Special Education
ISBE Catalog of Support
The Catalog of Supports and Resources was created in order to provide information regarding resources available to support the diverse needs of students with disabilities.
The Answer Inc., a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization, is dedicated to providing support, resources, education, recreation, and advocacy for families in the greater Chicago area that are challenged with supporting family members with Autism & Developmental Disorders. In addition to providing essential resources & services for parents and caregivers, our agency strives to help contribute to the continued growth, educational and recreational inclusion for the children and relatives specifically impacted.The Answer Inc. mission is to provide and increase Autism awareness for our family member’s caregivers, law enforcement, and the community as a whole. We provide supportive services that will build and create a more productive and effective communication skills among the above groups listed, creating a healthier and safer environment for families who live with Autism.
The Arc of Illinois advocates for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, families and community organizations to ensure that people with disabilities can live, work, learn, and play in communities across the state. The Arc offers resources and information, supports families in their individual advocacy efforts and trains and educates people with disabilities, families and professionals among other things.
LifeSpeed provides systematic behavioral support to children, adolescents, and adults to ensure that each person with whom we work is successful in accomplishing their goals. Our model of care incorporates a blended approach of in-clinic and in-home sessions that acknowledges neurodiversity and trauma. The team is committed to facilitating meaningful interactions for our early learners through a trusting therapeutic relationship and our BCBAs focus on building Treatment Plans that highlight strengths and skills essential for life-long success, whatever that may look like. LifeSpeed recognizes that each person comes to us with their own set of unique learning experiences, and we adjust our recommendations accordingly. When appropriate, we offer low-intensity behavioral interventions [4-10 hours per week], in addition to comprehensive classroom intervention strategies, adult agency support, and specified training seminars for individual seeking professional development. If interested in learning more about how LifeSpeed can help support your family, contact Tony Russo at (312)-404-7225 or admin@uptolifespeed.com.
Oak Leyden
Supported Employment
Our Supported Employment Program helps participants with developmental disabilities find jobs that interest them, pay competitive wages, and are in the communities where they live. Oak Leyden partners with local employers including Aramark, Costco, Delta-Sonic, Jewel-Osco, Sam’s Club, and Target to provide over 40 community-based jobs for our participants.
Please let us know if you would like us to provide transportation for any of your students with special needs. We offer wheelchair accessible transportation for students with mobility devices, those that ambulate but need assistance, have behavior or cognitive challenges that require special attention, or are out of your district's area.
RCADD Resource Center for Autism and Developmental Delays
The Resource Center for Autism & Developmental Delays is happy to announce the opening of our new center site at 1640 Roosevelt Rd. Chicago, IL 60608 Room 650. Our new campus location is centrally located between both previous RCADD sites to provide a citywide equitable access to services. We have a new phone number (312-413-4441) and a new email address (rcadd@uic.edu)! Onsite service scheduling will begin April 1, 2024.
The Autism Resource Directory is an online resource guide to help families find service and support referrals in the following counties: Lake, McHenry, Kane, DuPage, Cook, Kendall, Will, Grundy and Kankakee.