Home & Community Support Services
There are a variety of options for individual and family support for both home and community. This includes respite care funding, special recreation, transportation, Division of Human Services, private therapies, and more.
Applied Behavior Analysis
Questions for Parents to ask ABA Providers:
Scheduling:
How many therapists will be on my child’s team? (You want more than 1)
What is your process for substitutes/working through staff call-outs?
Does my child have a specific scheduler through the company? Who do I contact if I need to cancel a session?
Sessions:
Will sessions be in-home or center-based?
How is this determined? Time of day? Length of session?
Can I observe sessions?
BCBA:
How often will my BCBA see my child?
How many children are on each BCBA’s caseload? (recommendation is 6-12)
How often is parent training? (should be once a month, if not more)
What does parent training look like?
Staff:
What does your new hire training look like for staff?
Are all of your therapists RBTs (Registered Behavior Technicians)?
How do therapists receive ongoing training?
How often do BCBAs supervise therapists?
Data:
How does the BCBA communicate progress with me?
Can I see my child’s data on a regular basis?
How do you organize your data collection and program instructions for the therapists? (Often companies use an app <Catalyst, CentralReach, etc.>
Programming:
What teaching strategies, interventions, or supports do you use? What is your general approach or philosophy?
How are goals decided? (Parent input? Type of assessment?)
How are behavior plans developed?
How often are behavior plans updated? (Should be at least every 6 months, based on behavior?
List of ABA Clinics/In-home Therapy:
formerly Autism Bright Start
8707 Skokie Blvd, Suite 402
Skokie, IL 60077
(770) 880-8002
Headquarters
5 Revere Drive, Suite 102
Northbrook, IL 60062
(847) 807-3717
85 Revere Drive, Suite 102
Northbrook, IL 60062
(833) 450-0991
3385 N Arlington Heights Road,
Suite K
Arlington Heights, IL 60004
(833) 450-0991
401 S Milwaukee Avenue
Wheeling, IL 60090
(847) 465-9556
770 Lake Cook Road, Suite 230
Deerfield, IL 60015
(847) 469-1695
Comprehensive Behavior Development
(630) 267-4911
Clinic
1308 Waukegan Road, Suite 103
Glenview, IL 60025
(866) 815-6592
Clinic
707 Lake Cook Road, Suite 314
Deerfield, IL 60201
(866) 815-6592
733 Hastings Drive
Buffalo Grove, IL 60089
(224) 676-0202
4711 Golf Road, Suite 100
Skokie, IL 60076
(847) 676-5398
3375 Commercial Ave
Northbrook, IL 60062
(844) 263-1613
If you are waitlisted with an ABA company but need some support ASAP, Advocate Illinois Masonic offers Parent Training and SibShops (Sibling Support). (773) 296-7340
If your insurance does not cover ABA, an affordable option is to open a Child-Only Health Insurance policy during the Affordable Care Act open enrollment.
Home/Community Support Groups
Home/Community Support Services
(Incomplete list / In no particular order)
Chicago Region of the Social Security Administration 1-800-772-1213
Supplemental Security Income (SSI) provides cash benefits to meet basic needs for food, clothing, and shelter to help aged, blind, and disabled people who have little or no income.
Illinois-Department of Human Services 1-800-843-6154
Medicaid is a jointly funded state and Federal government program that provides healthcare benefits for children and their caretakers, pregnant women, and persons who are disabled, blind or over 65.
The Department of Rehabilitation Services (DRS)
The Home Services Program provides services to individuals with severe disabilities so they can remain in their family home or live as independently as possible. The Vocational Rehabilitation program assists disabled adults in preparing for and finding quality employment.
