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:

ABS Behavioral Services

formerly Autism Bright Start

8707 Skokie Blvd, Suite 402

Skokie, IL 60077

(770) 880-8002

Autism Home Support Services 

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

Autism Therapy Group   

401 S Milwaukee Avenue

Wheeling, IL 60090

(847) 465-9556

Caravel Autism Health

770 Lake Cook Road, Suite 230

Deerfield, IL 60015

(847) 469-1695

Comprehensive Behavior Development

(630) 267-4911

North Shore Pediatric Therapy

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

Roots Autism Solutions

733 Hastings Drive

Buffalo Grove, IL 60089

(224) 676-0202

Steinberg Behavior Solutions 

4711 Golf Road, Suite 100

Skokie, IL 60076 

(847) 676-5398

Total Spectrum

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 Services

(Incomplete list / In no particular order)

1. 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.

2. 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.

3. 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

4. Transportation

RTA/PACE Paratransit transportation service for the disabled - (312) 663-4357

First Transit Chicago - Non-emergency transportation to Medicaid appointments - (877) 725-0569

5. 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

6. 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

7. 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

8. 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

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

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

www.anixter.org 

Provides: In-home respite, behavioral health

Aspire Children's Service

1815 Wolf Rd.

Hillside, IL 60162

(708) 236-0979

www.aspireofillinois.org 

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

www.autismhomesupport.com 

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

www.brightstarcare.com

Clearbrook

1835 W. Central Road

Arlington Heights, IL 60005

(847) 870-7711

www.clearbrook.org

2019 Application - downloadable form

Easter Seals Respite

141 W. Jackson Blvd, Suite 1400A

Chicago, IL 60604

(800) 221-6827

www.easterseals.com

Glenkirk

3504 Commercial Avenue

Northbrook, IL 60062

(847) 272-5111

www.glenkirk.org

Respite Services and Application

Little City

1760 W. Algonquin Road

Palatine, IL 60067

(847) 358-5510

www.littlecity.org

Misericordia

McAuley Residence 

6300 N. Ridge Avenue

Chicago, IL 60660

(773) 273-4744

www.misericordia.com 

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

www.orchardvillage.org

Provides: Home-based supports, Personal Support Workers

Shore Community Services

8350 Laramie Avenue

Skokie, IL 60077

(847) 982-2030

www.shoreservices.org

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

• Arc of Illinois Family Support Resources

• 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.

• Parent/Sibling Resources -Disabilityinfo.org

• 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