuals with Down syndrome, their families and the community. Some of the Programs & Activities include: Pre-Natal Diagnosis; 2 & Under Group, Open Play, Playhouse Pals (6-8); Kid’s Club (9-12); Teen-Tastic (13-17), Friday Friend, Families, Polish, Hispanic Group (Nuestros Angeles), Music and Math, just to name a few.
South Chicago Parents & Friends
10241 S. Commercial Avenue Chicago, IL 60617. Tel: (773) 734-222 Fax (773) 734-2850, Contact: Angelica Sandoval, Email: asandoval@scpfrc.org, Website: https://scpf-inc.org
The Illinois Branch of International Dyslexia Association
751 Roosevelt Road, Suite 116 Glen Ellyn, IL 60137. Tel: (630) 469-6900, Contact: Maria Logan, Email: info@readibida.org, Website: https://www.readibida.org
Illinois Life Span
Illinois Life Span Project is a free information and referral service for people with developmental disabilities. https://www.illinoislifespan.org/
A Beautiful Mind Chicago
A Beautiful Mind offers mental therapy, psychotherapy, family and individual crisis intervention, and developmental assessments to patients in Chicago, IL area. https://www.abeautifulmindchicago.com
DBSA – Depression & Bipolar Alliance
730 N. Franklin St., Ste. 501 Chicago, IL 60654. Tel: (312) 642-0049 Fax: (312) 642-7243, Contact: Allen Doederlein, Email: dbsalliance.org, Website: https://www.dbsalliance.org
DBSA is the leading patient-directed national organization focussing on advocacy, educational programs, training, media, research and clinical trials and other services. DBSA answers calls providing referral and educational information on mood disorders and has a grassroots network of nearly 1,000 support groups.
National Alliance on Mental Illness of Greater Chicago (NAMI)
1536 W. Chicago Avenue Chicago, IL 60642. Tel: (312) 563-0445, Email: namigc@aol.com, Website: www.namigc.org
NAMI provides hope and improves the quality of life for those affected by serious mental illness by providing information and referrals, education, support, advocacy, and active community outreach.
NAMI DuPage County
2100 Manchester Rd., Bldg. B, Suite 925 Wheaton, IL 60187 Tele: (630) 752-0066 EMAIL: il@namidupage.org WEBSITE: https://namidupage.org
NAMI provides support, advocacy, and education in order to improve the quality of life of individuals with mental illness and their families.
Illinois Spina Bifida Association
2211 N. Oak Park Ave., Chicago, IL ,60707. Email: info@i-sba.org, Tel: (773) 444-0305
Illinois Spina Bifida works to improve the quality of life of people with Spina Bifida through direct services, information, referrals, research, and public awareness. https://i-sba.org