North Pulaski Office - 743 N Pulaski Rd, Chicago, IL 60624, (773) 638-3070
Humboldt Park Office - 2753 W North Ave, 3rd floor, Chicago, IL 60647, (773) 292-4400
Hiawatha Office - 6200 N Hiawatha Ave, Chicago, IL 60646, (773) 794-4800
Arlington Heights Office - 715 W Algonquin Rd, Arlington Heights, IL 60005, (847) 758-3483
Waukegan Office - 2740 Grand Ave, Waukegan, IL 60085, (847) 244-8474
Transportation
RTA/PACE Paratransit transportation service for the disabled - (312) 663-4357
First Transit Chicago - Non-emergency transportation to Medicaid appointments - (877) 725-0569
Immigration Services
National Immigrant Justice Center - 208 S LaSalle St, Suite 1300, Chicago, IL 60604, (312) 660-1370
Legal Assistance Foundation - 120 S Lasalle St, #900, Chicago, IL 60603, (312) 341-1070
Centro Romero - 6216 N Clark St, Chicago, IL 60660, (773) 508-5300
Heartland Human Services - 441l N Ravenswood Ave, Chicago, IL 60640, (773) 728-5960
Mano a Mano Family Resource Center - 6 E Main St, Round Lake Park, IL 60073, (847) 201-1521
Iglesia Sagrada Familia (Holy Family Church) - 450 Keller Ave, Waukegan, IL 60085, (847) 623-2655
Guardianship Resources (Cook County)
Richard J. Daley Center - 50 W Washington St, Room 1202, Chicago, IL 60602, (312) 603-5694
Center for Disability & Elder Law - 79 W Monroe St, Suite 919, Chicago, IL 60603, (312) 376-1800
Guardianship Services Associates - 41A South Blvd, Oak Park, IL 60302, (708) 386-5398
Center for Law & Social Work - 4707 N Broadway, Suite 203, Chicago, IL 60640, (773) 728-7800
Taller de Jose (Jose’s Workshop) - 2831 W 24th Blvd, Chicago, IL 60623, (773) 523-8320
Guardianship Resources (Lake County)
Nineteenth Judicial Circuit - 18 N County St., Waukegan, IL 60085, (847) 377-3600
Prairie State Legal Services - 325 Washington St, Waukegan, IL 60085 (847) 662-6925
Estate Planning
Protected Tomorrows, Inc. - 103 Schelter Rd, Lincolnshire, IL 60069, (847) 522-8086
Life's Plan, Inc. - 901 Warrenville Rd, Suite 500, Lisle, IL 60532, (630) 628-7169
Other Resources
Adult Down Syndrome Center - 1610 Luther Ln, Park Ridge, IL 60068, (847) 318-2303
Autism Society of Illinois - 2200 S Main St, Suite 203, Lombard, IL 60148, (630) 691-1270
UIC Family Clinic - 1640 W Roosevelt Rd, Chicago, IL 60608, (312) 413-1819
Illinois Masonic, Pediatric Developmental Center - 3040 N Wilton Ave, Chicago, IL 60657, (773) 296-7340
Center on Deafness - 3444 Dundee Rd, Northbrook, IL 60062, (847) 559-0110
The Chicago Lighthouse for the Blind - 1850 Roosevelt Rd, Chicago, IL 60608, (312) 666-133
Special Recreation
Year-round park district recreation programs and special events for children, teens and adults with disabilities. Activities may include: sports, arts and crafts, summer camps, movie nights, and dances.
Chicago Area Special Recreation:
Loyola Park - 1230 W Greenleaf Ave, Chicago, IL 60626, (773) 262-7482
Chase Park - 4701 N Ashland Ave, Chicago, IL 60640, (312) 742-7518
Welles Park - 2333 W Sunnyside Ave, Chicago, IL 60625, (312) 742-9536
Independence Park - 3945 N Springfield Ave, Chicago, IL 60618, (773) 478-0944
Shabbona Park - 6935 W Addison St, Chicago, IL 60634, (773) 685-6388
Norwood Park - 5801 Natoma Ave, Chicago, IL 60631, (773) 631-4893
Kosciuszko Park - 2732 N Avers Ave, Chicago, lL 60647 (312) 742-9954
Eckhart Park - 1303 W Chicago Ave, Chicago, IL 60622, (312) 746-5085
Homan Square Park - 3559 W Arthington St, Chicago, IL 60624, (312)746-6650
Harrison Park - 1824 S Wood St, Chicago, IL 60608, (312) 746-5491
Sunshine Activity Center - 6206 W Montrose Ave, Chicago, IL 60634, (773) 283-0089
Northwest Cook County Special Recreation:
Northwest Special Recreation Association (NWSRA)
Main Office - 3000 Central Rd, Suite 205, Rolling Meadows, IL 60008, (847) 392-2848
Maine-Niles Association of Special Recreation (M-NASR)
Main Office - 8950 Gross Point Road, Suite C, Skokie, IL 60077, (847) 966-5522
Northern Suburban Special Recreation Association (NSSRA)
Main Office - 3105 MacArthur Blvd, Northbrook, IL 60062, (847) 509-9400
Special Recreation - Lake County:
Special Recreation Association of Central Lake County (SRACLC)
Main Office - 290 Oakwood Rd, Vernon Hills, IL 60061, (847) 816-4866
Special Recreation Services of Northern Lake County (SRSNLC)
Main Office - 2000 Belvidere St, Waukegan, IL 60073, (847) 360-4700
Warren Special Recreation Association (WSRA)
Main Office - 17801 W Washington St, Gurnee, IL 60031, (847) 244-6619
Respite Services
According to the National Respite Coalition, respite care provides temporary relief for caregivers from the ongoing responsibility of caring for an individual of any age with special needs, or who may be at risk of abuse or neglect.
Respite services in Illinois can vary based on funding. While in most cases, funding may be available through various organizations, families may have to seek out individuals to provide respite care.
There are various resources available to assist you in obtaining respite care. Each organization is structured differently, so it would be wise to contact several organizations and find out what availability they have for funding, as well as potential respite workers.
Glenkirk Clearbrook
3504 Commercial Avenue 1835 W. Central Road
Northbrook, IL 60062 Arlington Heights, IL 60005
(847) 272-5111 (847) 870-7711
www.glenkirk.org www.clearbrook.org
Respite Services and Application 2019 Application - downloadable form
Additional Respite Resources:
Almost Home Kids
7S721 Route 53
Naperville, IL 60540
(630) 271-9155
211 E Grand Ave
6th Floor
Chicago, IL 60611
(312) 229-0170
https://www.almosthomekids.org/
Provides: overnight and emergency respite for children with medical complexities and/or may be technology assisted
Anixter Center
6610 N Clark Street
Chicago, IL 60626
(773) 973-7900
Provides: In-home respite, behavioral health
Aspire Children's Service
1815 Wolf Rd.
Hillside, IL 60162
(708) 236-0979
Serves: Children with disabilities and delays.
Worker provided by family, but reimbursement provided. All ages.
Autism Home Support Services (Various locations)
5 Revere Drive, Suite 120
Northbrook, IL 60062
(847) 807-3717
Best Buddies
101 West Grand Avenue Suite 400
Chicago, IL 60654
(312) 828-9313
https://www.bestbuddies.org/illinois/
BrightStar Care
950 Skokie Blvd., Ste 300
Northbrook, IL 60062
(847) 510-5750
Clearbrook
1835 W. Central Road
Arlington Heights, IL 60005
(847) 870-7711
2019 Application - downloadable form
Easter Seals Respite
141 W. Jackson Blvd, Suite 1400A
Chicago, IL 60604
(800) 221-6827
Glenkirk
3504 Commercial Avenue
Northbrook, IL 60062
(847) 272-5111
Respite Services and Application
Little City
1760 W. Algonquin Road
Palatine, IL 60067
(847) 358-5510
Misericordia
McAuley Residence
6300 N. Ridge Avenue
Chicago, IL 60660
(773) 273-4744
Serves: Non-ambulatory DD from birth to 18 with some size restrictions.
Provides: Out-of-home respite at Misericordia
Orchard Village
7670 Mannora Manor
Skokie, IL 60077
(847) 967-1800
Provides: Home-based supports, Personal Support Workers
Shore Community Services
8350 Laramie Avenue
Skokie, IL 60077
(847) 982-2030
Trinity Services, Inc.
301 Veterans Parkway
New Lenox, IL 60451
(815) 485-6197
https://www.trinityservices.org/
Additional Website Resources
Illinois Respite Coalition - http://www.illinoisrespite.org/
ARCH National Respite Network - http://archrespite.org/
Resources for Posting "Help Wanted" Ads
Care.com - www.care.com
Go Nannies - www.gonannies.com
Trinity International University -https://www.tiu.edu/career-services/employers/
To post at the library -You would contact Student Life for approval at the following email: studentlife@tiu.edu
Support for Families & Siblings
It is important that family members also seek support when needed. There are many resources available to family members of individuals with disabilities.
Parents
The Northwest Suburban Autism and Special Needs Parent Support and Information Email Group and Local Support Groups
The M.O.R.G.A.N. Project (Making Opportunities Reality Granting Assistance Nationwide) was established by parents to support families in their journey of raising a child with special needs. This site has a large library of resources and information, and assists families with travel expenses for medical treatments and gifts of medical equipment that aren’t covered by insurance. It also works to create support groups of parents.
Parent to Parent USA is a group that matches each parent with a fellow parent who has a child with the same special healthcare need, disability, or mental health concern, allowing each parent or family to have a contact for sharing information, receiving support, and creating new friendships. “Parent to Parent USA has local groups in almost all states, and is great for connecting families with each other for emotional support,” notes Smith.
Coping Partners is an organization that supports and treats children, adolescents, and adults with a wide range of challenges including but not limited to anxiety, work-life balance, family relationships, and more.
Siblings
Sibsnetwork.org - S.I.B.S. (Supporting Illinois Brothers & Sisters) is the official Illinois chapter of the national Sibling Leadership Network (SLN). Its mission is to provide support to siblings of people with disabilities in Illinois by connecting them with information, networking opportunities, and resources to enhance their family's quality of life.
Sibling Support Project (Sibshops)
JCFS Sibshops - Northbrook, IL